What siding repair costs
| Job | Typical cost |
|---|---|
| Small section | $200–$800 |
| Larger repair | $800–$2,500 |
| Extensive damage | $3,000–$8,000+ |
What new siding costs in Vancouver
| Job | Installed cost |
|---|---|
| Vinyl siding | $6–$10 / sq ft |
| Stucco | $8–$14 / sq ft |
| Engineered wood | $10–$16 / sq ft |
| Fibre cement (Hardie board) | $12–$20 / sq ft |
| Cedar siding | $18–$30 / sq ft |
| Removing old siding | +$2–$4 / sq ft |
These are prices for new siding, and they are useful for judging when a repair stops making sense. Small repairs cost more per square foot than these, because most of the price is the visit, the setup and matching the material, not the siding itself.
Repairs by material
Vinyl. A cracked or loose panel can be unlocked with a siding zip tool and replaced without removing the panels around it. Cold weather makes vinyl brittle, so impact damage is more common in winter.
Cedar and other wood. Cedar siding and shingles are common on BC homes. Split or rotted boards are cut out and replaced, primed or sealed on every side, and finished to match. Rot is often worst near the ground and around windows and doors; see wood rot repair.
Fibre cement. Widely used on newer Metro Vancouver homes. Damaged planks are cut out and replaced. Cutting fibre cement produces silica dust, so it is cut with dust-controlled tools, outdoors.
Stucco. Hairline cracks can be patched and repainted. Cracks or stains below windows and at balconies are worth a closer look first, because they can mean water is getting behind the stucco.
Rainscreen walls and strata buildings
After the leaky-condo years, coastal BC moved to rainscreen walls: the siding is fixed over strapping, leaving a drained air gap between it and the building paper so that any water that gets behind the siding can run out and the wall can dry. A repair has to keep that gap, the flashings and the building paper intact. Sealing the bottom of the wall shut with caulk, or fastening new siding tight to the sheathing, traps water where it does the most harm.
In a condo or townhouse strata, the exterior of the building, including siding, trim, soffits, fascia and usually fences, is normally common property. If you see damage, report it to your strata manager; the repair, and the cost, is normally the strata's, and owners should not arrange exterior work on their own.
Matching the old siding
Siding profiles and colours are discontinued, and old siding fades. A common approach is to take matching pieces from a hidden wall, such as behind a deck or on a garage, for the visible repair and put new siding in the hidden spot. Painted wood and fibre cement are easier, because the whole wall can be repainted.
Check for asbestos first
When repair stops making sense
Repair is the right call for storm damage, a few rotten boards or impact cracks. When damage is widespread, the siding is brittle throughout, or water has reached the sheathing behind it, replacing a whole wall or the house is usually better value. Damaged trim around the siding follows the same rules; see soffit and fascia repair cost.
Common questions
Can you replace just one piece of siding?
Yes. Vinyl panels unlock and relock individually, and wood or fibre cement boards can be cut out and replaced. Matching colour and profile is the main challenge.
Does home insurance cover siding repair?
Sudden damage such as a storm or falling branch often is covered. Wear, rot and gradual damage usually are not. Check your policy and photograph the damage first.
How do I know if the damage goes behind the siding?
Soft or stained sheathing, bubbling paint inside, or damp drywall on the inside of that wall are signs that water got past the siding. That area is opened up and checked during the repair.
Related guides
Compiled from published 2026 Canadian cost data (Calgary and Metro Vancouver siding contractors' price guides), in CAD. We update these figures as we complete jobs.