How to Use a Vinyl Siding Removal Tool

Vinyl siding is durable and long-lasting but can get cracked or damaged. The easiest way to remove or replace damaged vinyl siding is to use a vinyl siding removal tool. Using a vinyl siding removal tool allows you to get under the top and bottom edges of the vinyl siding pieces where they interlock (a design that allows them to resist wind and moisture). Most importantly, by using this tool you won’t damage the siding in the process.

The best vinyl siding removal tools are made of metal and have a high-quality non-slip grip. Aluminum-coated tools edge out steel tools since they’re UV coated. UV coating improves the aesthetics of metal, makes them more scratch-resistant, and protects them against wear and heavy use. You can get vinyl siding removal tools from big-box home improvement stores like Home Depot, Lowes, or Menards; hardware stores; or department stores that sell tools like Walmart. You can also find them sold via online retailers and suppliers like Amazon.

Removing and Fixing Vinyl Siding

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. A zip tool makes it easy to remove a piece of vinyl siding from any place and start from the bottom if needed.

If a piece of siding loosens, snap the loose edge back into place. If a siding panel blows off, you can reattach it by inserting the hook of the zip tool into the buttlock of a panel you want to snap back into place.

Installing Vinyl Siding

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.

Other handy tools for installing vinyl siding include a snap lock punch to punch lugs in cut edges of siding and a nail hole slot punch to elongate a nail hem slot to allow for nail movement. You’ll also need special scissors to cut through siding, like cutting snips or siding shears, and a utility knife or scoring tool.

When replacing vinyl siding, it can be difficult to find matching material because siding manufacturers regularly change offerings and discontinue older styles and colors. It’s best to save some spare material from the original siding installation. If you cannot find an exact match, take the damaged piece to a siding distributor and ask for the closest match.