Is It Possible to Patch Up Siding?
While your home’s siding is made to withstand the climate and other outside elements, damaging it is inevitable. As time passes and as the weather keeps on changing, your siding can get scratched, chip off, or even sustain holes.
Because of this, many homeowners wonder if it is possible to repair these types of damages or patch them up. You may be thinking of repainting the outside of your home, or you may simply want to improve its overall curb appeal. Patching up damaged siding can help you. But how can you do this?
Patching Up Holes
If you are planning on repainting the exterior of your home, then filling in the cracks and holes by using caulk can help improve the overall paint job. It can also make the paint last longer as well. Having holes or cracks on your siding will make paint susceptible to peeling. This is because these holes and cracks will accumulate and store in water.
Caulk is used for sealing two surfaces or for filling up small holes. You can choose high-quality caulk for resealing small holes in your siding. This extends the lifespan of your siding and allows it to be able to withstand temperature changes and outside elements. However, make sure that the caulk you will be using is compatible with your siding, and it is should also be paintable (if you are planning on repainting your siding as well).
How To Patch Up Small Holes
You can generally follow these steps when you patching up a-holes or other cracks on your siding:
- The first step to do is to clean the hole that you plan on repairing or patching up.
- Use sandpaper and roughen the area so that the caulk will stick easier.
- Fill in the area, crack or hole with the patching compound or caulk, and start to smoothen it towards one direction and level it with the overall surface of your siding.
- Wait for the caulking to harden and use sandpaper again to smoothen the area.
If the caulking or compound shrinks, you may have to apply it in another coating. Make sure you clean or dust the area again before adding in the extra coating.
For Larger Cracks and Holes
In order to repair larger holes, cracks, and other damages, you can use a chisel to remove the extra debris or damaged wood when clearing the area to be patched up. You can then use a compound that is two-part polyester-based caulking to repair the affected area. This is usually made from a thick paste that also comes with another paste that will be used as a hardener. Mix these two together and apply them to the selected area, and wait for it to dry. Add in another coating as needed and use sandpaper or rasp the area again to smoothen it. If the damage is too bad, then you may consider applying a new piece of siding to the affected area.