While metal siding is significantly more durable than other types, and much less likely to crack, break, or pull away, there is one type of damage they’re a little more susceptible to. Dents in your siding can appear from time to time and they can result in making it vulnerable to corrosion that can spread. Thankfully, those dents can also be repaired relatively easily.
Metal siding can be damaged by all manner of things, from thick pieces of hail falling from the sky to an accidental bump. But here are the steps you need to follow to get it back in shape.
What do you need?
- A drill
- A flat washer
- A sheet metal screw
- A pair of pliers
- A putty knife
- A sander or sandpaper
- Body filler (such as Bondo)
- A high-quality metal primer
- Paint designed for the metal primer
The step-by-step
- Using your drill, make two holes of ⅛ inches in width in the dented area of the siding.
- Fit a sheet metal screw with a flat washer and then screw it halfway into one of the holes drilled. The washer is to make sure you don’t scratch the metal with the next step.
- Use your pair of pliers to pull out the screw, which should pull the dent out with it, popping it back into place.
- Use the body filler that you have prepared and mixed, making sure you have enough to fill the dent. After taking out the screws, use a putty knife to fill in the holes and the dent with the filler.
- Make sure that you have applied the body filler evenly along the surface and that it dries evenly, too. You might need to apply multiple coatings in order to cover the dent wholly. If so, make sure that a previous coating dries entirely before you move onto the next one.
- Once you have filled the dent in, it has dried, and you are happy with how it looks, you should then grab your sander or sandpaper. Then, evenly and carefully sand the whole surface until it is smooth.
- Take your high-quality metal primer. You should be able to apply an even coat of primer using the spray function. Make sure that the area is covered to prevent rust and corrosion.
- Apply two coats of the paint you have chosen for the siding. Make sure you know what material your metal siding is and choose a paint is specifically designed for it.
And there you have it. You should have one dent-free and great-looking metal siding once again. Be sure to allow the paint to dry before you touch it to check that the repairs have worked completely. A professional can help you repair your metal siding if you need them to, but you should bear in mind that it’s going to be more expensive than if you had done it yourself.
Hopefully, with the help of these do it yourself tips, you should be able to make those repairs yourself with little issue.