body {
font-family: 'Segoe UI', Tahoma, Geneva, Verdana, sans-serif;
background-color: #f8f9fa;
color: #333;
line-height: 1.6;
margin: 0;
padding: 20px;
}
.loan-calc-container {
max-width: 800px;
margin: 30px auto;
background-color: #ffffff;
padding: 30px;
border-radius: 8px;
box-shadow: 0 4px 15px rgba(0, 74, 153, 0.1);
border: 1px solid #e0e0e0;
}
h1, h2 {
color: #004a99;
text-align: center;
margin-bottom: 25px;
}
.input-group {
margin-bottom: 20px;
display: flex;
flex-direction: column;
}
.input-group label {
display: block;
margin-bottom: 8px;
font-weight: bold;
color: #004a99;
}
.input-group input[type="number"] {
padding: 12px 15px;
border: 1px solid #ced4da;
border-radius: 5px;
font-size: 1rem;
width: calc(100% – 30px); /* Adjust for padding */
}
.input-group input[type="number"]:focus {
border-color: #004a99;
outline: none;
box-shadow: 0 0 0 2px rgba(0, 74, 153, 0.2);
}
button {
background-color: #004a99;
color: white;
padding: 12px 25px;
border: none;
border-radius: 5px;
font-size: 1.1rem;
cursor: pointer;
transition: background-color 0.3s ease;
display: block;
width: 100%;
margin-top: 10px;
}
button:hover {
background-color: #003366;
}
#result {
margin-top: 30px;
padding: 20px;
background-color: #e9ecef;
border-left: 5px solid #28a745;
border-radius: 5px;
text-align: center;
}
#result h3 {
color: #004a99;
margin-bottom: 15px;
}
#result-value {
font-size: 2.5rem;
font-weight: bold;
color: #28a745;
}
.article-content {
margin-top: 40px;
padding: 25px;
background-color: #ffffff;
border-radius: 8px;
box-shadow: 0 2px 10px rgba(0, 74, 153, 0.05);
border: 1px solid #e0e0e0;
}
.article-content h2 {
text-align: left;
color: #004a99;
margin-bottom: 20px;
}
.article-content p, .article-content ul {
margin-bottom: 15px;
}
.article-content strong {
color: #004a99;
}
.section-title {
font-size: 1.4rem;
color: #004a99;
margin-bottom: 15px;
border-bottom: 2px solid #004a99;
padding-bottom: 5px;
}
@media (max-width: 600px) {
.loan-calc-container {
padding: 20px;
}
h1 {
font-size: 1.8rem;
}
button {
font-size: 1rem;
}
#result-value {
font-size: 2rem;
}
}
Understanding Siding Square Footage
When planning a siding project for your home, accurately calculating the total square footage of siding needed is crucial. This ensures you purchase enough material without significant overage, saving both time and money. The calculation involves measuring the exterior walls and then subtracting areas that won't be covered by siding, such as windows and doors.
The Math Behind the Calculation
The basic formula to calculate the raw square footage of a rectangular wall is:
Wall Square Footage = Wall Height (ft) × Wall Length (ft)
To find the total siding area for a house with multiple walls, you sum the square footage of each wall. However, it's more practical to calculate the total length of all walls and multiply by the average wall height, or simply multiply the dimensions of each wall and sum them up. The formula used in this calculator is:
Total Gross Wall Area = (Wall Height × Wall Length) × Number of Walls
Once you have the total gross wall area, you must subtract the areas that do not require siding. These typically include windows and doors.
Net Siding Area = Total Gross Wall Area – Total Window Area (sq ft) – Total Door Area (sq ft)
Why Accurate Measurement Matters
Material Efficiency: Over-ordering siding leads to wasted material and increased costs. Under-ordering means a delay in your project as you'll need to place another, potentially smaller, order, which can be expensive to ship and may even result in color or texture mismatches if the product batch changes.
Budgeting: Knowing the exact square footage allows for more precise budgeting, helping you allocate funds effectively for materials, labor, and potential unforeseen costs.
Waste Factor: While this calculator provides the net area, professional installers often add a waste factor (typically 5-10%) to account for cuts, errors, and potential damage during installation. It's advisable to discuss this with your contractor or factor it in yourself when purchasing materials.
How to Use This Calculator
1. Measure Wall Height: Measure the height of your walls from the foundation to the soffit or eave in feet. If your house has multiple stories with different heights, use the average or the height of the primary siding area.
2. Measure Wall Length: Measure the length of each exterior wall in feet. If all walls are the same length, you can enter that length and the number of walls.
3. Count Walls: Enter the total number of exterior walls that will be covered in siding.
4. Measure Window and Door Areas: Measure the height and width of each window and door. Multiply height by width to get the square footage for each opening. Sum up all window areas for Total Window Area, and sum up all door areas for Total Door Area.
5. Click Calculate: The calculator will provide the net square footage of siding required for your project.
Remember, this calculation gives you the net square footage. It's good practice to add a waste factor of 5-10% when ordering materials to account for cuts, mistakes, and future repairs.
function calculateSidingArea() {
var wallHeight = parseFloat(document.getElementById("wallHeight").value);
var wallLength = parseFloat(document.getElementById("wallLength").value);
var numberOfWalls = parseFloat(document.getElementById("numberOfWalls").value);
var windowArea = parseFloat(document.getElementById("windowArea").value);
var doorArea = parseFloat(document.getElementById("doorArea").value);
var resultDisplay = document.getElementById("result-value");
// Clear previous results and error messages
resultDisplay.textContent = "– sq ft";
// Input validation
if (isNaN(wallHeight) || wallHeight <= 0) {
alert("Please enter a valid positive number for Wall Height.");
return;
}
if (isNaN(wallLength) || wallLength <= 0) {
alert("Please enter a valid positive number for Wall Length.");
return;
}
if (isNaN(numberOfWalls) || numberOfWalls <= 0) {
alert("Please enter a valid positive whole number for Number of Walls.");
return;
}
// Allow 0 for window/door area if there are none
if (isNaN(windowArea)) {
windowArea = 0;
}
if (isNaN(doorArea)) {
doorArea = 0;
}
var grossWallArea = (wallHeight * wallLength) * numberOfWalls;
var netSidingArea = grossWallArea – windowArea – doorArea;
// Ensure the net area is not negative
if (netSidingArea < 0) {
netSidingArea = 0;
}
resultDisplay.textContent = netSidingArea.toFixed(2) + " sq ft";
}