Can You Fix Damaged Aluminum Siding?

Dented Siding

• Repair a dent in aluminum siding by driving a self-tapping screw into the deepest point of the dent, or by drilling a 1/8-inch hole into the center of the dent and then driving a 1-inch self-tapping screw, with a washer on it, into the hole. A self-tapping screw is one that forms its own thread in the metal as it is driven into it. Grab hold of the screw with a pair of pliers and use the screw to pull the dent out, or pull the dent out by the washer. Remove the screw and fill the screw hole with plastic aluminum filler; sand the dent area and paint it with paint that matches the color of the aluminum siding.

Damaged End Caps

• If the corner caps on the end of the aluminum siding are damaged, remove the damaged caps and pry out any nails with a pry bar. Go down to the lowest level where the damaged caps are found, and slide replacement caps into position, nailing them into place with aluminum nails. Cut the nailing strip off the top cap and apply silicone sealant to the back of the cap. Slide the cap into position under the lips of the side strips of siding and press it down with your hand.

Faded Siding

• Aluminum siding is able to withstand rust, but over a period of time the surface of the siding can show signs of fading because of longtime exposure to the elements. When this occurs, you can power-wash the siding to restore its appearance. If this doesn't work, paint the siding with 100-percent acrylic latex paint. Acrylic latex paint is a water-based, high-quality latex paint.

Corroded and Damaged Spots

• If a particular spot on the siding is corroded, you can repair this by lightly sanding it, applying primer to it and painting over the dried primer with 100-percent acrylic latex paint. If the spot is too damaged to be fixed with this method, cut out a square or rectangular portion of the damaged siding around the problem spot, using a utility knife. Cut out a patch of matching siding that is about three inches wider than the piece you cut out of the damaged siding. Glue this patch onto the damaged siding with silicone sealant.