Siding is generally installed on your home to protect it from extreme weather conditions. If you come in contact with any severe storms or other extreme weather conditions, particularly after a strong storm, it’s important to look around your house for siding damage right away to identify any problems with the siding and get the repairs completed as soon as feasible. It can cost thousands of dollars to repair your siding if it’s damaged by hail, wind, hail, tree limbs, or other weather-related damage. Here are some tips for repairing damaged siding on your home.

For minor siding damage, you can use a hot water extraction or DIY vinyl siding repair kit. These kits come with everything you need to repair the damage quickly and efficiently. The kit includes an epoxy primer, repair pieces, a high-heat paint remover, and an ultraviolet inhibitor (for safety). Follow the instructions on the kit to prepare your house for the repair process.

Minor siding damage may not require any type of professional repairs. You can use a sledgehammer to pound out the dent or scratch. Sand the surface and fill in any chips or dents. Sealant is sometimes needed to fill up holes or cracks.

If your siding damage has resulted from water damage, then your repairs will most likely have to deal with rotting. Rot can occur because of humidity, wetness, age, and exposure to the sun. You can prevent rot by treating your wood siding damage with a wood preservative such as Red Knot, EPDM or poly-phenol.

If you are having siding damage repair or replacement done because of a hole in the siding, you first need to determine whether or not the hole needs to be plugged. For small holes, you can use a screwdriver or nails to punch a hole and fill it with wood. For larger holes, you can use a power drill and a bit to tap the hole for wood filling. You can use either the same color wood that you used to install the hole or another color of wood. Make sure to install the bottom lip first to make it easier to fill in the next step.

Once you have found the area where the damage is located, clean out the area. Remove any debris such as broken boards, nails or screws. Apply the primer to the wood surface with a wood putty knife and apply the stain or paint. If the damage is small, you can paint it a dark color; if the damage is large, you can paint it lighter.

Most of the time, your siding repairs or replacement will last for up to fifteen years, so it’s not a big investment. If the repair requires some skill, you may want to consider hiring a contractor to do the job for you. Make sure you shop around when you are searching for a repair contractor. Some contractors will give you a free consultation, while others won’t. This is because there are some contractors who only work with major damage; if you are having small storm damage repair or replacement, then you may want to consider hiring a local handyman to come out and take a look at the damage.

Storm damage and small holes in siding can also have a negative impact on your home’s energy bills. If these holes get allowed to remain open, they can lead to condensation building up between the gaps causing your heating and cooling costs to rise. Although you may think this type of issue is nothing to be concerned about, keep in mind that if it is left undetected for too long, the condensation can make it hard for you to dry your home. When you notice the signs of moisture accumulation such as discolored paint, peeling vinyl, and mold growing, you should get your HVAC system inspected by a professional immediately to stop the problem before it gets worse.