How to Repair Vinyl Siding

Fixing damaged siding doesn't have to be expensive. Follow these steps to patch small holes or repair entire vinyl siding panels.

cracked vinyl siding
Photo:

Getty Images/Kat72

Project Overview
  • Working Time: 1 hour
  • Total Time: 1 hour, 30 minutes
  • Skill Level: Beginner
  • Estimated Cost: $50

There are a range of regular repairs and maintenance tasks that you need to keep up with to ensure your home stays in good condition. One such task is inspecting and repairing vinyl siding. Keeping up with siding repairs is a guaranteed way to prolong its longevity and ensure that insects and rodents can't use damaged panels as a point of entry. Fixing damaged siding also helps to keep moisture from seeping into the home, so you aren't dealing with hidden water damage.

Beyond the most practical reasons for patching or replacing a piece of damaged siding, this project can also restore the appearance of the siding, instead of having unsightly dents, divots, holes, or cracks. Experienced and beginner DIYers are capable of tackling this job, so if you have the time and tools, you can avoid paying a professional to repair the damage. Use this guide to find out how to repair vinyl siding.

Before You Begin

Vinyl siding panels are commonly used to protect the exterior of the home from rain, wind, ice, and snow. If the siding gets damaged, then it's important to patch or replace the damaged panel as soon as possible to avoid any future issues. However, if at all possible, it's recommended to patch or repair any vinyl siding holes during the spring or fall months, when the weather isn't too hot or too cold.

Additionally, when you are working on the vinyl siding patch, it's a good idea to wear protective gloves and safety glasses. This will help ensure that your hands, fingers, and eyes are protected while you work with potentially dangerous tools, like tin snips, utility knifes, hammers, pry bars, or drills.

What You'll Need

Equipment / Tools

  • Microfiber cloth
  • Caulking gun
  • Hammer
  • Pry bar
  • Tape measure
  • Tin snips
  • Utility knife
  • Zip tool
  • Paintbrush
  • Drill

Materials

  • Caulk
  • Replacement siding
  • Paint
  • Nails
  • Screws

Instructions

How to Patch Siding with Minor Damage

  1. Clean the Damaged Area

    If the damage is relatively limited, you can generally fill the hole or prepare a small patch to repair the vinyl. However, the caulk requires a clean surface for optimal adhesion. Clean the damaged area with warm soapy water and a microfiber cloth to remove any dirt and debris.

  2. Apply Caulk to Small Divots

    For small divots and holes less than an inch in size, you can typically complete the repair in a matter of minutes. Load a caulking gun with waterproof caulk and apply a small bead of caulk to fill the hole. If necessary, smooth the caulk with a putty knife and wait for it to dry. Once it's dry, sand the caulk smooth and apply paint that matches the siding.

  3. Cut Out Damaged Siding

    If the damage is larger than an inch, but still relatively small, you can repair the siding with a patch. Start by removing the damaged siding. Use a utility knife to cut out the damaged siding, then use a zip tool to remove the cutout. Cut carefully so you do not damage the building paper underneath. With the zip tool, pull down and out to unhook the bottom lip, then slide the tool along the edge and pull out the damaged piece of siding.

  4. Prepare a Patch

    Use your tape measure to take precise measurements of the damaged area. Cut a replacement patch from a new piece of siding, ensuring that the replacement patch extends about two inches further on each side than the damaged piece of siding. Check to make sure that the patch fits the desired location before proceeding.

    Color Matching Tip: Even if you find an exact replacement, the siding on your walls may have faded, so that the new pieces will be noticeably darker. If the repair is on a highly visible portion of the house, you may want to remove a piece from a less-visible part of the house (perhaps in the back or behind a bush) and use that as the patch—then install the recently purchased piece in the less-visible location.

  5. Install the Patch

    Apply a bead of caulk around the siding cutout, then slide the replacement piece up into place, pushing up until the bottom lip locks into the piece of siding below it. Depending on the size of the patch, you may want to secure the top of the patch with nails or screws, though small patches typically don't require this additional step.

    If you are not using nails or screws, consider using duct tape or some other type of temporary brace to hold the patch in place until the caulk has time to dry.

  6. Sand and Paint the Caulk

    Finish the job by trimming, sanding, and painting any visible caulk to blend the patch with the existing vinyl siding.

How To Replace Damaged Siding Panels

  1. Separate the Broken Panel

    In some cases, the damage to the siding is too much for a simple patch. When this occurs, you will need to remove and replace the damaged vinyl siding panel. Start this process by using the zip tool to pull down and out to unhook the bottom lip, then slide the tool along the edge as you pull the siding out to separate the broken panel.

    Buckling Siding Panels: If many of the pieces are coming apart or buckling, they may have been installed with nails driven too tightly. Nails should be loose, so the material can expand and contract. If that's the case, you may need to remove the siding from an area and reinstall it.

  2. Remove Nails or Screws

    The top of the panel is likely secured with nails or screws. If the panel is secured with nails, use a hammer or prybar to remove the nails and detach the panel. If the panel is secured with screws, use a drill to remove the screws and detach the broken panel. Keep in mind, you’ll have to lift up the panel above it to see the row of nails or screws.

  3. Prepare the New Piece of Siding

    Measure and cut a new piece of vinyl siding to replace the broken piece. Make sure that the new piece of siding is about four inches wider than the original piece, so that two inches will overlap on each end to prevent water from seeping through to the wood.

  4. Install the New Vinyl Panel

    Slide the replacement panel into place, pushing up on the panel to lock the bottom lip in place. Lift the panel above and use nails or screws to secure the top of the vinyl panel. If possible, it's recommended to have a second person hold the panel above, so you can focus on the driving nails or attaching the panel with screws.

  5. Secure the Siding Together

    The last step of the process is to secure the vinyl siding panels together. Align the bottom lip of the above panel with the top lip of the replacement panel and pull up on the above panel until it locks into place. If necessary, use the zip tool to help hook the panels together to complete the repair.

Related Articles