What we handle on a siding project
New siding looks like a cosmetic job. It is not. The cladding is a small part of what keeps water out of your walls; the water-resistive barrier and the flashing details behind the siding do the actual waterproofing work. The crew that takes the time to lap housewrap correctly and flash every window properly produces a wall assembly that lasts 30+ years. The crew that wraps tar paper around the house and caulks the windows produces hidden mold in 8.
Our scope on a typical siding project includes:
- Tear-off & disposal — existing siding removed cleanly, debris hauled and recycled where possible (most vinyl and metal siding is recyclable; fiber cement is not). Property protection on landscaping and HVAC condensers.
- Sheathing inspection & repair — tear-off is when we find the truth about what is behind the existing siding. Rotted sheathing, water-damaged framing, and existing insulation issues get documented, photographed, and priced before the new WRB goes on. No surprise add-ons at invoice time.
- Insulation upgrade (optional) — rigid foam (1/2" to 2") or mineral-wool insulation board installed over sheathing if you opt for the energy upgrade. R-3 to R-12 of continuous exterior insulation; thermal-bridge break across studs. Worth discussing if comfort is a complaint.
- Water-resistive barrier (WRB) — Tyvek HomeWrap, ZIP System tape, or equivalent housewrap installed with proper shingle-style laps (top piece always laps over bottom piece), all seams taped per manufacturer spec, all penetrations sealed. The WRB is what actually waterproofs your wall behind the siding.
- Window & door flashing — sill pan flashing on the rough sill, peel-and-stick jamb flashing lapped over the sill pan, head flashing lapped over the jambs, housewrap cut and tucked over the head flashing. Stepped, shingle-style. Not a single bead of caulk at the window perimeter.
- Trim install — corner boards, frieze boards, window and door casings, water tables, belt courses, gable trim per your design. Color-matched to the siding or contrasting per choice.
- Siding install — fiber cement, vinyl, LP SmartSide, or cedar per your selection. Manufacturer-spec fastener type, fastener length, exposure, gap allowances at trim, kickout flashing at roof intersections, J-channel and starter strip. Color-matched touch-up paint provided for any field-cut nails.
- Soffit, fascia, gutter detail — existing soffit and fascia inspected; replaced where damaged. Gutters reinstalled or replaced as scoped. Drip edge integrated correctly with WRB at top of wall.
- Caulking & sealants — high-quality polyurethane or hybrid sealants at trim joints and penetrations. We do not over-caulk siding gaps that the manufacturer specs to remain open (siding has to breathe and accommodate movement).
- Cleanup & final walk — magnetic nail sweep, debris hauled, customer walk-through, manufacturer warranty registered (30-year for Hardie ColorPlus, 25-year for vinyl, etc.).
What to expect — timeline and draws
Most KC siding jobs run 1.5 to 5 weeks of on-site work depending on home size and material choice. Fiber cement takes longer than vinyl due to the cutting and weight; cedar takes longer still. Add 1 to 3 weeks of material lead time on color-specific or special-order siding (most prefinished fiber cement orders are made to your home's exterior dimensions and color choice).
Before any tear-off begins, you receive a written schedule with the major milestones. Draws against the contract are tied to milestones rather than the calendar:
- 30% at signing — secures the schedule slot, orders siding (custom-cut to home dimensions for prefinished products).
- 30% at tear-off-and-WRB milestone — existing siding off, WRB installed and inspected, any rotted sheathing replaced and documented.
- 30% at substantial completion — siding installed, trim done, painted or touched up.
- 10% retained until the punch list is fully signed off.
Pricing factors
Kansas City residential siding replacement generally falls into these bands on a 2,000-2,500 sq ft single-story home (full tear-off, code-compliant WRB, prefinished or paint-grade install):
- Vinyl — $11,000 to $20,000. Cheapest installed, 25-year material warranty typical, fades in 10-15 years and may warp in extreme heat.
- LP SmartSide (engineered wood) — $14,000 to $26,000. Mid-priced, looks like wood, holds paint better than wood, requires repainting cycle like wood.
- Fiber cement (Hardie, Allura, Nichiha) — $18,000 to $35,000. 30-year material warranty, prefinished colors hold 15+ years, fire-resistant, heavier install.
- Cedar lap — $20,000 to $40,000+. Beautiful, authentic, premium look. Highest material cost and highest maintenance commitment.
Where your project lands inside those bands depends on:
- Home size and stories — two-story homes scale roughly 1.6-1.8x material. Three-story or homes with significant gable detail scale more.
- Trim complexity — cottage / craftsman / Victorian homes with corbels, brackets, decorative trim run a 20-40% premium over plain rectangular siding.
- Sheathing repair — we assume some rotted sheathing on older homes ($50-$80 per OSB / plywood sheet replaced) and price transparently.
- Insulation upgrade (optional) — $3,000 to $10,000 for continuous exterior insulation during the re-side.
- Trim replacement — if existing trim is staying, that's cheapest. Replacing all trim adds $2,000 to $8,000.
- Color choice — standard prefinished colors are stocked. Custom or premium colors add 5-15% material cost.
- Insurance-claim work — priced to your insurer's scope plus any code-required upgrades documented during tear-off; you pay your deductible (we do not absorb it).
Why customers pick Tessera for siding
- You hear back fast. Quote within 24 hours, not three weeks.
- The WRB is installed correctly. Properly lapped. Seams taped. Penetrations sealed.
- Windows are flashed with stepped, shingle-style flashing — not a single bead of caulk.
- Sheathing is inspected at tear-off. Rotted material is documented and replaced.
- Insurance-claim siding follows the same Missouri-statute discipline as our roofing — we do not absorb deductibles.
- The schedule includes material lead time, not a fantasy start date.
- You retain 10% until the punch list is fully signed off.