For bigger home repairs like roof replacements, we want to call the professionals. But if it’s as simple as vinyl siding repair, it’s something you can DIY.
All you need are the right materials, tools, and step-by-step instructions. So, if you want to learn how to repair vinyl siding yourself—you’ve come to the right place.
Tools Needed for Repairing Vinyl Siding
Sometimes, a good ol’ hammer is the only tool you need to repair vinyl siding. In most cases, you could use your hands to remove the vinyl siding from its grooves to expose the nails. Then, it’s as simple as using the hammer to remove the nails that hold up the vinyl siding.
To recap, the essential tools you need for vinyl siding repair are a hammer and a new set of nails. There will also be cases when you can do repairs using the good parts from the old siding you removed.
You’d want marking tools, a strong cutter, snips or shears, and a zip tool. The zip tool helps you pull out the bottom of the old siding so it can snap into the groove of the newly repaired areas.
Step-by-Step Guide to Repairing Vinyl Siding
With tools at the ready, all you need to do is to get the right vinyl siding materials. On average, vinyl siding costs around $4,500 on low-end installations. Luckily, we’re doing a DIY repair.
We just need to match the new vinyl with the old ones. If possible, go for the same manufacturer and, of course, the same color. Here’s the step-by-step guide on how to repair vinyl siding:
Remove Old Vinyl Siding that Needs Repairs
Insert your hand at a siding joint above the siding that needs repairs or replacement. Pull it down to snap it out of the groove. The nails used to hang the old siding can then be exposed.
Remove the Old Nails
With the siding loose, use the hammer’s claw to remove the old nails attached to the siding you want to repair. When the nails are out, the siding can easily be pulled down and removed. Next, we install the new vinyl strip.
Install the New Vinyl Strip
Each vinyl siding has two parts—the nailing strip and the snapping piece. To install the new strip, push it up at an angle behind a siding strip so the snapping piece sits inside the grooves of the nailing strip below.
Keep snapping the piece in place until it overlaps horizontally with the next siding. Next, we nail the siding. We don’t want it snapped tight. Instead, the nail should hang the siding.
Hammer in the nail at the center while pulling up to ensure that the bottom is firmly snapped in place. Do the same for the rest of the nail holes.
How to Repair Vinyl Using a Patch From Old Siding
In most cases, new siding installation is the way to go. However, that might not be the most economical choice, especially if the siding repair is small and isolated in a specific area.
If that’s the case, the good parts of the old siding we removed can be used as a patch instead. Here’s the step-by-step guide:
Cut the Piece That Needs Repairs
It’s important to cut the piece away from the joint of the vinyl siding below to keep the joints staggered. Again, we don’t want to remove the entire strip, just the parts that need repair.
Mark Needed Length From Old Siding Piece
Lay the removed siding on top of usable old siding from previous replacements. Expose about three-quarters to one inch of the old siding. Then, go to the other end and mark the length.
Remove Small Piece of Nailing Strip and Snapping Piece
After cutting down the siding patch to length, we still need to remove a small piece of nailing strip from the top and the snapping piece at the back. We do this so that the patch lays flat with the other vinyl strips when we put it together.
Install the Patch
As per usual, we just need to slide the siding patch at the back of the piece in the front. Slide it on top of the piece in the back. Then, nail it in. Not too tight. Just enough for the vinyl to hang.
Use a Zip Tool to Lock the Vinyl on Top to the Patch
Unfortunately, there will be times when our fingers won’t have enough strength to pull the vinyl siding on top of our patch down for it to snap. When this happens, we use our zip tool.
The zip tool has a hook that helps you catch the bottom of the siding on top of our patch. When you pull it down, the siding gets bent out enough for you to push it in and snap it into place.
How to Overlap Siding Properly
Most manufacturers would cut about 2 inches of the nailing strip on the top and the bottom. That’s to account for vinyl siding expansion from temperature changes. If your siding doesn’t overlap, it can create an opening when it shrinks.
One of the main culprits of botched vinyl siding repairs or installation is poor overlaps. As a rule of thumb, you’d want to have the nailing line ends of two siding pieces about ¼ inches away from each other. This leaves about an inch to 1 and ¼ inches of the siding under the locking line of the other piece.
Tips for Vinyl Siding Repair
Anybody can learn how to repair vinyl siding. You could either replace an entire strip or patch a strip with good parts from old siding. As a quick refresher, here’s how you do it:
- Remove old vinyl siding by pulling the top siding piece from the snapping groove.
- Use your fingers or a zip tool to pull the bottom of the siding down.
- Lift the siding up to expose the nails that hold the damaged vinyl in place
- Remove the nails and the damaged strip
- Install the new vinyl strip by pushing it at an angle and securing it in place.
In most cases, vinyl siding repair is relatively simple. But, it can get complicated, especially with hard-to-reach areas. When this happens, leave it to the professionals! That’s where Fahey Roofing Contractors come in! Get a free quote today!