How to Repair a Vinyl Railing

Vinyl railing is generally incorporated in vinyl fencing, comprising the fence's horizontal beams. Over time, the vinyl rails can become damaged with cracks and look unsightly. Rather than attempt to replace the railing or the entire fence, you can patch the cracks, concealing the damage. This is not a difficult job and can be done by any willing do-it-yourself homeowner using just a few items and some common tools.

Things You'll Need

• Rubber gloves
• Trisodium phosphate (TSP)
• Bucket
• Sponge
• Plastic body filler with hardener
• Plastic putty knife or paintbrush
• Fine-grit sandpaper
• Medium-grit sandpaper
• Cloth
• Vinyl paint

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Instructions

1. Put on rubber gloves and combine one part trisodium phosphate, commonly abbreviated TSP, with three parts water in a bucket.

2. Clean the vinyl railing with the mixture and a sponge. Then rinse with plain water and allow to air-dry completely.

3. Fill the cracks in the vinyl railing with plastic body filler with hardener, using a plastic putty knife or paintbrush. Let the plastic body filler with hardener dry for at least one hour.

4. Gently sand the plastic body filler with medium-grit sandpaper to make that area flush with the rest of the railing, then use fine-grit sandpaper to make the patch smooth. Wipe away any dust with a cloth once smooth.

5. Spray on a coat of vinyl paint in a matching color and allow to dry, then apply a second coat if necessary to make it the same shade.

References

• "A User's Guide to Fencing & Decking Materials"; Nick Marshall, et al.; 2010
• "Black & Decker The Complete Guide to Garden Walls & Fences"; Phil Schmidt; 2010

Resources

• Read this Article in Spanish