Tear in steel siding

[AC-WC]

After many years of other priorities I'm finally going to fix this gash in the siding of my small garage. It's on the wall and in 20+yrs I've never had water or snow get in.
It's not a common pattern otherwise I would replace the entire panel. I do have a panel that's about 5 ft long I could use as a back support to either rivet or maybe epoxy it together.
My oxy/acetylene skills are none existent so that's out.
Other suggestions?

 

[tarbellb]

Looks smaller then a standard width panel and under 5ft, you should be able to:

_ remove screws right above the damaged area
_ cut parallel to ground right at screw height ( use angle grinder or circ saw w/ metal blade)
_ cut replacement panel to overlap the removed area by at least 1 rib and 6" up
_ slip new patch piece under existing panels and refasten
_ waterproof as necessary

If it wraps around the corner make sure you have enough material?

 

[jack stand]

Visually, you're repair (replace this panel) will probably be more noticeable than the damaged area that you've been living with for a long time.
It appears to be a corner panel and replacement will now be obvious on 2 separate walls instead of just 1 low down, small area on 1 wall.
(that doesn't leak)

 

[bwringer]

Do you have good open access to the back side? Or are you able to remove the panel?

I'd be inclined to do all the "body work" from the back and get it bashed back into shape as much as possible. Matching that old faded paint or powder coat will be nearly impossible and it will stick out like a sore thumb.

Maybe use epoxy to seal it and hold reinforcements on the back to minimize the hole.


Or, as outlined above, use your partial piece to make a patch.

 

[AC-WC]

Do you have good open access to the back side? Or are you able to remove the panel?

I'd be inclined to do all the "body work" from the back and get it bashed back into shape as much as possible. Matching that old faded paint or powder coat will be nearly impossible and it will stick out like a sore thumb.

Maybe use epoxy to seal it and hold reinforcements on the back to minimize the hole.


Or, as outlined above, use your partial piece to make a patch.

Answering all the replies-
There's nails but I like slipping the replacement under the top piece and sealing/reattaching with screws.
Yes, the panel wraps around the corner. I'll have to double check to see how far it wraps. Inclined not to wrap around just for the hassle of it.
Yes, 100% access to the back side-just have to move all the cr@p out of the way
I repainted this last year and have enough paint to tweak it.
Of course this is at the front of the garage by the man door so visible. Not looking for perfection just make it presentable.
THANKS!!!!

 

[finn]

I repaired a hole that had been cut out for a chimney and another that once had an exhaust fan..

I had a random partial sheet that I cut so it would overlap, preferably large enough to catch a wall stud if not two, and used matching pole barn screws to attach it.

The wood stove chimney hole was on an outside wall, so I think I added a bead of elastomer to the top. An overlapping joint (cutting and slipping the patch under the old siding is probably preferred, but I didn’t do that.

the other patch where the fan was is on an interior wall, so I didn’t bother sealing it. (The building had a lean to added, with a continuous roof, si they relocated the fan to another wall).

the patches are pretty obvious if you look, but after ten years, my eye doesn’t catch them anymore.

 

[Stuart in MN]

I'd try to body work it to get it as straight as possible first, although it will require a helper to stand on the other side of where you're hammering. I'm guessing it hasn't let weather in because the top of the tear overhangs the bottom, whatever repair you do make sure it stays overhanging a little bit. Then use your spare piece to make a patch that can be riveted in place along with some caulk or silicone to seal it. If you're going to paint it the patch could go on the outside and the fresh paint will mostly camouflage it, if not painting then it may be better to put the patch on the inside.

 

[jack stand]

Yes, the panel wraps around the corner. I'll have to double check to see how far it wraps. Inclined not to wrap around
Of course this is at the front of the garage by the man door so visible. Not looking for perfection just make it presentable.
THANKS!!!!

It's located where it matters.
I've removed good panels from the back side to move them to the front when matching material is impossible. But this will double your work.
You might be able to straighten out the corner (damaged) panels if you can live with it out back.... or just make a new door on the back.

 

[JuncleJohn]

Silicone and stainless steel pop rivets.

John

 

[Jeff Ivers]

Silicone and stainless steel pop rivets.

John

This is how I repaired the removal of a doggie door. I am sure I used aluminum pop rivets. I never notice the repair since I am almost always 10 feet or more from the area. Silicon applied to the existing barn tin, repair panel attached to the outside, right edge of repair panel is tucked under the vertical rib after loosening a couple of screws. In your case, you will need to cut out distorted tin.

 

[AC-WC]

Update-not completely done, still need to seal, screw, paint. Started to rain..
Thanks for all the comments.

 

[tarbellb]

Nice work! You wernt just blowing smoke!

 

[matthe]

Looks like it turned out really well.

One thing I’ve noticed with exterior metal repairs is that proper sealing around the fasteners and edges often makes a bigger difference long-term than the patch itself. A clean install, good sealant, and matching paint usually keep the repair looking good for years.

Thanks for coming back and posting the final result. It’s always helpful when people share the completed fix instead of leaving the thread unfinished.

 

[AC-WC]

Not as good as I'd like but better than the hole that was there. Might have to paint this side of the garage. Not this week though.
It was a pistol to get the panels to align and had to have some help with that.

 

[Old tool guy]

Nice. Did you use the leftover paint? Sure has faded in just a year.

 

[AC-WC]

Yes, maybe a quart left? Instead if buying a 5 gallon can and having 2 gallons left over from the pole barn and the garage I bought separate gallons and all were slightly different. Nothing special, Cheap barn paint.