Just as your skin protects your body and keeps everything where it should be, the siding on your house is your home’s first layer of protection against the elements. Unfortunately, just as we’ve all skinned our knees a time or two, vinyl siding has been known to take a few licks. Whether it’s hail damage, an errant branch, or a game of Lightsabers that got a little out of hand, it’s important to keep your vinyl siding in good repair.

Surprisingly, it’s relatively easy for the handy DIY homeowner to tackle minor siding repair.

Tools and Materials for Repairing Vinyl Siding

  • Vinyl siding cleanser
  • Disposable rags
  • Color-matched vinyl siding caulk
  • Caulk gun
  • Caulk trimmer (or an expired credit card)
  • Replacement siding
  • Utility knife
  • Roofing nails
  • Hammer

Repairing Minor Damage to Vinyl Siding

Regardless of the size of the hole or damaged section, you’ll want to start with a clean and dry surface. Although mild dish soap will do the trick, we recommend vinyl siding cleanser.

For minor repairs (think smaller than a nail hole or screw puncture), all you’ll need is a tube of caulk. To find caulk that matches your siding perfectly, contact your siding manufacturer and order it directly from the siding retailer. If you’re not sure who manufactured the material, or your need to match isn’t quite that obsessive, simply take a small piece of the siding to the nearest home improvement store and do your honest best.

Once you have your caulk, load into a caulk gun, snip off the end of the tube (cutting the tip at an angle give you more control over the flow of the caulk), prime the gun with a few squeezes, and then carefully fire as much caulk into the hole as you can. When the caulk begins oozing out around the tip, and you’ve completely filled the gap, use the caulk trimmer (or an old credit card) to remove excess caulk and smooth it against the existing siding.

Patching a Hole or Tear in Vinyl Siding

Repairing a hole in vinyl siding is a more advanced job. First, identify the source of your donor vinyl. (You’ll want to use your existing siding as the patch because it will match better than the new piece you purchased.) Then, for the quick fix, using a sharp utility knife, carefully remove a patch (or, for a better solution, remove an entire piece of siding, complete with nail holes) that is a few inches larger than the hole or tear you’re repairing. Next, thoroughly clean both the damaged area and the area from which you harvested the patch. Allow both to try thoroughly. While you’re waiting, load and prime your caulk gun with color-mated caulk, so it’s ready to go when you need it.

Quick Fix

  • Press the patch over the damaged area to make sure it fits evenly
  • Apply caulk to the edges of the patch. Don’t skimp on the caulk, you’ll want it to ooze out around the patch.
  • Apply a continuous bead of caulk around the patch
  • Smooth with a caulk knife
  • Repeat the process, using the new siding, to repair the donor section

Better Solution

Here’s where it gets a little tricky (for a video of this process, watch the experts at This Old House work their magic):

  • Gently pull the siding away from your house and snip through the bottom edges with your utility knife or tin snips
  • Separate the top edge of the damaged siding from the one above it
  • Remove nails
  • Install the donor replacement and attach it to the siding below with roofing nails
  • Repeat, install the new piece of siding to the donor section

For more substantial siding repairs or siding replacement, Nashville homeowners can contact Armor Roofing for a free estimate. Call 615-538-7663 for more information.