Measure each elevation and record conditions
Label each wall (front, rear, left, right) and measure its gross area, then deduct genuine openings according to your own method. Record corners, gables, soffits and the existing cladding type. Note access, landscaping near the wall and any areas that will require ladders, scaffolding or lifts.
Look for soft spots, staining and failed flashing around windows, doors and roof-to-wall intersections. You can rarely see the full sheathing condition before removal, so plan an allowance and a clear approval process rather than guessing a fixed repair price.
- Elevations: area, openings, corners and gables.
- Existing material: type, layers and removal method.
- Details: trim, flashing, soffit, fascia and penetrations.
Copyable estimate template
Start with your legal or trade name, business contact details, customer name, job address, estimate number, issue date and validity period. Add the scope below, replacing the bracketed fields with your site measurements and supplier quotes. This is a written example you can copy into your own estimate, not a submitted quote or a promised software import.
For each charge, show quantity, unit, unit price and line total. Group fixed-price work separately from allowances and optional upgrades. Finish with the subtotal, applicable tax, total, payment terms, anticipated schedule, exclusions and how the customer can accept. Verify contract, tax, licensing and deposit requirements in your jurisdiction before using it.
| Line item | Quantity or specification | Scope to confirm |
|---|---|---|
| Removal and disposal | [Layers / square footage] | Existing material, hauling and site protection |
| Siding product | [Product / profile / color] | Coverage, waste factor and manufacturer requirements |
| Weather barrier | [Specified product] | Lapping and integration at openings |
| Trim and corners | [Linear feet / pieces] | Supply, fitting and paint or finish boundaries |
| Flashing | [Locations] | Windows, doors, roof-to-wall and penetrations |
| Sheathing allowance | [Sheets or $ allowance] | Unit price and approval process for hidden damage |
Worked scope example: a two-story house with one difficult wall
Imagine a hypothetical home where three walls are accessible from the ground and the fourth sits above a sloped yard. Price the difficult wall separately with its access equipment rather than averaging it into one square-foot rate.
Show the sheathing allowance as a separate unit price per sheet so the customer understands the cost if damage is found. This example shows how to organize the quote; it does not set siding prices or engineering details.
Calculate the selling price from your own costs
Build the job cost from loaded labor, materials and subcontractor quotes, equipment, disposal and an allocated share of overhead. Loaded labor includes the cost of employing the crew, not only the hourly wage. Allow time for setup, travel, collection of materials and cleanup. Avoid adding the same overhead or contingency twice.
If your cost includes overhead and your target margin on the selling price is 20%, divide cost by 0.80. A hypothetical $2,000 cost would sell for $2,500 before applicable tax, leaving $500 at that margin. A 20% markup would instead sell for $2,400 and produce a lower margin. These figures illustrate arithmetic, not local rates or a recommended profit target.
Check actual time and supplier costs against the estimate after the job. Keep separate benchmarks for easy-access work and labor-intensive conditions; a single unit price can hide very different production times. Use the job-cost and markup-versus-margin calculators linked below to check your assumptions.
Plan for hidden damage and older coatings
Explain how work pauses and how the customer approves extra repairs if removal reveals rot. Photograph conditions before covering them so the record matches the invoice.
Older homes may have lead-based paint on existing trim or siding. Follow applicable lead-safe renovation rules when disturbing painted surfaces rather than treating removal as unrestricted.
From accepted estimate to scheduled job and invoice
Keep the inquiry, property details, estimate version and follow-up notes together. Agree the scope and payment terms before booking the work. When something changes, record the revised scope and price and obtain the customer's agreement before proceeding; do not quietly add work to the original total.
SimpliPilot brings CRM, branded estimates, invoices and scheduling together on every plan. Use those tools to organize the customer and job rather than treating this worksheet as a technical design or contract. Grow and Scale add time clock, time entries and team time tracking; those tools do not process payroll. Check the current pricing page for plan permissions and limits.
Siding estimate questions
Should you quote per square foot? A per-area rate is useful internally, but customers compare scope more fairly when removal, trim, flashing and allowances are listed separately.
How do you handle damaged sheathing? Use a stated unit price or allowance and require the customer's approval before replacing more than the agreed amount.
References and further reading
These sources provide background. Check current local requirements and product instructions for your own work. Example figures in this guide are illustrative, not market rates.