Repairing Dents in Aluminum Siding

Although aluminum siding provides good weather protection and is easy to maintain, a stray baseball or large hailstones can dent it. Slight damage can be patched — the procedure for repairing dents in aluminum siding is a lot like repairing a dented car fender. It consists of pulling out the dent, sanding the area, and applying two-part auto-body putty (or auto-body filler for very slight imperfections). Once the surface is dry, you can sand, prime and paint it. For minor surface imperfections, you can use steel wool. It also helps to know the manufacturer and color of the siding, because you may be able to purchase a touch-up kit in the original color.

You may need to replace areas with more serious damage, although you should try other repairs first for two reasons. First, aluminum isn't as flexible as vinyl; it's more difficult to weave one piece into an existing wall. Second, you may not find replacement pieces that match your old siding. If the repair is in a conspicuous place, you may want to consider removing and using a piece from a less obvious part of the house and then replacing that piece with the new material.

1) Drill out dent
Drill one or more holes at the center of the dent and then run one or more sheet-metal screws into the holes, passing them through the siding only. Using pliers, grip the screws and pull on them to pop out the dent as much as possible. (Fig. 1)