Putting holes in my house - bad idea?
May 9, 2017 10:31 AM Subscribe
How big of a deal is it to screw through vinyl siding and attach something to the outside of a house? I know that it's physically simple (it's just a thin piece of plastic) but I also have this sense that it's just not done, the siding is supposed to be an impenetrable layer and poking holes in it is strictly forbidden.
I live north of Boston, in a 1915 house (totally non-historic and actually fairly crappy). Until 2000 or so it was a wood-sided house, but the previous owner got tired of painting it and just covered the wood with vinyl siding. So that means I could stick a screw through anyplace and get a decent thickness of wood backing without worrying about where the studs are. But should I?
As an example, there's a cheap wall-mount hose hanger that has cracked and fallen off and now I have 4 screws poking out of the house. I went to get another one, but the hole spacing is different. Is it important to find something to match the hole pattern, or do I just patch the old holes with caulk, and not worry about it?
Is it my imagination, don't people seem to go pretty far out of their way to avoid permanent holes in the siding? Little things like how house numbers are often put on trim or columns or doors rather than on the side of the house, and garden features like trellises seem to be designed for a few attachment points as possible. So I've gotten paranoid. But it doesn't logically seem like a big deal. Help out a relatively-new homeowner, please!
I live north of Boston, in a 1915 house (totally non-historic and actually fairly crappy). Until 2000 or so it was a wood-sided house, but the previous owner got tired of painting it and just covered the wood with vinyl siding. So that means I could stick a screw through anyplace and get a decent thickness of wood backing without worrying about where the studs are. But should I?
As an example, there's a cheap wall-mount hose hanger that has cracked and fallen off and now I have 4 screws poking out of the house. I went to get another one, but the hole spacing is different. Is it important to find something to match the hole pattern, or do I just patch the old holes with caulk, and not worry about it?
Is it my imagination, don't people seem to go pretty far out of their way to avoid permanent holes in the siding? Little things like how house numbers are often put on trim or columns or doors rather than on the side of the house, and garden features like trellises seem to be designed for a few attachment points as possible. So I've gotten paranoid. But it doesn't logically seem like a big deal. Help out a relatively-new homeowner, please!
It's not that big a deal. Caulk the existing holes and mount the new hose reel. Use galvanized or other weather resistant screws though, so you don't get rust stains on the siding.
posted by cosmicbandito at 10:37 AM on May 9, 2017 [2 favorites]
posted by cosmicbandito at 10:37 AM on May 9, 2017 [2 favorites]
Best answer: Patch the holes with exterior caulk - go with a decent silicone like that from GE which is 6 bucks a tube and get an inexpensive caulk gun and some rubber work gloves. Clean the whole you are patching with a brush, make certain it's dry and then get sealing. The caulk guns are fiddly in so far as there is a slight delay between when you pull the trigger and apply pressure and when sealant comes out. So practice taking the pressure off with the release tab otherwise you get it all over. It won't come out of fabric but you can wash it off you siding with a damp paper towel before it dries.
That's it! It's as easy as gluing some paper together. The tube will be much larger than the amount you need for your screws so look around as most houses will have a number places that need additional sealant - especially around windows.
People avoid poking holes in their exterior walls because
posted by zenon at 11:11 AM on May 9, 2017
That's it! It's as easy as gluing some paper together. The tube will be much larger than the amount you need for your screws so look around as most houses will have a number places that need additional sealant - especially around windows.
People avoid poking holes in their exterior walls because
- can break your thermal barrier (keeping inside temps in and outside temps out)
- allow moisture in and slowly damage the inner wall (which is why selaing it is the first step)
- but mostly because siding is a hassle to fix or replace and look good
posted by zenon at 11:11 AM on May 9, 2017
Yup, just caulk it properly. People don't do it because it looks like shit unless you have paintable siding or are very careful.
posted by aspersioncast at 11:21 AM on May 9, 2017
posted by aspersioncast at 11:21 AM on May 9, 2017
The guys who attached my cackle wire just screwed through the siding. One way to look at it is that any hole you make doesn't go lathe through. I'd use some caulk or sealer if it's feasible to do so.
posted by SemiSalt at 12:17 PM on May 9, 2017
posted by SemiSalt at 12:17 PM on May 9, 2017
Response by poster: Excellent, buying some caulk! I will now have some nice outdoor projects to keep me out of trouble. Thanks, all!
posted by aimedwander at 12:35 PM on May 9, 2017
posted by aimedwander at 12:35 PM on May 9, 2017
Don't screw it tight so it pinches the vinyl or you'll destroy the siding when it expands and shrinks from temperature cycling. Leave some space around the screws for the vinyl to slide left and right. You don't have to worry about patching the new holes perfectly if you install a cover that redirects water away from the holes.
It's much better to stick a post in the ground and screw the hose support to that.
posted by flimflam at 1:43 PM on May 9, 2017 [1 favorite]
It's much better to stick a post in the ground and screw the hose support to that.
posted by flimflam at 1:43 PM on May 9, 2017 [1 favorite]
Best answer: It is super-important to drill pilot holes first. Trying to put a screw through vinyl siding can/will cause it to crack/split. A clean pilot hole also will prevent splitting when the weather changes.
You mentioned this is over wood siding. Be sure to sink into the wood siding.
posted by sandra_s at 4:44 PM on May 9, 2017
You mentioned this is over wood siding. Be sure to sink into the wood siding.
posted by sandra_s at 4:44 PM on May 9, 2017
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posted by tilde at 10:32 AM on May 9, 2017