Overview: Siding Contractors
Siding keeps rain and snow out of your walls, and a Canadian winter tests it hard. Vinyl covers a lot of houses because it's cheap and handles wet well. It also turns brittle in deep cold, so a puck or a stone thrown by the snowblower can crack a panel in January. Fibre cement, engineered wood, brick and stucco each cost more and age in their own way.
What sits behind the cladding matters more. In the wettest parts of the country, coastal British Columbia included, the building code calls for a drained gap between the siding and the wall membrane. That rainscreen lets water that slips past the siding run out, and it lets the wall dry. Loosely hung horizontal vinyl or metal can count as its own gap. BC's building code appeal board has ruled that replacing old cladding is work the code covers.
Near forest or grassland, the choice is also about fire. FireSmart BC says untreated wood and vinyl siding offer very little protection against wildfire, and radiant heat can melt vinyl. Stucco, metal, brick and fibre cement resist fire far better.
Each listing shows what the company says about itself on its own website. Choose your province, then your city, to find crews that re-side homes in your area.
What siding work costs in Canada
Budget for the new cladding and installation first. For a replacement project, also identify removal, wall repairs and any separately priced trim or weatherproofing.
| Service | Planning budget | What it covers |
|---|---|---|
| Vinyl siding supplied and installed | C$5–C$15per sq ft of exterior wall supplied and installed | New vinyl cladding on sound, prepared residential walls; panel grade, colour and access specified.New-cladding budget, not a complete replacement total. Confirm removal/disposal, trim, flashing, weather barrier and rainscreen as included or separately priced; do not add an item twice.What this estimate coversIncludes in this budget: Specified new cladding materials; Installation labour for the agreed wall area Budget separately or confirm: Old-cladding removal, disposal, wall repairs and added insulation; Separately priced trim, flashing, weather barriers, rainscreen and access equipment |
| Fibre-cement siding supplied and installed | C$10–C$27per sq ft of exterior wall supplied and installed | New fibre-cement cladding on sound, prepared residential walls; profile and finish specified.New-cladding budget, not a complete replacement total. Confirm removal/disposal, trim, flashing, weather barrier and rainscreen as included or separately priced; do not add an item twice.What this estimate coversIncludes in this budget: Specified new cladding materials; Installation labour for the agreed wall area Budget separately or confirm: Old-cladding removal, disposal, wall repairs and added insulation; Separately priced trim, flashing, weather barriers, rainscreen and access equipment |
| Cedar siding supplied and installed | C$10–C$26per sq ft of exterior wall supplied and installed | New cedar cladding on sound, prepared residential walls; profile, wood grade and finish specified.New-cladding budget, not a complete replacement total. Confirm removal/disposal, trim, flashing, weather barrier and rainscreen as included or separately priced; do not add an item twice. Match wood grade and finish; detailed patterns and clear cedar can cost more than simple boards.What this estimate coversIncludes in this budget: Specified new cladding materials; Installation labour for the agreed wall area Budget separately or confirm: Old-cladding removal, disposal, wall repairs and added insulation; Separately priced trim, flashing, weather barriers, rainscreen and access equipment |
| Steel siding supplied and installed | C$11–C$23per sq ft of exterior wall supplied and installed | New steel cladding on sound, prepared residential walls; panel profile, gauge and finish specified.New-cladding budget, not a complete replacement total. Confirm removal/disposal, trim, flashing, weather barrier and rainscreen as included or separately priced; do not add an item twice. Extruded aluminum and custom architectural facades are different product comparisons.What this estimate coversIncludes in this budget: Specified new cladding materials; Installation labour for the agreed wall area Budget separately or confirm: Old-cladding removal, disposal, wall repairs and added insulation; Separately priced trim, flashing, weather barriers, rainscreen and access equipment |
| Localized siding repair | C$150–C$800per defined repair | One or a few damaged siding panels, matching material available and sound backing.Minor panel work only. Discontinued profiles, hidden rot and rebuilding the weather barrier can require a larger repair.What this estimate coversIncludes in this budget: Repair visit, ordinary replacement panels and installation Budget separately or confirm: Whole-wall replacement, hidden rot and discontinued custom profiles |
Example using exterior wall area
Assumptions:
- Illustrative measured cladding area: 1,000 sq ft
- New vinyl cladding installed on sound, prepared walls
1,000 sq ft × C$5–C$15 = C$5,000–C$15,000.
Illustrative new-cladding budget: C$5,000–C$15,000. Add separately quoted removal and wall-system work to obtain a replacement total.
Not included:
- Old-cladding removal and disposal
- Wall repairs, added insulation and separately priced trim or weatherproofing
What changes the price
- Material, profile, finish and trim details
- Height, access and removal of existing layers
- Water-resistive barrier, rainscreen, flashing and hidden wall damage
Ask before accepting a quote
- Does the scope include removal, disposal, flashings and the specified drainage details?
- How will you document and price hidden rot before proceeding?
- Are trim, penetrations and transitions around windows included?
Compare the wall assembly
- State whether a quoted area is gross wall area or excludes openings
- Price any added insulation separately so cladding quotes remain comparable
Canadian context
Ask for a wall assembly suited to local exposure and the applicable building requirements, particularly drainage behind the cladding.
Planning amounts in Canadian dollars. Published tax treatment varies; confirm applicable taxes and the final total in your written quote. Rows can be different services, alternative packages or separately priced extras. Add only work that is needed and not already included in your quote.
Frequently asked questions
Which wall material is the right choice?
It depends on your climate and your lot. Vinyl is the budget pick, but it cracks in hard cold and melts in a wildfire. Fibre cement shrugs off freeze and thaw, holds paint for years and resists fire, and its weight shows up in the labour bill. Cedar looks lovely and wants stain every few years. On the Prairies, ask how each product stands up to hail.
What goes on the wall before the cladding does?
A membrane over the sheathing, lapped so water runs down and out, and sealed at every window and door. In wet coastal climates, the code also wants a drained air gap between that membrane and most sidings, usually made with wood strapping. Loosely hung horizontal vinyl or metal can supply its own gap. Some crews add rigid foam outside the sheathing too, which keeps the wall warmer and drier.
Could my old siding contain asbestos?
It could, in an older house. Health Canada lists house siding among the materials that may contain asbestos. Fibres get into the air when the material is cut, drilled, sanded or broken, and that's when it becomes a health risk. Before anyone tears the old siding off, have a professional test it. If the test finds asbestos, Health Canada says to hire a qualified removal specialist.
What if a siding salesperson shows up at my door?
Take your time, because the law gives you some. In Ontario, a contract signed in your home comes with ten days to cancel. In Quebec, a door-to-door seller needs a permit from the Office de la protection du consommateur, and you generally get ten days from receiving your copy of the contract. That stretches to a full year if the seller had no permit. Cancel in writing and keep proof.
What licence should a Quebec siding contractor hold?
A licence from the Régie du bâtiment du Québec, which anyone doing construction work for someone else needs. The contractor has to show the licence number on its ads and paperwork, and you can look it up in the RBQ's online directory. Licence holders also carry a security meant to compensate clients when the work goes wrong or never gets done. Check the number before you pay a deposit.
