How to Repair a Dent in Aluminum Siding

Dents happen. Fortunately, they can be fixed without too much hassle, and the repaired area will look nearly as pristine as it did before the kids hit it with that baseball.

Difficulty:

Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need

• Aluminum Primers
• 1/8-inch Drill Bits
• Machine Screws
• Pliers
• Putty Knife
• Sandpaper
• Slotted Screwdrivers
• Variable-speed Drills

1. Drill a few 1/8-inch holes in a large dent.

2. Put a flat washer on a sheet-metal screw and screw it part way into one of the holes.

3. Pull on the screw with pliers to pop the dent out. (The washer keeps you from scratching the siding with your pliers.)

4. Mix enough 2-part body filler (such as Bondo) to fill in the dent.

5. Remove the screws and use a wide putty knife to apply the filler to the dent.

6. Make sure the filler dries even with the surface of the siding. You may need to fill it more than once. Let it dry completely between applications.

7. Sand the area once the filler is dry.

8. Apply a coat of metal spray-on primer.

9. Follow up with two coats of paint made for aluminum siding.

Tips & Warnings

• You won't need to bother with the screws if the dent is fairly small. Just use the filler, and sand and paint as directed.