How much does siding installation in Minneapolis cost?
Modern Exterior Systems (Modex) installs siding across Minneapolis and the western metro. Most Minneapolis siding projects run $20,000 to $80,000+ in 2026 depending on material and home size. LP SmartSide engineered wood at the value tier ($20K–$45K). James Hardie ColorPlus fiber cement at premium ($30K–$80K+). EDCO Steel Siding for lowest-maintenance with the strongest lifetime transferable warranty in the category ($40K–$80K).
Updated May 2026 · Reviewed by Joe Dvorak, Owner, Modern Exterior Systems
Certified
Certified materials. Permits pulled. Lifetime workmanship.
Modex is an LP SmartSide Preferred Contractor and a James Hardie Preferred Contractor, and we install EDCO steel siding across Minneapolis and the western metro. Every job ships with a pulled permit, manufacturer-spec fastener pattern, and a written line-item quote within 48 hours of the inspection.
- LP SmartSide engineered wood — $20K–$45K range
- James Hardie fiber cement — $30K–$80K+ range
- EDCO steel siding — $40K–$80K range
Climate
Why siding material matters in a -20°F to 95°F climate
Twin Cities siding sees a 115-degree annual swing from -20°F winters to 95°F summers. Standard vinyl becomes brittle in deep cold and cracks through repeated freeze-thaw cycles. Engineered wood (LP SmartSide), fiber cement (James Hardie), and steel (EDCO) all stay dimensionally stable through Minnesota seasons.
Materials
Compare siding materials side by side
Four Minneapolis-tested materials — LP SmartSide engineered wood, James Hardie ColorPlus fiber cement, EDCO Steel Siding, and premium vinyl — with current price ranges and lifespan in Minnesota's -20°F to 95°F climate.
Premium
LP SmartSide engineered wood
$20K–$55K full house. 30+ years. Factory-painted ExpertFinish in UV-stable colors. Modex is LP SmartSide Preferred—required for full 50-year substrate warranty. Twin Cities default for engineered-wood durability and resale value.
Cedar siding
$35K–$80K full house. 25–30 years with regular maintenance. Natural cedar for historic restorations on Morningside and Excelsior properties.
EDCO Steel Siding — Entex + Prism Series
$40K–$80K full house. 40+ years. Pre-finished steel with zero paint maintenance, dimensional stability at -20°F, and the strongest lifetime transferable warranty in the residential siding category.
Premium
James Hardie HardiePlank fiber cement
$30K–$80K full house. 30+ years with 15-year ColorPlus paint warranty. Period-correct profiles for historic Edina and Wayzata restorations. Modex is James Hardie Preferred Contractor — required for full ColorPlus warranty registration.
Value
Vinyl siding
$14K–$30K full house. 20–25 years. Entry-tier option for budget-driven projects. We recommend engineered wood when budget allows—durability and resale uplift usually justify the upgrade. See our contractor breakdown of the cheapest exterior siding for the full ranking.
Pricing
What's actually included in a Modex siding quote
Lump-sum pricing per scope, line-item scope detail. Switch between LP SmartSide and James Hardie to compare what's in each.
LP SmartSide engineered wood
$20K–$55K full house
$20K–$55K
Includes
Factory-painted ExpertFinish colors
50-year substrate warranty coverage
30+ year lifespan in Minnesota
Modex LP SmartSide Preferred Contractor
Permits pulled before installation
Lifetime workmanship (current owner)
Full tear-off and house-wrap upgrade
New flashing at every window and penetration
Soffit, fascia, and trim quoted line-item
Dimensionally stable at -20°F
Warranties, without the hype
Steel vs. fiber cement vs. engineered wood — the real warranty read
We install all three, so here's the straight comparison: what each warranty actually covers, with the asterisks the brochures leave out.
EDCO Entex
Steel
- Defect coverage
- 20 yrs full — materials + labor — then material-only to 30 yrs
- Color / finish
- 30-yr fade warranty, materials + labor
- Hail
- 50 yrs on embossed panels — but it covers the gap above your homeowner's insurance payout, not first dollar
- Transfer
- Yes, within 20 yrs ($100 fee) — drops to material-only after a transfer
James Hardie
Fiber cement
- Defect coverage
- 30 yrs, non-prorated — full value, no depreciation
- Color / finish
- 15-yr ColorPlus finish (paint + labor)
- Hail
- No dedicated hail warranty — defects only; fiber cement can crack on impact
- Transfer
- Yes (first transferee) — stays non-prorated
LP SmartSide
Engineered wood
- Defect coverage
- 5 yrs 100% (materials + labor), then 50 yrs prorated, material-only
- Color / finish
- ExpertFinish prefinish or field paint (separate warranty)
- Hail
- Engineered to resist hail to ~1.75"
- Transfer
- Yes — flexible
The honest read
Hardie's 30-year non-prorated warranty is the strongest if you might sell — it transfers clean, no depreciation. EDCO steel covers labor the longest and shrugs off cracking and hail — best if you're staying put (it weakens to material-only after a transfer). LP's 50-year number is the longest on paper, but it's prorated and material-only after year 5. We'll match the warranty to your plans, not to whichever brochure has the biggest number.
Factory finishes compared
Fade, repaint frequency & finish warranty
Field-painted siding wants a fresh coat every 7–10 years in Minnesota sun. A factory finish is what buys you decades without a paintbrush — here's how the three we install actually compare.
LP DiamondKote
Factory finish on LP SmartSide (applied by Wausau Supply)
- Finish warranty
- Prorated 30-yr no-fade on Solid, DuoBlend & Custom colors (WoodMark is 15-yr) — finish only, and NOT transferable (original owner). Labor ~$1.25/sq ft yrs 1–7, prorates down yrs 8–15, then $0. Sits on LP's separate 50-yr substrate (hail to 1.75").
- Fade rate
- Tightest spec of the three — fade defined at >3 Delta E (vs >5 for steel/most). The fade champion.
- Repaint required
- None during the finish term — repaint only for a color change
- Colors
- 21 Solid + 7 DuoBlend (30-yr) + 5 WoodMark (15-yr), plus custom at a premium
- Who backs it
- Wausau Supply, separate from LP — substrate + finish failures mean two warranty claims
LP ExpertFinish
LP's own factory finish on LP SmartSide
- Finish warranty
- 16-yr finish warranty
- Fade rate
- Low — fade-resistant baked factory finish
- Repaint required
- None during the warranty term — repaint only for a color change
- Colors
- 16 factory colors
- Who backs it
- LP — one company for both substrate (5/50) and finish
James Hardie ColorPlus
Factory finish on Hardie fiber cement
- Finish warranty
- 15-yr — full paint + labor, not prorated
- Fade rate
- Low — fade-resistant baked-on finish
- Repaint required
- None during the warranty term — repaint only for a color change
- Colors
- ~700 (Dream Collection)
- Who backs it
- James Hardie — substrate + finish unified under one manufacturer
The honest read
DiamondKote owns the headline — 30 years no-fade, the longest you'll find — but its labor coverage fades out after year 15, and it's a second company from LP. Hardie ColorPlus is shorter at 15 years, but it's full labor, one manufacturer, and ~700 colors. ExpertFinish is the simple all-LP middle. For most Minnesota homes the real win over field paint is the same across all three: no repainting for 15–30 years instead of every 7–10.
Behind the panels
Every re-side includes our complete weatherproofing system
Drainable Kingspan housewrap, flashing at every window, door, and roofline, a rot-proof base detail, and color-matched trim — built into every LP SmartSide and James Hardie job, not sold as a separate package. It's the part you never see, and it's what keeps your wall dry for decades. See exactly what we build behind your siding.
Expertise
Why choose Modex for Minneapolis siding
Manufacturer certifications, ownership-level review on every major install, lifetime workmanship warranty.
Certified
Manufacturer certifications on every install
Modex is LP SmartSide Preferred and James Hardie Preferred. Each requires ongoing training and inspection protocols, and unlocks the manufacturer's full warranty coverage and climate-specific install standards. We also install EDCO Steel Siding to spec — EDCO doesn't offer a contractor certification.
Ownership-level review on premium projects
Every siding install over $40K gets ownership-level review — material selection, crew execution, and final quality sign-off come from the top, not a subcontractor handoff.
Lifetime workmanship — for as long as you own the home
Every residential siding installation carries our lifetime workmanship warranty (current owner). Material defects are covered by the manufacturer; we back the installation itself.
Site assessment
Inspection
We inspect your home and discuss siding options
Our crew evaluates existing siding, substrate condition, and exposure to weather. We walk through material options—LP SmartSide, James Hardie, EDCO steel, cedar, or vinyl—and discuss cost, durability, and maintenance for your specific home and neighborhood.
Permit and prep
Planning
We pull permits and prepare the site
Modex handles all permit applications with the City of Minneapolis or your suburb. We schedule the work, protect landscaping, and coordinate with any structural repairs needed before siding installation begins.
Installation and final
Completion
Our crews install and inspect every detail
Installation typically takes 2–4 weeks depending on home size and material. We flash all windows and doors, seal penetrations, and conduct a final inspection before signing off. You receive warranty documentation and maintenance guidance for your new siding.
Recent Twin Cities siding projects
LP SmartSide, James Hardie, and EDCO steel installs across Minneapolis and the western metro.
The credentials backing the siding install
Manufacturer-verified status on the siding brands we install, plus the third-party accreditation that backs the warranty paperwork.
BBB A+
Accredited
MN License #BC762305
Verified reviews live on Google, Facebook, BBB, and Houzz — read them at the source, not paraphrased here.
The questions we actually get asked in Minneapolis kitchens
Cost, climate, ColorPlus, timeline, and tear-off — the five we hear on almost every estimate.
How much does siding cost?
LP SmartSide engineered wood runs $20K–$55K for a full house. James Hardie fiber cement is $30K–$80K. EDCO steel ranges $35K–$70K. Cedar restorations run $35K–$80K. Vinyl is the entry tier at $14K–$30K. All estimates include labor, permits, and site prep. For the per-material breakdown on a typical Twin Cities home, read siding cost on a 2,000 sq ft house.
What siding handles Minnesota winters best?
LP SmartSide, James Hardie, and EDCO steel all survive the -20°F to 90°F annual swing without splitting or losing paint adhesion. Standard vinyl becomes brittle in deep cold and cracks easily during freeze-thaw cycles — see how long vinyl siding actually lasts in the Twin Cities for the honest 15-to-20-year reality vs. the brochure number. For lasting performance in this climate, engineered wood or fiber cement outperform vinyl — read our honest LP SmartSide vs James Hardie comparison for the trade-offs, plus our vinyl vs LP SmartSide and vinyl vs James Hardie head-to-heads — we install all three.
How does ColorPlus paint warranty work?
James Hardie's ColorPlus finish is factory-applied and warrantied for 15 years against fading, chipping, and peeling. It requires installation by a James Hardie Preferred Contractor—Modex holds this certification—and proper HardieZone climate installation methods. Field-painted Hardie does not carry the warranty.
How long does installation take?
Full-house siding installations typically take 2–4 weeks depending on home size and material. LP SmartSide is on the faster end. James Hardie and EDCO may add 4–12 weeks for material lead times before the install window opens.
Can new siding go over old?
We recommend full tear-off instead. Installing over old siding hides moisture damage, rot, or pest issues underneath. A tear-off lets us inspect the sheathing, address structural problems, and install proper house wrap and flashing for long-term durability. If the damage is localized — a hail-cracked panel, a section of LP rot, a few popped vinyl panels — our Minneapolis siding repair page walks the typical scopes.
Do I need a permit to replace my siding in Minneapolis?
Yes. The City of Minneapolis requires a building permit for any siding replacement. We pull every permit before crews start work and include the permit fee in the line-item quote — you're not chasing paperwork.
Will siding installation include soffit and fascia replacement?
Usually yes. Soffit and fascia are functionally part of the siding system — replacing them at the same time costs less than separating the projects, and new siding looks mismatched against old soffit and fascia. We quote both line-item so you see exactly what you're paying for.
More questions about your Minneapolis siding?
Call Joe at 952-206-6339 or request a free Minneapolis quote — written line-item, no high-pressure follow-up.
Get a written line-item siding quote within 48 hours
Free inspection on your Minneapolis-area home. We'll walk every elevation, photograph the existing siding and trim, and email a written quote within 48 hours. No door-knocking, no same-day-close pressure.
Reviewed by Joe Dvorak, Owner, Modern Exterior Systems · Updated May 2026
Modex is a women-owned roofing, siding, and window contractor in Eden Prairie, MN. LP SmartSide Preferred Contractor · James Hardie Preferred Contractor · BBB A+ Accredited · MN License #BC762305.
BBB A+ AccreditedFurther reading
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