Tools and Materials
Tools
Repairing Vinyl Siding as a DIY Project
Fixing siding problems helps protect your home’s structure and maintains curb appeal. Most methods of vinyl siding repair are simple if you have do-it-yourself experience, and you can save money when fixing it yourself. However, there are things to consider before learning how to repair vinyl siding:
- Be sure you’re comfortable making changes to your home exterior.
- You’ll need a helper to fix siding on a house.
- Depending on the location of the siding damage, you must be able to work safely on a ladder. The work may require a ladder for your helper as well. Scaffolding is an alternative that gives you a platform to use as a work area.
- When replacing vinyl siding panels, match the thickness, width, and style to your existing siding.
- It may be difficult to find a new panel that exactly matches the color of your existing siding.
- Your local Lowe’s can color match your existing panel with paint suitable for vinyl siding.
- Don’t apply dark paint to light-color siding. The darker paint will absorb more heat than the panel is designed to take, causing it to warp.
You may want to consider using platform scaffolding instead of ladders. Lowe’s offers ladder and scaffolding rental in some locations. Check your local store for availability.
Repairing vinyl siding on a house requires the appropriate safety gear. You’ll need safety glasses and work gloves when using a utility knife. Wear safety glasses and a respirator when cutting with power tools. Follow the safety instructions for your equipment and materials.
How to Fix or Replace Vinyl Siding
Learn how to repair vinyl siding with the steps below. Always follow the instructions for the patch material or siding panels that you’re working with.
How to Fix a Hole in Vinyl Siding
Holes in vinyl siding that are an inch or smaller in diameter are easy to repair with patching or spackling material. Make sure the material is suitable for vinyl siding repairs.
Prep the Damaged Area
Using a paint scraper, carefully press down any raised edges around the hole. Lightly sand the area around the damage with 220-grit sandpaper or a 220-grit sanding block to degloss the finish and remove the factory sheen from the area. Wipe away any dirt, mildew, and sanding dust to make sure the surface is clean. This prep will help the patching material stick to the siding.
Apply Patching Compound
Now that the panel is clean and dry, use a putty knife to spread the patch material over the damaged area. Fill the hole and feather the edges of the material across a small area around the hole. You should slightly overfill the hole to make sure to get complete coverage. Wet the putty knife and smooth out the filler. Allow the material to cure according to the manufacturer’s instructions.
Smooth and Finish the Patch
When the patch material has completely dried, sand the patch with 220-grit sandpaper. Wipe the repair area clean and paint over the patch with vinyl exterior paint.
Holes larger than one inch may require replacing the entire panel.
Replacing a Vinyl Siding Panel
If a siding panel has damage that a spackling patch won’t fix, you’ll need to replace the panel. Weather, accidents, and sunlight are the main contributors to vinyl siding harm. The sun’s rays can cause panels to fade in color or even melt if they stay too hot for too long. And while this siding is hardy, it can also be brittle. Direct impact from tree branches, stray baseballs, even an accidental bump up from a car can crack panels and cause damage enough to need panel replacement.
Unhook the Damaged Panel
To remove the damaged panel, begin at one end with your siding removal tool. Push the tool under the panel’s bottom lip until you feel it catch. Pulling downward, begin sliding the tool along the bottom edge to disconnect the panel from the one below it. When you reach the end, unhook the tool. Do the same with the panel above to free the panel for removal. If you notice that the house wrap under the damaged panel also has damage, patch it with house wrap tape to maintain moisture protection.
Remove the Nails
Use your pry bar to remove the nails securing the damaged panel to the house. Separate the panel from the top lock on the panel below it and remove the damaged piece from the house.
Have your helper hold the upper panel while you remove the nails from the damaged panel.
Size the Replacement Panel
If you’re not replacing a full-length panel, use a speed square and the damaged panel as a template to mark the replacement panel on the end that the adjacent panel will overlap. Cut the replacement to length with a pair of snips or an oscillating tool. You might need to clip away a section of the nailing fin and bottom edge to match the damaged panel. Clipping these areas allows the panels to expand and contract correctly.
Install the Replacement Panel
Slide the replacement panel into place, sliding it up until the lower lip locks into place with the panel below. Drive siding nails every 12 to 16 inches along the nailing fin of the new panel. Drive the nails into studs at the center of the slots and leave the head of each nail a minimum of 1/32 inches above the fin so the panel can expand and contract with the weather.
The overlapping panel should cover 1 to 1-1/4 inch of the new panel and, unless it’s the final panel in a row, the new panel must overlap the next panel by the same amount. Align the replacement panel and reattach the end of the overlapping panel. Maintain the existing overlap direction of your other panels.
Lock the New Panel Into Place
Once you have nailed the panel into place, you can lock the new panel into place. Starting at one end, use the removal tool to hook the bottom lock or edge of the panel and pull it down over the top lock or lip of the lower panel. Press down until it snaps into place. Work down the length of your new panel until it’s fully locked in place.
Repairing Corner Post Trim Damage
Outside corner post trim covers the outside corners of vinyl siding on a house. A nailing fin allows it to fasten to the house and internal J-channels wrap around the ends of the siding panels. You can repair small holes and cracks in the trim using a method like the one we describe above for patching siding, but extensive damage may require replacing the entire piece.
Replacing a piece of trim can be more complex than the previous fixes. Cutting away the damaged part accurately might be difficult since you can’t easily see the internal J-channel. Repairs may also require working on a ladder. If you’re not comfortable doing the work, hire a professional.
Remove the Damaged Trim Face Section
Examine your replacement corner post trim to get an idea of the internal structure of the piece. Knowing what the J-channel looks like and where it is helps you make an accurate cut on the damaged piece.
Remove any gutter downspout pieces (if necessary) to access the damaged trim. Use a utility knife to cut away the face of the existing trim at the peak of the outer bend in the J-channel.
Trim the Replacement Corner Post Trim Piece
Using the damaged trim as a guide, cut the new trim piece to length with snips or an oscillating tool. Use your utility knife to cut away the nailing fin on each side of the repair piece. Take your time when trimming off the flanges.
Install the Replacement Section
Add exterior caulk to the exposed J-channels on the existing trim piece. Wrap the channel of the repair piece around the exposed channels of the existing piece and press firmly into place. Lay a bead of caulk to the upper and lower seams of the newly installed section. Reinstall the gutter downspout if necessary.
When you have an entire corner piece to install, it will take a little extra effort. Start at the top and work your way down, hooking one side on at a time. Once that side is fully in place, use your siding tool to hook the other side of the new corner piece into place.
Painting Vinyl Siding
After installing your replacement sections, you may want to paint them to better match your current siding color. Painting vinyl siding can be done with just a few steps:
- Clean the section with mild detergent and water to remove any dirt.
- Use high-quality latex paint and primer specifically for use on vinyl siding.
- Apply with a paint brush for small sections, starting from high to low to prevent runs and drips.
- If needed a second coat can be applied. Refer to the drying times on the paint can.
Need a new, full siding installation for your home? Lowe’s offers siding installation in some areas. We can handle other exterior home projects as well. Take a look at all of Lowe’s Installation Services.