There is nothing like clean, bright siding to improve your home's curb appeal. And there is nothing like storm damage to spoil that aesthetic. So how can you stay on top of repairs and keep the exterior of your home looking pristine? It is all about knowing your siding repair options, including which can fall into the realm of DIY projects and which should be entrusted to a professional.
Whether a professional should be employed to repair siding or not depends on the extent of the damage as well as on your comfort level with home DIY projects. Have you worked with siding before? Do you have a helpful friend who could come and assist you with replacing the offending panel or panels? How extensive is the damage? Anything beyond filling a small hole or adding a basic patch could be a more ambitious project than you suspect.
While weathering will take its toll on a house's exterior over time, it is often a storm that produces the kinds of cracks or gaps that merit repair or replacement. Wind, water, or hail can damage sections of the siding, and even if the damage seems trivial, it can lead to bigger problems over time.
So what is the correct approach to fix the damaged siding? Repairs may involve a patch job or replacing the section with a brand-new sheet. One pro tip for sections on the front of your home is to utilize siding from the back to complete the fix so that the weathering more seamlessly matches the surrounding siding. Then you can install the new siding on the back of your home, where a minor discrepancy in the weathering will be less conspicuous.
Much of a siding repair project has to do with having the correct tools and know-how. If you have both, then you can get the job done without too much trouble. But if it is your first siding patch job, you may want to allot more time for the project.
Here is a basic overview for replacing a panel of vinyl siding:
- Assess the extent of the damage.
- Obtain a panel, then measure and size it to the area in question.
- Pop out the siding panel above to reveal the nails of the panel to be replaced.
- Remove the nails and push down on the damaged siding to detach it.
- Install the new siding by sliding it up and under the one above and snapping it to the lower one at the base.
- Slide it left or right for appropriate side overlap.
- At the top, pull up lightly and hammer a nail in the center of several holes. (Only a few nails are needed to essentially "hang up" the siding panel.)
- Finally, use a zip tool to snap the top of the panel into place with the siding above it.
And there you have it! Your home is secure again, protected against the elements with its curb appeal restored.
To learn more, contact a resource like Select Exteriors.
