Is vinyl siding repair high up on your maintenance list of things to do? Are you a proud and caring homeowner who wants your house to look bright and fresh all year round? Have you bought a new house that needs attention? Are you selling your house and you want it to look attractive and inviting to encourage buyers to come inside?
When you are beginning a vinyl siding repair project, it is important to first assemble all the tools that will be necessary to see it through to completion. These include the following: as many sections of matching siding as necessary, a zip tool for polyvinyl, tin snips, pry bar, claw hammer, galvanized nails, utility knife, a tape measure, and a carpenter’s square or metal straight edge.
You may find that it is not always easy to find a matching piece of siding if that particular color has been discontinued. However if you take the broken piece to a home improvement store they should be able to help you. To overcome this situation, it is always important to purchase more vinyl siding panels than you need for instances where repair work is needed to be done.
Vinyl Siding Repair Overview
Most polyvinyl cladding is easy to install and uses a system of interlocking panels. It is thin and flexible and like all plastic, it expands and contracts depending on the temperature. However this will not affect it negatively because it is interlocked at both the top and the bottom. Even though installation is relatively easy thanks to this, it can be a chore to remove and replace. Nails are also used to affix it to the wall, but they must never be nailed in too tightly or when the temperature changes it will not have enough room and will break.
A zip tool is necessary to the vinyl siding repair process. It allows you access to the old siding and makes removing it quick and effortless. In order to use this tool effectively you must first unlock the panel above the damaged piece by inserting it under the end of this overlapping panel. It can be hooked into the back lip and then pulled out downwards when you slide it out towards the end. You can then repeat this process to remove the damaged panel.
The next step in the vinyl siding repair
process is to remove the nails that are directly above the damaged section. Once the damaged panel is unlocked it will still be connected with these nails. In order to remove them easily and effective it is best to use a pry bar. The nails will be found holding the strip in place directly above the damaged piece. The damaged section will still need to be cut out, so you will want to do so using a pair of tin snips. While doing so, just be careful that you do not cut the bottom or top edges of the panels located above and below the damaged one.
Once the damaged strip is finally removed you can go on to cut out a replacement section that will fit perfectly. A utility knife will do perfectly. It is a good idea to cut out a slightly larger piece than you will need so you have more to work with and allows for some overlap. Slide the new section into position and nail it into place.
Tools needed for Vinyl Siding Repairs
- Vinyl Siding Zip Tool/ Vinyl Siding Removal Tool – for the removal of the damaged vinyl siding.
- Tin Snips – for cutting vinyl siding pieces to size.
- Hammer – to hammer new galvanized nails into place.
- Carpenter’s Square – to make sure vinyl siding panels and corners and lever and even.
- Galvanized Nails – to hold vinyl siding into place, use of galvanized nails to prevent rust.
- Utility Knife – to trim vinyl siding pieces to perfect fit to cut through face of siding.
- Tape Measure – to measure out the acquired length of vinyl siding needed.
- Small Pry Bar – removal of stubborn nails.
Steps to Repairing Vinyl Siding
Step 1 – Firstly start my using your tape measure to measure the size for damaged vinyl siding you wish to remove, and make markings where you will be cutting the siding.
Step 2 – Remove the old damaged piece of siding by using the square and utility knife to cut through the face of the siding. Then use your zip tool to disengage the siding from the above piece. Remove nails with the pry bar.
Step 3 – Once the damaged piece is removed you can measure and cut the new piece of siding to replace the damaged one. Make sure that your cut your new replacement piece of vinyl siding about 2 inches on either side longer than the old damaged piece.
Step 4 – Now you can put the new piece of siding into place and remember that the new siding piece will overlap by 2 inches. Nail your new piece into place and then use your zip tool to slide and lock your new panel into the J-channel. Nails should be kept slightly loose as the vinyl needs room to expand and contract.
Maintaining Your Vinyl Siding
Vinyl siding is a low cost and durable option and comes in many attractive colors. As with any part of your home, if you take special care of it, you can reduce the need for frequent vinyl siding repair. Keep it clean and fresh looking – use a high pressure hose and a detergent to wash it down and remove accumulated grime and leaves. Mix white vinegar or bleach with water to get rid of any mildew or mould. Just as you take a shower to clean your own skin, do the same for your home’s vinyl siding skin.
To avoid scratching, scuffing or breaking any of the panels, don’t lean things up against them such as ladders, bicycles, or garden tools. Vinyl, being plastic, can melt, so keep all heat sources away from it, such as barbecue grills and patio candles. Plastic can become brittle and crack or break when exposed to extreme cold weather conditions. Heavy winds can get under a panel and lift it. Hail can also cause damage. Any damp build-up under the panels can also affect the walls of the house.