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Is It Okay to Drill Into Vinyl Siding? (With an Alternative)

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Vinyl siding is a fashionable and practical solution for home exteriors. But if you’re looking to hang something on it, like a security camera, you will have to face the challenge of drilling into one. A lot of people aren’t even sure if you can drill into vinyl sidings without doing irreparable harm. So, can you drill into vinyl siding?

You can safely drill into any vinyl sidings if you take a few precautions and follow the correct steps. However, you should avoid doing drilling when the weather is cold, as the siding can become brittle. You may want to consider using vinyl siding clips instead of drilling.

A non-damaging alternative for hanging things (like security cameras) on vinyl siding, I recommend “no-hole” clip hooks like these, found on Amazon.

In this article, I will explore the subject in greater detail. I will also share the correct steps you need to follow to drill into vinyl siding, as well as a great alternative.

Drilling Into Vinyl Siding: Is It OK to Do It?

Electric Drill About to Drill Into Vinyl Siding

One thing everyone needs to be mindful of when planning to drill a hole into a vinyl siding is that it is best done in warm weather. Most vinyl siding (particularly the older designs) tends to be more brittle when the weather is cold. If you try drilling a hole into one when the temperature outside is frigid, you will risk shattering it.

If, for some reason, you need to drill even though the weather is cold, you can use a neat little hack. Use a hairdryer to warm the area on the surface where you wish to drill. Once the surface has been warmed enough, it once again becomes perfectly safe to drill into.

But if you’re not in a rush, your best bet is to wait till the temperature outside is at least 60°F (or 15.5°C). This way, you will prevent possible cracking.

Related How to Install a Security Camera on Vinyl Siding | 6 Easy Steps.

How to Safely Drill Screw Holes Into Vinyl Sidings

As I mentioned in the previous section, make sure the temperature outside isn’t cold, or if it is, make sure you warm the surface with a hairdryer before you proceed with the drilling.

When you are ready, here are the steps you should take:

  1. Take all the necessary measurements of the vinyl siding to determine where exactly you want to drill. If you’re planning on drilling multiple holes, make sure you do it all in one go as stopping between drills could increase the chance of damage.
  2. Mark the point(s) where you want to drill clearly with a marker.
  3. Determine what type of Vinyl Siding you are drilling into. Gently push down on the siding to determine what lies behind it. If there’s brick, you will need to use a masonry bit. If there’s wood, you will need to use a wood brick. Using the wrong brick can lead to damage.
  4. Drill- Once you’ve attached the proper drill bit, place it on top of the mark you previously made. Now while pushing down firmly, turn on the drill to start drilling. Continue pushing firmly until you have penetrated the material. Don’t penetrate all the way through.
  5. Repeat the same process with all the marks you have made. As I mentioned in step 1, make sure you drill all the holes in one go.
  6. Attach the product- Once the drilling is done, fit the screws along with washers into each hole and attach the product you are adding to the outside of your house.

How to Safely Drill Larger Holes Into Vinyl Sidings

If you’re looking to drill a hole that is larger than a typical screw hole, you will have to follow a slightly different method. Everything else about only drilling when it is warm outside or using a hairdryer to warm the surface still applies here.

When you are ready, here are the steps you should take:

  1. Take the necessary measurements and mark the drilling position.
  2. Use a hole-drilling bit that is at least a quarter of an inch larger in diameter than whatever you are planning on inserting in the hole. This makes it easier to work later. Drilling larger holes such as this one, you will want to apply lighter pressure on the surface. With this, turn on the drill to start drilling. If you’re drilling into composite or cement sidings, you will want to keep spare drill bits handy as they tend to go dull after a couple of drills.
  3. Caulk, if necessary- Once you’ve inserted the pipe or whatever it is you are looking to insert in the hole, fill in the extra quarter of an inch gap with a caulking gun.

Related Placing Security Cameras Near Lights (Best Practices).

Replacing a Damaged Vinyl Siding

If you follow the instructions shared above, there is very little chance that you will damage the siding. But just in case you are still worried about this, you can rest assured because replacing damaged vinyl siding panels is actually pretty easy. The grid-like design makes it easy to replace a damaged piece without disturbing the other undamaged sections.

The process basically starts with the removal of the damaged siding by releasing it from the nailing strip. You then push the replacement into the nailing strip, leaving enough gap for expansion.

I will not go into detail about this here. This section is meant to assure you that you will be able to replace the panel without much hassle if you somehow end up damaging it while drilling.

Using a No-Drill Hook to Hang Stuff on Vinyl Sidings Without Drilling

I have discussed how, with the right preparations and steps, you can easily drill into vinyl siding. If you don’t want to drill into vinyl siding, there is a cool alternative you should know about. You use no-hole clips that simply roll under the lip of a vinyl siding and attach to it. The obvious advantage of them is that if you can decide whether you want to remove what you’re hanging on, you can do so without leaving an ugly hole.

I recommend these vinyl siding clips. These are an inexpensive and effective alternative to drilling into your Vinyl siding.

Conclusion

Vinyl siding is a beautiful and efficient exterior for homes. But they can be challenging to drill into. However, if you follow the right steps and precautions, you can easily drill into it without doing damage. But in case you want some other alternative, you might want to consider getting no-hole hooks. They offer the benefits of drilling without the risk and without leaving a hole behind.