How to repair dents and dings in aluminum siding
- March 30th, 2010
- In: Aluminum Siding
- By: Rob Sabo
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Aluminum siding is a precursor to vinyl siding, which has become one of the most widely sold siding materials in residential construction. Aluminum siding has a relatively low price point compared to stucco or wood siding, and it’s almost maintenance free. However, over time, aluminum siding can be damaged by impact or weatherization, and it’s usually much cheaper to repair damaged siding panels than to hire a contractor to come out and install new siding.
How to Fix Dented Aluminum Siding Panels
Say one of the neighborhood kids blasts a home run shot during a baseball game that bounces off your wall and leaves a huge dent. Since replacement costs run between $2.50 to $3.50 a square foot for professional installation, it’s much cheaper to just fix the damaged portion of aluminum siding. You’ll use the same technique and materials auto body shops use to repair damaged panels on a car.
What you’ll need:
- drill/small drill bit
- vice-grip pliers
- sheet metal screws
- auto-body filler
- putty knife
- Using a 1/8-inch bit or smaller, drill a pilot hole in the center of the dent.
- Insert a sheet metal screw halfway into the hole and grip it with the locking pliers.
- Pull on the screw until the dent pops out.
For larger dents, you may have to use several screws to work the dent out.
Next, apply a thin layer of an auto-body filler, such as Bondo, with a putty knife. Once it hardens, hand-sand the patch until smooth. Finally, paint the patch to match the body color of your home.
Fixing Corroded Aluminum Siding
Using a piece of steel wool, buff off as much rust as you can. Apply a rust-preventative primer such as RustOleum, and then paint to match.
With a little effort, it’s easy to keep your aluminum siding looking new.
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