Removing And Installing Aluminum Siding | Repair Home

Often sold alongside vinyl siding, aluminum siding can be seen as the precursor to vinyl. However, the two are not the same. Aluminum is metal and very sturdy but it is not necessarily durable. In fact, it can easily dent. Additionally, because aluminum siding is metal, it will need to be painted just like wood.

Quick Fixes for Blemishes

If you have only minor dents or blemishes in your siding, you can give it a cosmetic touch-up without much work at all.

Scratched Siding Paint a coat of rust-retardant metal primer made for aluminum over the affected area. Once dry, apply acrylic house paint.

Corroded Siding Buff the area with fine steel wool and prime with rust-retardant metal primer made for aluminum; when dry, apply acrylic house paint.

Dented Siding Wear protective goggles for this fix. Locate the center of the dent and drill a pilot hole there. If its a large dent, place two or more screws evenly across the area. Insert a sheet metal screw slightly larger into the hole(s), and use a pair of locking pliers to grip the head and carefully pull the screw until the dent fills out. Remove the screw(s) and fill the hole(s) with two-part auto body filler smoothed on with a spatula or putty knife. Sand area when dry (120-grit sandpaper is ideal) and paint with acrylic house paint.

Replacing Aluminum Siding

If your siding has more than minor cosmetic problems, youll probably have to replace the damaged section. But unlike wood siding, aluminum siding requires you to remove and replace only faulty areas rather than actually replacing an entire piece of siding, which can be quite hard to cut and remove. Therefore, if damage covers an extensive area, it may be a job for a pro. If its limited to a couple feet replacing it isnt complicated, nor does it require a long list of tools.

Aluminum Siding Tool List

Check your basement, garage or other storage area for matching aluminum panels, which your siding installer may have left for repairs. If you have none, youll have to do your best to find a piece that matches. If possible, contact the manufacturer of your current siding for purchasing options. Once you have a matching piece, heres how to make the repair.

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Removing And Installing Aluminum Siding | Repair Home