Vinyl siding is a popular choice for home improvement projects because it’s affordable, durable, and easy to install. However, as with any other material or structure on your home, you’ll likely need to make repairs at some point. Your siding is exposed to everything nature can throw at it, so what should homeowners do when it’s time for repairs? Let’s take a look at vinyl siding repair and see if it’s worth doing yourself or hiring a professional.
Damage to Your Vinyl Siding
Damage to your vinyl siding can come from several sources. It can happen over time or suddenly. Here are some of the ways that your vinyl siding can get damaged:
Storms and Hail
As we’ve said, it’s your vinyl siding’s job to protect the interior of your home from the outside elements. Like roofing and gutters, it’s constantly putting up with whatever nature throws at it. High winds can loosen and remove entire panels of siding or throw debris like tree branches. Large hailstones can also put holes into vinyl siding panels, especially if the siding is old.
Animals
Birds and squirrels can also damage your vinyl siding; both can create small holes in pieces of vinyl siding as they look for food. This is an especially serious problem on homes with wood siding, as insects can infiltrate if the wood isn’t regularly treated.
Mold and Mildew
Damage to vinyl siding due to mold and mildew occurs over time and is simply a matter of not cleaning it. Mold and mildew can easily be cleaned off of vinyl siding using a stiff-bristled brush and a household cleaner or bleach solution. If vinyl siding isn’t cleaned regularly, the vinyl can degrade and become weak, making it more susceptible to damage from other sources. Plus, dirty siding affects the curb appeal of your home!
Repairing Your Vinyl Siding
Making small repairs in vinyl siding isn’t a tough job if you want to do it yourself. Like most home repairs, it’s pretty simple if the area of damaged vinyl siding isn’t large.
How to Patch Small Holes in Vinyl Siding
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- Use the handle of a tool to knock down the edges of the hole.
- Go over the damaged area with 220-grit sandpaper.
- Clean the area so that the patching material will adhere.
- Fill the hole with exterior filler material, then use a putty knife to smooth the filler.
- After the filler has dried, sand it with 100-grit sandpaper, then finish with 220-grit.
- Clean the area, then apply primer.
- Paint with exterior paint.
How to Patch Large Holes in Vinyl Siding
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- Use a piece of wood or spare piece of siding as a backer. Glue or nail it to the sheathing behind the siding.
- Apply the patching material, then smooth with a putty knife.
- After the filler has dried, sand it with 100-grit sandpaper, then finish with 220-grit.
- Clean the area, then apply primer.
- Paint with exterior paint.
Replacing a Panel of Vinyl Siding
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- If there is too much damage to repair with a patch, then you’ll have to replace the damaged piece of vinyl siding with a new piece.
- Run a zip tool (siding removal tool) under the panel above the damaged section of the siding to separate the panels.
- Remove any nails or fasteners with a pry bar or claw hammer.
- Cut the replacement panel to size with a utility knife or saw.
- Slide the piece of replacement siding into place, with the top of the new piece attaching to the bottom edge of the old piece.
- Lift the bottom edge of the upper panel to expose the nailing strip. Attach the siding to the house’s sheathing with screws or nails, leaving room for natural expansion and contraction of the house as the temperature changes.
- Use the zip tool to secure the new siding piece to the panel next to it.
Try a New Look
It’s not difficult to make small repairs to your vinyl siding. If you have any home repair experience, you won’t have to call a handyman for vinyl siding repair. But if your siding is full of holes, or more than 30 years old, consider a remodel. A great way to add a unique look to your house is with vinyl shake siding! You get a classic look of wood shakes with the durability of vinyl. Contact Factory Direct Siding today and browse their selection of popular colors to give your home a whole new look and feel!