Can I Repair My Vinyl Siding?

Vinyl siding is one of the most popular cladding materials in the country, and when you look at its overall performance record, it's easy to see why. It never needs to be painted, its resilience makes it hold up well under pressure, and it adds both beauty and value to whatever home it is installed on. One thing that no siding material can claim, however, is to be indestructible. Though it is incredibly low-maintenance, it is not uncommon that vinyl siding repair is going to be necessary for one reason or another over its lifetime. When it comes time to repair vinyl siding, the big question on many homeowners' minds is whether they can do the job themselves, or if hiring a professional will be the only way to go.

Vinyl Siding Repair for Holes
If an impact is strong enough and confined to a small enough area, it is certainly possible to puncture vinyl siding. Repair in this case will depend a lot on the size of the hole. A hole that is very small may be able to be patched with a small cut piece of siding. For larger, more noticeable holes, it is generally recommended that the entire panel the hole is located on be replaced. Both of these operations require the use of spare siding. When you get your siding installed, it is a very good idea to purchase a bit extra for use in repairs down the road.

Vinyl Siding Repair in Cold Climates
In most cases, vinyl siding repair is better done when temperatures are warm. When temperatures get cold, vinyl becomes brittle. Performing work on cold vinyl can actually cause it to crack; even professionals can have a hard time working with vinyl in cold temperatures. If you live in an area that doesn't see too many freezing temperatures, you might be able to repair vinyl siding almost any time of the year. For those in colder climates, unless it is an emergency, vinyl siding repair should probably wait until the summer.

Vinyl Siding Panel Replacement
Replacing a panel of your vinyl siding is a tricky job. It will require the use of a zip tool (not very expensive, and should be available at your local home improvement center) to open the seam between the affected panel and the one above it. You'll have to pull out some nails and take caution not to damage the panels, or the insulation and backing underneath them. In many cases, this is a job that homeowners leave to the professionals as the process, though not impossible for a first-timer, is one where proper technique and an experienced hand cut down on project time (and possible damage) dramatically.

Matching Vinyl Siding Panels
Once again, purchasing extra panels of siding during installation can really come in handy when vinyl siding repairs are necessary. If you don't have a small stock of extra panels, you might be able to find something that will come close to matching from a manufacturer. In most cases, however, it is extremely unlikely that a new siding panel will match the siding that has been fading on the house, even if it comes from the same manufacturer. If you need to replace a panel in the front of the house where it is highly visible, you will probably need to replace it with a vinyl panel taken from somewhere in the back of the house. Then the new siding can be hidden well in the back, on the bottom, or behind some shrubs.