Siding repair isn’t as simple as you may believe. Yes, you can do it if you have the right tools and expertise but still, there are many things to keep in mind.
Besides, most people don’t often have a lot of free time these days, and getting enough hours off your day to fix your siding may not always be a guarantee.
In such cases, you may need to pay small siding repair costs to have the issue resolved by a professional. However, if you decide to do this on your own, then there are a few things you must keep in mind.
Signs Your Siding Needs to Be Repaired
Before we get to the three main steps you can take to fix your siding, it’s important to first highlight some of the signs that would typically suggest it indeed needs some repairs.
After all, if you’re going to repair your siding, then it’s only fair to have a clear idea of what needs to be done.
Here are some of the main signs that show your siding must be fixed right away:
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Chips, Holes, and Dents: One of the most obvious signs that your siding needs to be checked out is the appearance of dents, holes, and chips. It doesn’t matter how small these holes or chips are. If you don’t do vinyl siding repair immediately, they will grow bigger by the day.
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Cracks and Loose Siding: In most cases, you’ll experience loose or cracked sidings after a storm or extreme weather event. But poor maintenance over a prolonged period may also cause your siding to lose its stature.
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Warped and Bubbling Panels: Extreme heat exposure is often the main cause of warping on the siding. This then causes the appearance of gaps between panels, something that exposes your home to the elements.
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Mold and Fungi: The appearance of mold and fungi is often caused by water damage and it's one of the most serious siding damages that must be taken care of right away.
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Rotting: Rotting affects wooden siding and it can increase the cost to replace siding massively. A good rule would be to prevent water exposure to your siding and that’s it.
Fixing Your Siding
Now that you have read about the main signs that suggest the siding needs a fix, it’s time to look at some of the steps you can take to get the job done.
First, you’ll need the right tools for the job. Some of the basics here include a hammer, tin snips, zip tools, a caulking gun, a utility knife, a flat pry bar, a tape measure, and of course some replacement siding panels.
Once you have these supplies ready, proceed with the steps below.
Clean Up the Area
The first thing you will need to do is to clean up the area you intend to repair. After that, prepare your caulk gun.
This is done by simply cutting off the tip of the caulk tube and puncturing the seal with sharp metal. Load the gun and start filling the holes that need to be fixed. Let the caulk dry and that's it.
What If You Have Vinyl Siding?
Repairing vinyl siding is a bit different. As with any other siding repair, start by cleaning up the area. Cut out the patch that you will fill on the hole or dent.
Test it out to make sure it fits. Trim it if necessary and once you’re satisfied with the result, apply the caulk. Patch up the damage with the cutout vinyl and press gently. Give the caulk some time to dry and you are done.
If you need to replace several panels of your vinyl siding, then you should get in touch with siding repair contractors. They will help you out immensely with this.
