{
  "slug": "repaint-vs-reside-house",
  "title": "Repaint vs Re-Side House Calculator",
  "heading": "Repaint vs Re-Side House Calculator",
  "category": "financial",
  "url": "https://www.revenuelab.fyi/toolbox/repaint-vs-reside-house",
  "summary": "Compare the cost per year of repainting every cycle against one-time re-siding.",
  "description": "Repainting is cheaper per event but needs redoing every 7-10 years, while re-siding costs far more upfront but can last 30-40 years with minimal upkeep. This tool annualizes both paths over a long horizon so you can compare true cost per year of ownership rather than just the sticker price of the next paint job.",
  "formula": "Paint Path Annual Cost = Paint Cost ÷ Repaint Cycle Years. Siding Path Annual Cost = Siding Cost ÷ Siding Lifespan + Annual Upkeep.",
  "dateModified": "2026-09-06",
  "run_url": "https://www.revenuelab.fyi/api/public/calc?tool=repaint-vs-reside-house",
  "inputs": [
    {
      "id": "paintCost",
      "label": "Cost per repaint",
      "kind": "number",
      "hint": null,
      "default": 6500,
      "unit": "$",
      "min": 0,
      "max": null
    },
    {
      "id": "paintCycle",
      "label": "Years between repaints",
      "kind": "number",
      "hint": null,
      "default": 8,
      "unit": null,
      "min": 1,
      "max": 20
    },
    {
      "id": "sidingCost",
      "label": "Cost to re-side",
      "kind": "number",
      "hint": null,
      "default": 22000,
      "unit": "$",
      "min": 0,
      "max": null
    },
    {
      "id": "sidingLife",
      "label": "Siding lifespan",
      "kind": "number",
      "hint": null,
      "default": 35,
      "unit": "yrs",
      "min": 1,
      "max": 60
    },
    {
      "id": "sidingUpkeep",
      "label": "Siding annual upkeep",
      "kind": "number",
      "hint": null,
      "default": 100,
      "unit": "$",
      "min": 0,
      "max": null
    },
    {
      "id": "horizon",
      "label": "Comparison horizon",
      "kind": "number",
      "hint": null,
      "default": 35,
      "unit": "yrs",
      "min": 5,
      "max": 60
    }
  ],
  "outputs": [
    {
      "id": "winner",
      "label": "Lower total cost over horizon",
      "format": "raw",
      "hint": null,
      "primary": true
    },
    {
      "id": "paintTotal",
      "label": "Repaint path total cost",
      "format": "currency",
      "hint": null,
      "primary": false
    },
    {
      "id": "sidingTotal",
      "label": "Re-siding path total cost",
      "format": "currency",
      "hint": null,
      "primary": false
    },
    {
      "id": "diff",
      "label": "Difference",
      "format": "currency",
      "hint": null,
      "primary": false
    }
  ],
  "worked_example": {
    "inputs": [
      "Cost per repaint: 6500 $",
      "Years between repaints: 8",
      "Cost to re-side: 22000 $",
      "Siding lifespan: 35 yrs",
      "Siding annual upkeep: 100 $",
      "Comparison horizon: 35 yrs"
    ],
    "outputs": [
      "Lower total cost over horizon: Re-Side",
      "Repaint path total cost: $32,500",
      "Re-siding path total cost: $25,500",
      "Difference: $7,000"
    ]
  },
  "how_to": {
    "title": "How to use this",
    "steps": [
      "Enter cost per repaint ($).",
      "Enter years between repaints.",
      "Enter cost to re-side ($).",
      "Enter siding lifespan (yrs).",
      "Enter siding annual upkeep ($).",
      "Enter comparison horizon (yrs).",
      "Read your lower total cost over horizon on the right — it updates as you type.",
      "Hit Share to keep the scenario or send it to someone."
    ]
  },
  "scenarios": [
    {
      "name": "Conservative",
      "description": "Lower-end numbers — what if things land soft?",
      "values": {
        "paintCost": 3900,
        "paintCycle": 5,
        "sidingCost": 13000,
        "sidingLife": 21,
        "sidingUpkeep": 50,
        "horizon": 21
      }
    },
    {
      "name": "Typical",
      "description": "Defaults — the most common real-world setup.",
      "values": {
        "paintCost": 6500,
        "paintCycle": 8,
        "sidingCost": 22000,
        "sidingLife": 35,
        "sidingUpkeep": 100,
        "horizon": 35
      }
    },
    {
      "name": "Ambitious",
      "description": "Higher-end numbers — what if things really pop?",
      "values": {
        "paintCost": 10400,
        "paintCycle": 13,
        "sidingCost": 35000,
        "sidingLife": 56,
        "sidingUpkeep": 150,
        "horizon": 56
      }
    }
  ],
  "limitations": [
    "Results are estimates before tax, fees, and inflation unless an input explicitly covers them.",
    "Rates are treated as fixed for the whole period — variable-rate products will drift from this projection.",
    "This is educational maths, not financial advice. Check anything contractual with the lender or your accountant."
  ],
  "faq": [
    {
      "q": "Does re-siding add resale value?",
      "a": "Yes — new siding is one of the higher ROI exterior projects, often recouping 70-80% of cost at resale, which this calculator doesn't credit but should tilt the decision further toward siding for longer holds."
    },
    {
      "q": "Is paint quality a factor?",
      "a": "A lot — premium paint and proper prep can push a repaint cycle from 7 years to 12+, meaningfully changing the annualized cost, so use your actual expected cycle length."
    },
    {
      "q": "What about wood siding needing repainting anyway?",
      "a": "This comparison assumes re-siding with a low-maintenance material like vinyl or fiber cement; wood siding would still need periodic painting even after replacement."
    }
  ],
  "related": [
    "https://www.revenuelab.fyi/toolbox/wood-vs-vinyl-fence-cost",
    "https://www.revenuelab.fyi/toolbox/repair-vs-replace-roof"
  ],
  "license": "CC-BY-4.0",
  "citation": "RevenueLab — Repaint vs Re-Side House Calculator (https://www.revenuelab.fyi/toolbox/repaint-vs-reside-house)"
}