Step By Step Instructions Of Drilling Into Vinyl Siding
Vinyl siding is considered one of the best & well-known choices when it comes to exterior finishes, due to the fact that it has great durability and low maintenance requirements. If you are looking to attach or secure items to the exterior of a home covered with vinyl siding, then it is important to drill through the siding first before moving into the structure of your home in order to properly secure them. While special tools are not necessary to drill into your siding, you need to be extra careful when doing so in order to prevent damage. Installing a surface-mounted item, including a mailbox, or running a new pipe or line into an existing home generally needs drilling through the siding. Due to the reason that the siding is the home’s “finish,” you get one shot to get it right or risk damaging the appearance of the siding. While the drilling itself is an extremely simple task, however, using the right bit and taking care not to drill into hidden mechanical elements will prevent costly as well as unsightly errors.
Things You'll Need
- Pencil
- Standard Drill Bit
- Drill
Steps
- Determine The Location Of Your Screws
First of all, ascertain or establish the location where you are looking to place your screws. Mark the drill hole locations with the help of a pencil. Feel the area behind the siding where you are looking to drill, and make sure you are about to drill into a solid surface before you proceed to the next step. - Insert A Standard Drill Bit Into Your Drill
Now, place, fit, or push a standard drill bit into your drill. Make sure that the bit is the proper dimensions for the screw that you are going to insert into the siding and is capable enough to drill into the surface behind your siding. - Place The Drill Bit On The Mark
After that, press the area of vinyl siding where you are looking to drill against the sold surface behind it. Position the drill bit on the mark made in Step 1, before slowly & steadily working the bit through the siding by pulsing the drill. - Apply Pressure To The Drill
Next, let go or free the siding when the drill bit is through it before applying pressure to the drill in order to continue drilling through the surface behind the siding. - Brush Away Any Siding Debris
Finally, reverse the direction of the drill motor after you make the hole, and slowly work it through the vinyl siding while pulsing the drill as you are pulling it outward. Brush away any siding debris before inspecting the area for damage.
Useful Tip & Warning
- In order to keep away from cracking, you only need to drill into the siding if its surface temperature is 60 degrees Fahrenheit or greater. When it comes to cold weather drilling, warm the surface of the siding with the help of a hair dryer.
- Do not use a spade drill bit when you are trying to drill through the siding, due to the reason that, doing so will cause irreparable damage to your siding.