Whether you’re planning a home improvement project or constructing a new building, calculating the correct amount of siding is essential for both budget and installation purposes. With accurate measurements, you can be confident that you’re ordering the right amount of siding material and minimize excess costs. In this article, we will discuss step-by-step how to calculate siding for your building project.

1. Measure the building’s dimensions

The first step is to measure the dimensions of your building accurately. Taken measurements should include:

– Width and height of each wall

– Width and height of gables and other architectural features

– Door and window measurements (both width and height)

Use a tape measure for accurate results, and record all measurements in feet or meters, depending on your preference.

2. Calculate wall surface areas

Next, calculate the surface area of each exterior wall section by multiplying its width by its height. For example, if a wall is 20 feet wide by 10 feet tall, its surface area would be 200 square feet (20 x 10 = 200).

3. Account for architectural features

For features like gables or dormers, you’ll need to calculate their respective areas separately. With triangular gables, multiply the base width by the height and then divide by 2. For instance, if a gable has a base of 10 feet and a height of 12 feet, its area would be 60 square feet (10 x 12 / 2 = 60). You should then add these additional areas to your total siding calculation.

4. Subtract openings

Doors and windows require an exclusive approach – subtract their area from your overall siding calculation since they will not be covered with siding material.

Calculate the area of each opening by multiplying its width by its height. Add up all these individual areas and subtract the total from your total wall surface area.

5. Determine the siding coverage

Different types of siding materials offer various amounts of coverage. Refer to the manufacturer’s documentation for the specific coverage rate per unit (whether it’s square feet per plank, panel, or bundle). Knowing this will help you determine how many units of siding material you’ll need.

6. Calculate the number of siding units needed

Now that you have your total surface area (walls minus openings) and the siding coverage per unit, divide the former by the latter to obtain the number of siding units required. For example, if your adjusted exterior wall area is 1,800 square feet and each siding plank covers 10 square feet, you would need 180 planks (1,800 /10 = 180).

7. Account for waste

It’s always a good idea to account for waste when ordering siding materials to allow for any installation mistakes or damages. A general rule is to add an additional 10% to your final siding calculation. Using the example above with 180 planks needed, an extra 18 planks will account for waste (180 x 0.10 = 18).

8. Place your order

With all these calculations done and accounted for, you can now confidently place your order knowing that you have measured thoroughly and considered all variables in obtaining the correct amount of siding.

In conclusion, calculating siding accurately involves measuring every aspect of your building’s exterior properly and ensuring that you account for architectural features like gables and openings such as doors and windows. By following these steps carefully, you can save time, money and avoid disappointment with your siding project.