Repairing the vinyl siding of your house can save you a lot of money. By some estimates, hiring a professional can cost upwards of $1000. Of course, several factors go into determining such a price. It’s always best to look at the big picture. Choosing to do vinyl siding repair by yourself may not always be a good idea. Unless you have experience handling such matters, it’s best to leave it to professionals that know what they’re doing. Getting vinyl siding repair from BA roofing GP will ensure durability for the long term, thereby giving you your money’s worth.
However, if you choose to do it yourself, ensure that you have the right expertise and materials available.
Signs That Your Vinyl Siding Needs Repair
Sometimes, the signs of damage may not be obvious. There could be damage underneath the surface without you noticing. A careful inspection should reveal tell-tale signs of damage. Siding is there to protect your house from elements like moisture. Ensuring that it’s in top form is in your best interest. Look out for things like:
i)Cracked Siding: Loose siding is always a sign that there’s a problem. Rainwater could easily seep through and cause damage to your house’s interior.
ii) Molds and Fungus: This is a classic sign of moisture damage. It indicates there’s a leak somewhere that could be damaging the siding.
iii) Warped Panels: Extreme heat and other weather conditions can lead to bubbles forming under the siding layer.
iv) Rotting: Sometimes, the wood beneath the panels has experienced extensive rot despite the panel looking fine. This usually means the siding has been compromised, thereby requiring repair.
v) Holes or Dents: Such damage is usually easy to spot. As soon as the surface integrity of the siding has been breached, it increases the risk of infestation by molds or bugs.
Any of the above scenarios usually requires you to repair the siding. The materials needed for this include:
i) Replacement siding panel
ii) Flat pry bar
iii) Caulking gun
iv) Tape measure
v) Knife
vi) Hammer
vii) Tin snips
Repairing Holes in Vinyl Siding
Several things, including harsh weather, can cause holes to develop in your vinyl siding. To repair them,
1)Clean the area around the hole to be patched up. Soapy water and a sponge can usually be enough for a thorough cleaning. Give it enough time to dry before proceeding. Two hours should be enough.
2) Prepare the caulk gun by perforating its seal after having cut the tip of the caulk tube off. Pull the plunger back to enable loading up the tube.
3) To begin filling the hole, push the caulk tube’s nozzle over the hole or crack in the vinyl siding. Pull the caulk gun’s trigger to fill the hole with as much caulk as necessary. It’s advisable to overfill the hole. This ensures that there are no unoccupied spaces in the siding.
4) Give the caulk at least 24 hours to dry. After that, scrape off any excess caulk that may have overfilled the hole. It’s usually best to use caulk of a color that matches your siding. If the caulk’s color was different, paint over it to ensure a uniform siding color.
Repairing Your Vinyl Siding With a Patch
Patching a hole in vinyl siding can seem like a lot of work compared to filling it up with caulk. However, the effort will be worth it once you restore the surface of the siding.
To do this,
1)As with the previous steps, start by cleaning the area to be patched up. Use soapy water and a sponge. Let it dry for 2 hours before resuming work.
2) After examining the hole or crack to be patched up, cut a piece of siding larger than the hole or crack to be covered up. When cutting the scrap piece of siding, ensure to cut only the uppermost part. Take care not to damage the curved lips. In the same way, cut the lower edge of the scrap vinyl.
3) To ensure that the cut patch is just the right size, test it by covering it over the hole or crack. The goal is to ensure that both the curves on the patch and the siding fit well. If they don’t, you can always trim the edges to achieve the right fit.
5) Apply a small amount of caulk on the patch and the area surrounding the hole to be patched up. Place the patch over the hole, ensuring that both curved edges overlap seamlessly. Apply some pressure if necessary to ensure they stick.
6) Give the caulk enough time to dry. Afterward, wipe away any excess caulk.
You can always save yourself all the hassle of such repairs by contacting professionals to do the job for you.
