Vinyl siding can chip or dent. The good news is that it is fairly easy to remove and replace if you’re lucky enough to have an extra piece put aside for repairs (always do this with any material you use in your home).
If you don’t have a spare piece of siding put aside, you can try calling or visiting a local building supply store, (not a big-box retailer as they won’t have the resources or styles to help you). Bringing in your damaged piece for reference can help you find something that’s a match, or at least not noticable enough for a patch.
Remember though, even if your patch piece is from the same make and batch, it may appear slightly different in color as your old siding has been exposed to the sun for a long period of time, which may have caused some sun fading.
In this article, we’re going to show you the quick and easy method of repairing vinyl siding using a patch.
Tools Needed for Repairing Damaged Vinyl Siding
- table saw or circular saw
- tin snips
- vinyl siding zip tool
Materials Needed for Repairing Damaged Vinyl Siding
- wood shims
- adhesive caulking
- a spare piece of vinyl
Step One: Unlock the Siding
For this job, you’re really going to want to purchase a vinyl siding zip tool. You can pick one up for a few dollars at your local hardware store or even on Amazon here (Amazon link). A zip tool will help you do the job quickly and without causing damage to the siding that’s still good.
To unlock siding you simply insert a your zip tool into the seam between the top of the panel and the one above it.
To remove your damaged piece, start at the bottom of the piece that is being replaced, and insert a wooden shim between the pieces of siding as the zip tool slides along the siding. Repeat the procedure for the top of the damaged siding.
Step Two: Cut out the Damaged Siding
Use tin snips to cut out the damaged area.
When removing the siding, remember to use care as you do not want to damage any house wrap underneath.
Use a table saw or circular saw to cut a patch from a good piece of vinyl. The patch should be larger than the piece you removed.
Step Three: Patch the Damaged Area with a Replacement Piece of Vinyl Siding
Use a table saw or circular saw to cut a patch from a spare piece of good vinyl siding.
The patch should be larger than the piece you removed.
Run a bead of adhesive caulk around the back of the patch, and set the patch in place. Then lock the siding back into place, using the zip tool if needed.
With any project, 80 percent of the work is done in the planning stage. We have simple checklists to help you get organized and make sure you’re prepared for every step along the way. Download them now for FREE:
FAQ
How Do I Find Replacement Vinyl Siding Pieces?
The best place to find matching siding is at a local building supply store as your big-box retailer store usually keeps stock of newer products only.
Give your local supplier any identifying information you may have from the siding you’ve got. Even better is if you can bring in a sample of the siding itself. Often they will be able to order a replacement, or know the nearest match.
Should I Replace All My Siding or Just the Damaged Parts?
Replacing only one or two boards of siding is generally fine, though siding experts will suggest avoiding it and replacing everything for more than a few spots of damage.
Whether or not that’s because it’s actually a problem, or because they want to sell you their products and services is debatable. Regardless, it can be difficult to match your siding after a few years and you may want to consider a full renewal if that bothers you.
thewriteDuffy
At home, April is a mom, wife, and DIY darling. Among other home projects, she helped her husband Dan renovate their 1986 bungalow and is currently designing and decorating the 2023 custom home they are building themselves. Professionally, April is a writer, author, and online marketer with 15 years of experience writing for newspapers and magazines, building online authority websites, and publishing books.
With any project, 80 percent of the work is done in the planning stage. We have simple checklists to help you get organized and make sure you’re prepared for every step along the way. Download them now for FREE: