Siding in Seattle, WA
Re-siding a two-story Seattle house costs $32,000 to $75,000 in fiber cement and $45,000 to $90,000 in cedar. Seattle houses add two complications to any siding job: many mid-century houses wear asbestos-cement shingles, and many older houses still have original old-growth cedar that is worth keeping where it is sound.
Seattle siding costs
| Project | Typical Seattle range | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Fiber cement lap, two-story | $32,000 – $75,000 | The most common replacement |
| Cedar lap or shingle | $45,000 – $90,000 | Period houses, historic districts |
| Vinyl | $20,000 – $42,000 | Less common on older houses |
| Asbestos shingle removal, add | $6,000 – $20,000 | Certified abatement before re-siding |
| Rot repair at windows and sills | $2,000 – $12,000 | Almost always found on older houses |
What Seattle walls hide behind the siding
Asbestos-cement shingles were used widely on houses built or re-sided from the 1940s through the 1960s, especially in Ballard, northeast Seattle and the south end. They are stable when left alone, but removal must be done by certified workers after a survey, as required by the Puget Sound Clean Air Agency. Some owners choose to side over them; ask whether that is allowed for your house and what it means for future work.
Original cedar on pre-1940 houses is often old-growth wood, denser and more rot-resistant than cedar sold today. Where it is sound, repair and repaint may make more sense than replacement. Where it is split, cupped or rotted near the ground, partial replacement with matching profiles is common.
No sheathing. Some early houses have siding nailed directly to studs with building paper between. Re-siding them is a chance to add sheathing and a proper water-resistive barrier, which also stiffens the walls in an earthquake.
Lead paint is likely on any painted siding and trim on houses built before 1978, which requires lead-safe practices.
Seattle siding permits and historic districts
Siding replacement that does not change structure often does not need a building permit in Seattle, but replacing sheathing, changing windows or working on a landmark or in a historic district changes that. Historic districts review exterior materials; switching from cedar to fiber cement may need approval. Check your property's status before you choose material.
Seattle access and weather
Many Seattle lots have side yards of three to five feet, which limits scaffolding and material staging and can mean working from the neighbor's side with their permission. Rainscreen and flashing details matter even more on older houses with no eave overhang on gable walls, because those walls take driven rain directly.
Seattle siding questions
Should I keep my original cedar siding?
If most boards are sound, repairing and repainting keeps old-growth wood that outperforms new cedar. Replace boards near the ground and around windows, where rot concentrates.
Can new siding go over asbestos shingles?
Sometimes, but it leaves the asbestos in the wall for the next owner and complicates future window work. Removal by certified abatement is the cleaner long-term choice.
Do I need permission from my neighbor for scaffolding?
If the crew must stand on their property, yes. Ask the contractor how they plan to work on the tight side.
Will fiber cement look right on a Craftsman?
Smooth lap or shingle profiles in the original exposure look close to cedar once painted, especially with wood or composite trim that matches the original depth.