House Vinyl Repair Without Removing Siding

All it takes is a few minutes and a few simple tools to get access for repairs or modifications to a wall covered with this popular cladding.

House vinyl repair without removing siding. Removing and installing vinyl siding. 15 minute vinyl siding repair with a zip tool. Ask this old house general contractor tom silva helps a homeowner repair sections of his vinyl siding that have holes. In this video this old house general contractor tom silva explains how to repair vinyl siding.

Here are the basic steps. Vinyl siding panels are interlocked at their top and bottom edges via j shaped channels called buttlocks. Vinyl soffits are the portion under the roof eaves between the wall of your home and the edge of the roof. Slide the zip tool along the bottom edge to release the vinyl siding from the piece below it.

Removing vinyl soffits for replacement or repairs requires a helper to hold the ladder while you work. It ll better match the house than brand new siding. Hang new vinyl siding or some other type of siding as soon as possible to avoid damage to the exterior wall of your house. Starting at one end of the damaged piece push the end of the zip siding removal tool up under the siding until you feel it hook the bottom lip.

Vinyl siding is installed from bottom to top so start at the top and work your way down when removing it. Insert the siding removal tool where the panels overlap and pull down and out. Each panel overlaps the panel below it and locks into place along the buttlock joint. To repair vinyl siding fill in minor imperfections with caulk and then paint it to match the rest of the siding once it cures.

Use framing square and utility knife to cut through face of siding. Look for a horizontal seam between two courses of vinyl siding. Instead the soffit fits in between two channels like a puzzle piece. For larger dents cracks or holes start by cutting out the damaged segment of siding and removing it with a zip tool.

Use the zip tool to release the buttlock at the top and bottom of the piece you want to remove. The trim secures the edges of vinyl in position and hides any nail heads. The perimeter of every wall has trim pieces j channel sill utility trim etc. If you only remove one piece you might be able to cover the area with a tarp to protect it until you replace the piece.

Watch this building skills video to see the entire process.