How do I patch a hole in vinyl siding?

Fill a small hole, replace the panel for a big one. A hole about the size of a nail can be filled with a colour-matched exterior sealant. Anything larger, a cracked panel, or a broken lock is repaired by replacing the panel: unzip the panel above, swap the damaged panel for a matching new one, and nail it loosely so it can move. Either way, look behind the hole first.

Before you touch it

If the siding is under a maker's warranty or the damage came from hail or a storm, contact the maker or your insurer before you take anything apart.^[1] Alside's warranty, for example, says any removal or disassembly of components, unless part of an authorized repair, voids it,^[1] and it covers hail damage for replacement materials only, after you first go to your homeowner's insurance.^[1]

Then look into the hole with a flashlight. Vinyl siding is a cladding, not the waterproofing of the wall, so a hole lets rain reach the layer behind it. Dark, soft or crumbling sheathing means water has been getting in, and new siding should not go over rotting wood. That is a carpentry repair to do first, or to hand to a pro.

Small holes: fill them

For a hole the size of a nail or small screw, a patch is reasonable. Clean the siding around it with soap and water, let it dry, press a colour-matched exterior sealant in from outside, and smooth it flush. Check the label for a product that stays flexible on vinyl, and wait for it to cure before you wash the wall.

Fill only the hole. Do not face-nail through the panel, and do not caulk laps or the joints at corner posts and J-channel, because those joints have to slide. Vinyl moves with the temperature, and a rigid fill spanning a large gap will crack or pull away.

Big holes and cracks: replace the panel

A hole bigger than a coin, a long crack, or a damaged nailing hem or lock cannot be patched well, and a stuck-on piece of vinyl shows. The usual repair is to replace the panel. Work from the ground, and wear eye protection for all cutting and nailing.

1. To unzip the panel above the damaged one, hook the curved end of the zip tool under the bottom edge of the panel, catch the back lip of the lock, pull down and slide the tool along the length of the panel.
2. Bend the upper panel out gently, pull the nails from the damaged panel and lift it free.
3. Cut the new panel to length, and leave a small gap inside every channel and corner post so it can expand, a little more in cold weather.
4. Lock the new panel onto the course below.
5. Nails go in the centre of the slots, driven straight and level and spaced like the old ones. Leave each head just clear of the vinyl, so the panel can slide.
6. Zip the upper panel back down over the new panel's lock.

For the full walkthrough with tools, see how to replace a damaged piece of vinyl siding.

Getting a match

Even the right colour can look different next to weathered siding, because replacement panels may differ in gloss and colour from the originals because of weathering.^[1] Look for the brand and profile on old paperwork or leftover cartons, and take a cut piece to a supplier. Some people swap a panel from a hidden wall into the visible spot and put the new one where nobody looks.

Permits and older houses

Virginia's building code says no permit is needed to replace any amount of siding on houses in residential Groups R-3, R-4 and R-5 outside areas where the design wind speed is above 100 miles per hour,^[2] and a building official may require a permit for replacement siding in a locally designated historic district.^[2] If the house was built before 1978 and you hire someone to disturb painted surfaces, EPA's rule says anyone paid to perform work that disturbs painted surfaces in homes built before 1978 be certified.^[3]

Stop and call a pro if

• The sheathing behind the hole is wet, soft or rotted. The wall needs repair before any siding goes back.
• The hole is above the first storey. Do not work from a ladder on a panel you cannot reach safely from the ground.
• Several panels are cracked, warped or missing. That is a siding job, not a patch; see why vinyl siding buckles.
• The hole is near a window, a vent, a light fixture or an electrical box. Leave anything with wiring to a licensed electrician.
• The house was built before 1978 and removing the panel shows painted wood. Do not scrape or sand it. EPA recommends hiring a lead-safe certified contractor for work in a pre-1978 home.^[3]
• The siding is still under warranty. Ask the maker how it wants the repair done.

Getting help in Virginia

Costs and the choice of who to hire are covered in what siding repair costs in Virginia and whether a siding contractor or a handyman repairs siding. Browse more home repair answers, or see local home repair services on Loclis.

When you want it done for you, describe the damage once and licensed local businesses quote it.