Siding repair can be done by a handyman, a siding contractor, a roofer or a painter, and the right one depends on the job. A small patch on a panel is a handyman job. A panel replacement, a wall or storm damage is a siding contractor's. Here's how to choose, and what to check before you hire anyone in Fort Worth.
The Short Answer
Match the job to the trade. One cracked panel is simple work. A wall of hail damage, rot behind the siding or a full replacement needs someone who works with siding every week, who can replace panels without damaging the ones above, and who handles the wall behind them. Ask each bidder what they would do and look at the written scope.
Who Does What
| Trade | Fits | Watch for |
|---|---|---|
| Handyman | Small patches, loose panels, caulking, a single cracked panel | Replacing a panel mid-wall means unlocking the course above; ask how they will do it |
| Siding contractor | Panel and wall replacement, storm damage, full replacement, rot behind the siding | Ask for the scope, material and warranty in writing |
| Roofer | Hail jobs that include the roof and the siding | Check that the siding work is priced separately and described |
| Painter | Painting and trim work on paintable siding and trim | Painting does not repair cracked or buckled panels |
What to Ask Every Bidder
- What exactly will you replace or repair, and on which walls?
- How will you replace a panel without damaging the panels above?
- What will you do about anything wet or soft behind the siding?
- What material and profile will you use, and how closely will it match?
- Who handles the permit?
- What is the warranty, in writing?
For the method itself, vinyl siding repair shows how a panel is replaced.
Permits and Paperwork
The City of Fort Worth's Development Services guidance states that replacement of missing or decayed siding requires a building permit, and the city's remodel packet asks applicants to indicate where siding is being replaced. Ask any contractor whether the job needs a permit and who will pull it.
Hiring After a Storm
The Texas Department of Insurance advises homeowners to get more than one bid or repair estimate, check references, call the Better Business Bureau about complaints, avoid paying the full amount up front, and never pay the final amount until the work is finished. It says never to sign a contract with blank spaces. It also says it is illegal to waive a homeowners deductible under state law and to avoid contractors who offer to. Hail-damaged siding repair covers the claim side.
How We Work
We handle siding repair and replacement. Every project starts with an inspection and a written price, and the scope names the walls, the panels, the material, the trim and what happens behind the siding. Work is performed by independent professionals. You can put our written scope next to any other bid. What siding repair costs in Fort Worth shows how to read the numbers.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a handyman repair siding?
Yes, for small jobs such as a loose panel, caulking or patching a small crack. A panel in the middle of a wall means unlocking the panels above it with a zip tool, and mistakes damage the panels above. Ask the handyman how they will do it, and ask for the scope in writing.
Should I call a roofer or a siding contractor for hail damage?
Call a siding contractor for the siding and a roofer for the roof, or one company that prices the siding separately and describes it in writing. The Texas Department of Insurance advises getting more than one bid. Compare the siding line by line.
What should a siding repair estimate include?
The walls, the number of panels or square feet, the material and color, what happens to damaged sheathing, trim or flashing behind the siding, disposal, the warranty and who handles the permit. We include all of it in our written price.
How do I know a siding contractor is reliable?
Check references and call the Better Business Bureau about complaints, as the Texas Department of Insurance advises. Get more than one bid, don't pay the full amount up front, and never sign a contract with blank spaces.
Do contractors have to pull a permit for siding replacement in Fort Worth?
Fort Worth requires a building permit to replace missing or decayed siding, per the city's Development Services guidance. Ask each bidder whether the job needs one and who will pull it. We confirm what applies to your address before work starts.
