# Travel >> Transportation >> RV

How to Repair the Siding of a Motorhome

The aluminum siding on motorhomes provides protection for the framework without causing expansion or contraction problems. If you get into an accident or hit something it will rip or dent. The siding doesn't rust, but it does oxidize and fade. The configuration and design makes it almost impossible to repair small sections. Motorhome siding comes in widths of 10 to 18 inches and lengths up to 40 feet. Cost as of 2010 was a minimum of four dollars a foot depending on the style. Repairing damaged siding is easy enough to do on your own.

Siding
Nail or staple gun
Glue
Silicone-based sealant
Butyl tape

Instructions

- 1
  Remove two pieces of siding below the damaged ones starting from bottom working upward by removing the staples from the bottom.
- 2
  Lift the metal at the bottom and rotate it upward or downward until flange unhooks. Gently remove the panel without kinking or bending it. Check the framing for damage. If there is no frame damage replacing the siding is basically the reverse of the removal.
- 3
  Lift the metal to side of the RV and rotate it until the flange is unlocked.
- 4
  Lower the panel until it is flush with the frame. Be careful not to bend the siding.
- 5
  Staple in the manufacturer's original placement. Glue if necessary. Apply the sealant to the edges of the panels where it can be clamped by the moldings. Use Butyl tape and silicone sealer. Make sure the edge and corner moldings cover the corner of the panels to prevent water from entering the RV.