How do you use a vinyl siding removal tool

You can remove it with little effort and in a way where you can easily reuse the pieces. Vinyl siding is installed from bottom to top, so start at the top and work your way down when removing it. If you need to make a few minor repairs to siding, that should be easy enough. However, if you need to replace the entirety of your exterior home siding, taking it on yourself may not be feasible.

Push the siding downward to remove it from the piece below it. After you remove the nails from the top of the piece of siding, it is still hooked to the piece below it. Place the palms of your hands on the siding and apply downward pressure until the piece pops free.

If the piece still seems attached to the wall, gently pull it outward so it comes free of the channel holding it in place at the end of the wall. If the siding is hard to remove, try tapping it with the palm of your hand. If it remains stuck, double check to see if you have overlooked any nails. Part 3. They pose a danger to feet and lawnmowers if left in the yard. Dump the nails in a garbage container or keep them for use later on.

Dispose of the siding. You may be able to recycle it. If the siding is in good shape, you may be able to sell it for secondhand use. Replace removed siding as soon as possible. Most of the time if your house has siding, the area of wall you uncover is not meant to be exposed to the elements.

Hang new vinyl siding , or some other type of siding, as soon as possible to avoid damage to the exterior wall of your house.

If you only remove one piece, you might be able to cover the area with a tarp to protect it until you replace the piece. Measure the area you uncovered so you know what size replacement piece you need. Did you know you can get expert answers for this article?

Unlock expert answers by supporting wikiHow. Jacob Pischer Home Improvement Specialist. Jacob Pischer. Support wikiHow by unlocking this expert answer. Not Helpful 0 Helpful 0. Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered. You Might Also Like How to. How to. Home Improvement Specialist. Expert Interview. About This Article. Co-authored by:. Co-authors: Updated: September 18, Categories: Siding. Article Summary X Removing vinyl siding is relatively straightforward if you have the right tools and a bit of time to commit to the project.

Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read , times. More reader stories Hide reader stories. Did this article help you? Cookies make wikiHow better. If you're unable to find an exact match, take the damaged piece to a siding distributor and ask for the closest match available. Vinyl siding panels are interlocked at their top and bottom edges via J-shaped channels called buttlocks.

Each panel overlaps the panel below it and locks into place along the buttlock joint. Use the zip tool to release the buttlock at the top and bottom of the piece you want to remove. Installing a replacement piece of vinyl siding is the reverse of removing the damaged panel.

First, you nail up the new piece, driving nails through the slots in the nail hem, then you connect the buttlocks with the zip tool. Starting at the bottom edge of the damaged siding panel, wiggle the curved tip of the zip tool blade under a loose spot at one end of the panel, hooking the tool onto the back lip of the buttlock. Look for a slightly enlarged hole at the end of the panel, which is designed for the zip tool to slide into.

Or, you can look for another loose spot along the length of the panel joint. Separate the buttlock joint with downward pressure on the zip tool. Then, slide the tool along the length of the siding panel to release the rest of the joint. Repeat the same process used on the bottom joint to unlock to top joint holding the damaged panel to the panel above. Carefully lift up the bottom edge of the panel above to expose the nailing hem and nails on the damaged panel. Use a flat pry bar and hammer to pry out all of the nails in the nailing hem of the damaged panel, then remove the siding panel.

To install a new vinyl panel, place wood blocks behind the loose panel above the area of the removed panel, to hold the upper panel away from the wall.

Position the replacement panel onto the wall, hooking its bottom edge over the panel below it. Push up on the new panel to snap its lower buttlock onto the panel below. If it's difficult to reach the nails with a hammer , place a pry bar over the head of the nail, then strike the pry bar with a hammer to drive the nail.