Siding Estimate Checklist
A free, printable scorecard for every siding quote you collect — so you compare scope and materials, not just the bottom line.
WHAT’S INSIDE
One page. Three quotes. Scope compared before price.
Siding quotes rarely look alike, and the cheapest one is often just the smallest. This scorecard normalizes what each estimate should describe — the company, the full scope, and the materials by brand — so the price comparison actually means something.
- A 3-column grid so you can lay your quotes side by side and compare scope, not just the bottom line
- The company section — license, insurance and certificate of insurance, and the warranties they stand behind
- The scope section — tear-off and disposal, sheathing inspection and rot repair, house wrap and flashing, fastening to spec, trim details, and daily cleanup
- The materials section — the exact product line and brand (CertainTeed, LP SmartSide, or James Hardie) and the color, in writing
- A plain note on how a real estimate reads: one total price plus a full written description of the company, scope, and materials — not a piece-by-piece materials-versus-labor breakdown
- A red-flag sidebar — the six things that should give you pause on any quote
- The hidden work cheap bids quietly leave out — house wrap, flashing, and a rot-repair plan — the parts that show up two winters later
WHAT A COMPLETE ESTIMATE DESCRIBES
A total price, plus a full written description.
A good siding estimate isn’t a piece-by-piece price list. You don’t need a per-item breakdown of materials versus labor to compare bids well — chasing one usually just adds confusion. What you want is a total price and a clear, written description of three things:
- The company — license, insurance and a certificate of insurance on request, and the workmanship and material warranties they stand behind.
- The exact scope of work — whether tear-off and disposal are included, how they handle the sheathing, house wrap, and flashing, what happens if rot turns up, and the trim and cleanup.
- The specific materials — the brand and product line (CertainTeed, LP SmartSide, or James Hardie) and the color, spelled out in writing.
RED FLAGS
Six things that should give you pause.
Any one of these is reason to slow down and ask questions — regardless of the price on the page.
- A bid far below the others — usually the hidden work (house wrap, flashing, prep, rot repair) was left out, not discounted
- Pressure tactics — a price that's "only good today"
- No written scope — a vague proposal leaves room for surprises
- No permit pulled — it sidesteps inspection and can cause problems at resale
- Cash-only, or a large deposit demanded up front
- No certificate of insurance — walk away
HOW TO USE IT
Bring it to the estimate. Fill it in as you go.
- Print one copy for each quote you collect (most homeowners get a few)
- Fill it in at the in-home assessment as the contractor walks you through the scope
- Put the scopes side by side before the bottom lines — a cheaper bid is often just a smaller one
- Ask any contractor whose scope is vague to put the details in writing; a real one will, every time
- Don't chase a piece-by-piece price breakdown — a clear, honest written scope tells you far more than a line-item list
- Use the red-flag sidebar to drop any bid that hits a dealbreaker, regardless of price
RELATED
Go deeper
The checklist is the field tool. These pair with it.
Want a quote that already describes every box?
Our free in-person assessment comes with a written estimate: one clear price, plus a full description of the company, the exact scope, and the materials by brand and product line. No pressure, no “sign today” games.
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