--- title: "Is New Siding Worth It? Return on Siding Investment in SD" description: "National articles say siding pays for itself. Around here the numbers come in lower. Here's what you actually get back, and when it's still the right call." url: https://radiantroofingsiding.com/blog/the-real-roi-of-new-siding-is-it-worth-the-investment/ --- Updated October 11, 2026 · 7 min read # Is new siding worth it? The real return on a siding job in South Dakota National articles say siding pays for itself. Around here the numbers come in lower. Here's what you actually get back, and when it's still the right call. [South? Call Matt 605.496.9595 Sioux Falls · Tea · Omaha\ & surrounding areas ](tel:+16054969595)[North? Call Gunner 605.203.1805 Watertown · Aberdeen · Redfield\ & surrounding areas](tel:+16052031805) ![A couple laughing over coffee on the front steps of their split-level home after new gray lap siding went on, a solid return on their siding investment.](https://radiantroofingsiding.com/assets/blog/return-on-siding-investment.webp) What's the return on investment for new siding? In the 2025 Cost vs Value report, new fiber cement siding recouped 113.7% of its cost at resale nationally and 103.3% in our region (the West North Central states, which include South Dakota). Vinyl recouped 96.5% nationally but only 81.3% in our region. So siding usually gets most or all of its cost back when you sell, but here you shouldn't count on making money on it. The bigger return is the damage it stops. The short version - Fiber cement siding got back 103% of its cost at resale in our region in 2025. Vinyl got back 81%. - That's lower than the national numbers you'll see quoted, so don't plan on siding paying for itself here. - Siding still beats a new roof, windows or a bath remodel on payback in the same report. - The money you don't spend on rot, mold and wall repair doesn't show up in any ROI chart. - Re-siding is the cheapest time to add wall insulation, because the wall's already open. In this article 1. [What the numbers say for our region](https://radiantroofingsiding.com/blog/the-real-roi-of-new-siding-is-it-worth-the-investment/#what-the-numbers-say-for-our-region) 2. [Why our numbers run lower than the national ones](https://radiantroofingsiding.com/blog/the-real-roi-of-new-siding-is-it-worth-the-investment/#why-our-numbers-run-lower-than-the-national-ones) 3. [The return no chart shows](https://radiantroofingsiding.com/blog/the-real-roi-of-new-siding-is-it-worth-the-investment/#the-return-no-chart-shows) 4. [Hail changes the math](https://radiantroofingsiding.com/blog/the-real-roi-of-new-siding-is-it-worth-the-investment/#hail-changes-the-math) 5. [When it’s worth it, and when it isn’t](https://radiantroofingsiding.com/blog/the-real-roi-of-new-siding-is-it-worth-the-investment/#when-its-worth-it-and-when-it-isnt) 6. [Get more out of the job while the wall’s open](https://radiantroofingsiding.com/blog/the-real-roi-of-new-siding-is-it-worth-the-investment/#get-more-out-of-the-job-while-the-walls-open) A Sioux Falls homeowner on Reddit got a few siding quotes and summed up the whole feeling in two words: *“because ouch.”* Another said a neighbor’s LP job came in *“around $35k. That seems insane to me.”* It’s a lot of money. So it’s fair to ask whether you get it back. The honest answer: **mostly, yes, but less than the national articles say.** Here’s the real data for our part of the country. ## What the numbers say for our region Every year *Remodeling* magazine (now published by Zonda) runs the **Cost vs Value report**. It asks real estate agents in each market what a given project adds to a home’s resale value, then compares that to what the job costs. South Dakota is in the report’s **West North Central** region, along with Nebraska, Minnesota, Iowa, North Dakota, Kansas and Missouri. Here’s how siding compares with the other projects people usually weigh it against: Share of project cost recouped at resale West North Central region (includes SD), 2025 | Project | Recouped | | -------------------------- | -------- | | Garage door replacement | 224.5% | | Entry door (steel) | 198% | | Manufactured stone veneer | 177.3% | | Siding: fiber cement | 103.3% | | Minor kitchen remodel | 94.5% | | Siding: vinyl | 81.3% | | Bath remodel (midrange) | 76.8% | | Window replacement (vinyl) | 69.9% | | Roof replacement (asphalt) | 54.2% | Source: [Cost vs Value 2025, West North Central](https://www.jlconline.com/cost-vs-value/2025/west-north-central/), © Zonda Media. "Recouped" is the agent-estimated resale value divided by job cost. A garage door and a front door get back more than they cost, but they’re $2,000 to $5,000 jobs. Among the big-ticket projects, **siding is near the top of the list.** It beats a kitchen refresh, a bath, windows and a roof. ## Why our numbers run lower than the national ones If you’ve read that siding “pays for itself,” you probably read the national figures. Here’s the same report, three ways: | Siding project | National | West North Central | Rapid City, SD | | -------------------------- | ---------- | ------------------ | -------------- | | **Fiber cement**, job cost | $21,485 | $23,470 | $22,490 | | Resale value added | $24,420 | $24,236 | $21,858 | | **Recouped** | **113.7%** | **103.3%** | **97.2%** | | **Vinyl**, job cost | $17,950 | $18,907 | $18,374 | | Resale value added | $17,313 | $15,365 | $15,027 | | **Recouped** | **96.5%** | **81.3%** | **81.8%** | Rapid City is the only South Dakota market in the report. Sioux Falls isn’t broken out. Two things are going on. The job costs a little more in our region ($23,470 for fiber cement against $21,485 nationally). And homes cost less: Sioux Falls’ median owner-occupied home value was **$332,600** in the 2024 Census estimate, against $360,600 nationally ([Census Reporter](https://censusreporter.org/profiles/16000US4659020-sioux-falls-sd/)). The same project is a bigger slice of a cheaper house, so it moves the sale price less. > Bottom line: in South Dakota, plan on siding getting **most** of its cost back at sale, not all of it. If somebody tells you it’s an investment that’ll make you money, they’re quoting a national number. ## The return no chart shows ![A young couple walking up the driveway of a re-sided ranch house with a for-sale sign in the yard, the kind of curb appeal that shows new siding is worth it.](https://radiantroofingsiding.com/assets/blog/is-new-siding-worth-it.webp) Siding that's sound doesn't make buyers ask what's going on behind it. Cost vs Value measures one thing: what an agent thinks the house will sell for. It doesn’t count what failing siding costs you while you **live** there. Cracked or warped siding lets water in behind it. In South Dakota that water freezes, pushes the gap wider and comes back the next thaw. Give it a few winters and you’re looking at: - **Rotted sheathing and framing**, which turns a siding job into a carpentry job - **Mold in the wall cavity**, usually found when someone opens the wall for something else - **An inspection report that hands the buyer a price cut**, because nobody’s going to guess low on what’s behind bad siding None of that’s in an ROI chart, but it’s the main reason most people re-side. In the 2025 NAR Remodeling Impact Report, the No. 1 reason homeowners gave for remodeling was **upgrading worn-out materials** (27%). Selling within two years came in at only 18% ([NAR/NARI, 2025](https://remodelingdoneright.nari.org/media/jjjaoome/2025remodelingimpactreport.pdf)). And it’s a lot of houses. About **31% of the homes in Sioux Falls were built before 1980** ([Census ACS 2024, table B25034](https://api.censusreporter.org/1.0/data/show/latest?table_ids=B25034\&geo_ids=16000US4659020)). Plenty of them still have the original siding, or the cheap vinyl that went on over it in the ’90s. ## Hail changes the math South Dakota had **232 major hail events in 2025**, seventh in the nation. Just this September 1, the National Weather Service documented hail up to **2.75 inches** across southeast South Dakota and northwest Iowa, and it posted a photo of torn-up siding near Pickstown ([NWS Sioux Falls](https://www.weather.gov/fsd/20260901-severe-sesdnwia)). That matters for ROI in two ways: 1. **Material choice pays off over time.** Thin vinyl that cracks in a storm costs you the deductible and the hassle every few years. A tougher siding costs more once. [Which siding holds up best out here](https://radiantroofingsiding.com/blog/why-lp-smartside-is-a-top-choice-for-midwest-homes/) goes through the options. 2. **Insurance doesn’t always cover the whole house.** One Sioux Falls homeowner said they were *“only given the option to do 2 sides of my house by insurance.”* If the old siding’s discontinued, you end up with two colors and a resale problem. If that’s where you are, our [storm and hail repair page](https://radiantroofingsiding.com/storm-hail-repair/) explains how the process usually goes. ## When it’s worth it, and when it isn’t **Usually worth it:** - The siding’s cracked, warped, soft or missing pieces - You’re staying five years or more, so you’ll actually use the energy and maintenance savings - You’ve got hail damage and you’re paying a deductible either way - It’s ugly enough that it’s dragging down the whole house (that’s real, it’s called curb appeal) **Probably not worth it:** - It’s sound and just dated, and you’re listing in the spring. Paint, a new front door and a power-wash will do more per dollar. - You’d be borrowing at a high rate for a purely cosmetic change ## Get more out of the job while the wall’s open If you’re re-siding anyway, that’s the cheapest time you’ll ever have to add **rigid foam insulation** to the walls. The Department of Energy’s Building America program calls re-siding “an excellent opportunity to install continuous rigid insulation over the walls” ([PNNL](https://basc.pnnl.gov/home-improvement-expert/checklists/adding-exterior-insulation-when-re-siding)). We won’t quote you a percentage off your bill, because nobody honestly can without testing the house. But in a place where it hits 20 below, warmer walls are worth pricing. One more thing: **in Sioux Falls, re-siding needs a building permit** and a licensed contractor ([City of Sioux Falls](https://www.siouxfalls.gov/business-permits/permits-licenses-inspections/permits/building-permits/building-permit-faqs)). If a quote doesn’t mention the permit, ask. Want to see the numbers for your house? We’ll measure it, price two or three materials side by side, and tell you straight if we think it can wait. Start on our [siding page](https://radiantroofingsiding.com/siding/), or if you’re already leaning toward a new look, see [the siding colors going up this year](https://radiantroofingsiding.com/blog/top-siding-color-trends-for-2025-boost-curb-appeal-this-year/). ## Questions we get about this ### Does new siding increase home value? Yes. In the 2025 Cost vs Value report, agents in our region estimated new fiber cement siding added about $24,200 to a home's resale value on a job costing about $23,500, and vinyl added about $15,400 on a $18,900 job. Those are agent estimates, not closed sales, but they're the best numbers out there. ### Should I replace siding before selling my house? Only if it's visibly failing (warped, cracked, faded unevenly or missing pieces). Buyers and inspectors flag bad siding, and that becomes a negotiation you'll lose. If it's just dated but sound, you'll usually get more from cleaning, paint and a new front door. In the 2025 report a steel entry door recouped 198% in our region. ### Is fiber cement or vinyl a better investment? On paper, fiber cement. It recouped 103% in our region against vinyl's 81%. But it costs more up front, so vinyl can still make sense on a house you're keeping five years or less. If you're staying, look at LP SmartSide too. The report doesn't track engineered wood, but it handles hail better than either. ### Do I need a permit to replace siding in Sioux Falls? Yes. The City of Sioux Falls lists re-siding as work that needs a building permit, and the contractor needs a city license. A legitimate contractor pulls the permit, and it should be on your quote. ### Will new siding lower my heating bill? Siding by itself, a little. Adding rigid foam insulation under the new siding while the wall is open is what makes a real difference, and the Department of Energy calls re-siding "an excellent opportunity" to do it. Anyone who quotes you an exact percentage savings is guessing. ### Want someone to actually look at it? Free estimate, usually same day across South Dakota and the states around it. No pressure and no call center — and if it has five more years in it, we'll tell you that instead. Or read more about [siding in South Dakota](https://radiantroofingsiding.com/siding/). ## Sources 1. [Zonda / JLC: Cost vs Value 2025, West North Central region](https://www.jlconline.com/cost-vs-value/2025/west-north-central/) 2. [Zonda / JLC: Cost vs Value 2025, Rapid City, SD](https://www.jlconline.com/cost-vs-value/2025/west-north-central/rapid-city-sd/) 3. [Westlake Royal: 2025 Cost vs Value report summary (national siding figures)](https://www.westlakeroyalbuildingproducts.com/pros-blog/2025-cost-vs-value-report-manufactured-stone-vinyl-siding-deliver-high-roi) 4. [NAR / NARI: 2025 Remodeling Impact Report (PDF)](https://remodelingdoneright.nari.org/media/jjjaoome/2025remodelingimpactreport.pdf) 5. [Census Reporter: Sioux Falls, SD profile (ACS 2024 median home value)](https://censusreporter.org/profiles/16000US4659020-sioux-falls-sd/) 6. [Census Reporter: ACS table B25034, year structure built, Sioux Falls](https://api.censusreporter.org/1.0/data/show/latest?table_ids=B25034\&geo_ids=16000US4659020) 7. [SiouxFalls.Business: Sioux Falls home sales, May 2026 (Realtor Association of the Sioux Empire)](https://siouxfalls.business/?p=189995) 8. [PNNL Building America Solution Center: Adding exterior insulation when re-siding](https://basc.pnnl.gov/home-improvement-expert/checklists/adding-exterior-insulation-when-re-siding) 9. [City of Sioux Falls: Building permit FAQs](https://www.siouxfalls.gov/business-permits/permits-licenses-inspections/permits/building-permits/building-permit-faqs) 10. [National Weather Service Sioux Falls: September 1, 2026 severe weather summary](https://www.weather.gov/fsd/20260901-severe-sesdnwia) ### What we do - [Residential Roofing](https://radiantroofingsiding.com/roofing/) Most roofs done in 1–2 days - [Storm & Hail Repair](https://radiantroofingsiding.com/storm-hail-repair/) Same-day inspections in most towns - [Gutters](https://radiantroofingsiding.com/gutters/) Installed with every roof, or on their own - [Where we work](https://radiantroofingsiding.com/service-area/) Ten offices across SD, ND, NE, IA and MN ### Keep reading - [Siding colors for 2025 and 2026: what's going up on South Dakota houses](https://radiantroofingsiding.com/blog/top-siding-color-trends-for-2025-boost-curb-appeal-this-year/) Dark grays, warm khakis and the whites that never left. The siding colors going up this year, what people really pick, and what dark siding does in July. - [What's the best siding for South Dakota? Why we keep landing on LP SmartSide](https://radiantroofingsiding.com/blog/why-lp-smartside-is-a-top-choice-for-midwest-homes/) Hail, wind and a 152-degree swing between the record high and low. Here's how SmartSide, vinyl, Hardie and steel actually hold up out here, cons included. - [How long a roof lasts in South Dakota](https://radiantroofingsiding.com/blog/how-long-a-roof-lasts-in-south-dakota/) The national number is 20 to 25 years. On the northern plains it's usually less, and the reasons have more to do with your attic than with the shingles. Word travels fast out here ## Your neighbors already called us. ★★★★★ > I highly recommend these guys! They did two complete exterior remodels for me (siding, roof, soffit, gutters) on a couple of older houses and made them look brand new. They were available to start within a reasonable timeframe and got these big jobs done within a week. Gunner is great to work with and keeps you in the loop along the way. They’re now my first call for our exterior house projects. Ashley Weisser Aberdeen, SD ★★★★★ > Troy did an excellent job during our roof and siding inspection. He was punctual, knowledgeable, and very easy to work with. We truly appreciated his help as new home owners. What stood out most was how communicative he was throughout the process and how well everything was organized and explained. We’re very happy with the experience we had with Radiant Roofing & Solutions. Hadleigh Olson Omaha, NE ★★★★★ > Everyone at Radiant is professional and answered and addressed my concerns for siding and soffit work. Thank you all! Mandy, Gunner, Matt, Allen, Grant, Brent, Gary, Troy and Matt. Truly! TERA SCHAFER Sioux Falls, SD 4.9 average across Google · reviews from real projects across the region ## Storm’s coming. Your quote shouldn’t take longer than it does. Free estimate, same-day in most towns. No pressure, no call center — just Gunner, Matt and crews that show up. or call Matt on [605.496.9595](tel:+16054969595)