Nail holes in aluminum and vinyl siding are tough to repair without replacing the entire piece, but a squirt of color-matched caulk from a siding supplier will solve the problem for a lot less money and aggravation.
This Is the Easiest Way to Repair Small Holes in Siding
Updated on Aug. 01, 2024
All houses gradually accumulate holes in their siding from fasteners and phone and cable lines. The only way to repair these holes perfectly in vinyl or aluminum siding is to replace the entire piece—a repair that is challenging in vinyl and almost impossible in old aluminum.
For an easier, nearly as good fix that keeps water out and is almost invisible from several feet away, fill the hole with caulk that matches the color of your siding.
Color-match with your siding
Home centers don’t usually stock it, but siding wholesalers that sell to contractors carry caulks specifically blended for dozens of different shades of siding. If you know the manufacturer and color name of your siding, you can get the exact blend developed for that shade. Otherwise, bring a sample piece or take a photo and ask a salesperson to help you match it.
The closer you get to an exact match, the harder your repair will be to spot. If you don’t care as much about the repair being visible, you can be a little more flexible when choosing your caulk.
Filling the hole
Before filling the hole, wipe the siding clean. Leaving behind dirt or grime will compromise the integrity of your repair. Squirt enough caulk into the hole to fill the area behind the hole. Avoid smearing excess caulk all over the surrounding siding—the less you get on the siding, the less obvious the repair will be. Once the caulk is fully cured (which could be several days, depending on the type), trim it even with the siding with a razor blade.
To avoid making holes in the first place, use vinyl siding clips instead of fasteners to hang decorations. They’re designed to attach to vinyl siding without doing any damage or leaving a mark. Siding clips will allow you to hang all sorts of things from the side of your home, whether that’s planters in the summer or festive light fixtures in the winter.
