Residing a home in Arlington typically runs $10,000–$22,000 for quality vinyl siding and $18,000–$45,000 for James Hardie fiber cement, with most projects taking four to six days. We’re Sunshine Contracting (family-owned since 1993, and Virginia’s #1 James Hardie siding installer), and every siding job we do carries a 10-year workmanship warranty.
Get a free in-home estimate and we’ll tell you exactly what your house needs, and what it doesn’t.
What does siding replacement cost in Arlington?
Two numbers matter up front:
| Siding type | Typical whole-house range |
|---|---|
| Quality vinyl | $10,000 – $22,000 |
| Insulated vinyl | Upper end of vinyl range and above |
| James Hardie fiber cement | $18,000 – $45,000 |
Where your project falls inside those ranges comes down to your home’s size and stories, how much trim and detail work is involved, whether you add insulation under the new siding, and (the honest wildcard on Arlington’s older homes) what the old siding has been hiding. Nobody can see rotted sheathing until the tear-off, so treat any number you get before an inspection as a starting point, not a promise. Our estimates come after we’ve actually walked your house, and they don’t move afterward.
There are options below and above these ranges too: reach out and we’ll find the version that fits your budget.
Is James Hardie worth it over vinyl on an older Arlington home?
It’s the most common question we hear in Arlington, and the honest answer is: both are good choices for different owners.
Quality vinyl is the value play: modern panels look far better than what came off houses in the ’90s, they never need paint, and Alside premium vinyl carries a Double Lifetime Warranty. If you want the biggest visual upgrade per dollar, vinyl wins.
James Hardie fiber cement is the buy-once play: it handles impacts, fire, and decades of weather in a way vinyl can’t, it holds crisp shadow lines that suit Arlington’s older architecture, and it carries a 30-year non-prorated, transferable warranty (plus a 15-year finish warranty with ColorPlus factory color). If you plan to stay, or you’re in a neighborhood where curb appeal carries the block, Hardie earns its price.
We install both: our siding page covers every product line, from insulated vinyl (we’re a Progressive Foam Preferred Partner, one of roughly 150 in the country) to composite and stone veneer accents.
Do you need a permit to replace siding in Arlington?
For most homes, no. Virginia’s statewide building code exempts residential re-siding from permits: replacing your siding like-for-like doesn’t require one for most homes. Two real exceptions to know: homes in a designated local historic district (like Maywood) may need approval before exterior changes, and if you’re in a condo or HOA, your association’s architectural review almost always applies.
If you’re not sure which bucket your house falls in, ask at the estimate: it takes us two minutes to check.
What Arlington’s older houses hide under their siding
A lot of Arlington was built between the 1920s and 1950s: neighborhoods like Lyon Village, Ashton Heights, Waverly Hills, Donaldson Run, Bellevue Forest, Arlington Ridge, and Westover are full of 1920s bungalows, 1940s capes, and mid-century colonials. Most of those homes have been resided at least once, often with builder’s-budget hardboard or early vinyl.
Here’s what decades of Virginia weather does under that old skin: water finds the corners and the gaps under windows first, and the north- and west-facing walls (the ones that take the weather) fail before the rest of the house. That’s why rotted wood gets replaced before anything new goes over it: never covered up. Burying rot under fresh siding just hides a problem that gets more expensive every year it stays hidden, and that’s not how we work.
Why Arlington homeowners choose Sunshine
- Virginia’s #1 James Hardie siding installer: James Hardie Elite Preferred contractor.
- 10-year workmanship warranty on every siding install: 9 more years than state law requires: on top of the manufacturer warranties above.
- In-house, factory-trained siding crews. Nothing subcontracted.
- 4.9 out of 5 from 999+ verified customers on Guild Quality.
- Family-owned since 1993, headquartered in Woodbridge.
- Licensed, bonded, and insured: Virginia Class A #2705075333.
- A quote that doesn’t wobble. The written number is the number.
Can you finance siding replacement?
Yes: flexible financing options with approved credit. We’ll cover what’s currently available when we come out.
Arlington siding FAQs
How much does it cost to reside a house in Arlington?
Plan on $10,000–$22,000 for quality vinyl and $18,000–$45,000 for James Hardie fiber cement, depending on your home’s size, trim detail, insulation choices, and any rot repair uncovered at tear-off. A free in-home estimate pins down a firm written number for your actual house.
Do I need a permit or HOA approval to replace siding in Arlington?
No permit for standard residential re-siding: Virginia’s statewide building code exempts it. But homes in designated historic districts (like Maywood) may need approval, and condo or HOA communities usually require architectural review before exterior changes. Check your association’s rules before scheduling.
Is James Hardie worth the extra cost over vinyl?
If you’re staying long-term or want the most durable, best-looking result on an older home, usually yes: it’s tougher than vinyl and carries a 30-year non-prorated, transferable warranty. If maximum value per dollar matters most, modern quality vinyl is a legitimately good product. We install both, so you’ll get a straight comparison for your house, not a sales pitch for one.
Wondering what’s under your siding? Book a free estimate: we’ll look, tell you the truth, and put a firm number on it. Serving Arlington from Lyon Village to Westover, and all of Northern Virginia.