Repairing vinyl siding isn't as difficult as it may appear

Vinyl siding is a very sturdy, long-lasting material. It is tough and will withstand a lot of abuse as well as look good with very little maintenance and upkeep. But if it does suffer from a crack or some other damage, it's usually pretty easy to fix.

Vinyl siding snaps together, each piece connecting to the one above and below it. A special, inexpensive tool available at home centers, called a "zip tool," is required to unlock connecting pieces. The zip tool slides up under the bottom of the panel and pops the two pieces apart when you pull it back out. Do this on the top and bottom of the damaged piece to loosen it.

Once you have the panel free, you can work on the damaged area. It's best to cut the damaged section off. You will need to add another section of siding to replace the part that was removed. You'll want the new piece to be about 2 inches longer than the part you cut out in order to be able to overlap and seal the wall.

To fit the pieces back into place, slide the siding up so that the bottom of the new piece hooks under the top tab of the existing siding, and tack it to the house with a couple of siding nails. Leave enough give in it to allow for some expanding and contracting. Now use the zip tool again to lock the existing piece on top of the new piece. Place it up under the bottom "hook" of the upper piece and pull it out and down to lock onto the tab at the top of the new piece.

Always be careful when working with vinyl, because it can be creased if you aren't careful. You can use a hair dryer when working in cold weather to make it a little more pliable. Clean the house with a power washer every season to keep it looking good.

Sports bottle dispenser

Wouldn't it be nice if, when you needed to add oil to your lawn mower or some other piece of equipment, the oil port would be right on top, where it was easy to get to? So many times, that's just not the case. But you can handle it. Just put your oil into a sports bottle with a long straw on the top. That way, you can position the straw in the right place, no matter how odd the angle, to get the oil into the right place. And since that bottle will be hard to clean up for drinking out of again, just label it and keep it handy to use in the shop when the need arises.

Keep trash bag in place

It's time to start your annual leaf collection! We think putting them in a trash bag is a good place to collect them. A large trash bag can be put in a large trash can, and then you can pick them up and fill up the bag. To keep the bag from slipping down inside the can, pull it over the top and fold it down over the rim. You can hold it there with a large elastic band of some kind. A bicycle inner tube works well, or you can cut the top off an old pair of pantyhose and use it. This works great for kitchen trash cans, too.

Super hints

• Clean a rusty saw blade with petroleum jelly. Put a thin layer on, let it sit overnight and wipe it off in the morning. It's a great way to lubricate the blades too.

• If you are putting new concrete over or next to old concrete, wet the surface a little first. A little mist will do the job and make adhesion much better.

• My cousin created a really neat-looking poolside bar when she covered a plain bar with corrugated steel panels. The look is great, and the cost was practically nothing. What a conversation piece, too!

Q. I have canvas awnings that have been up for a while and that need to be cleaned. I have sprayed them off with a garden hose, but they really need to be cleaned. Do you have any suggestions for how to do this?

A. For spot-cleaning, I would just use a little detergent and water. Make sure you test it in the corner to make sure it doesn't fade. Don't use a detergent that has bleach in it. If more cleaning is required, you might check with your dry cleaner to see if they can do it. It also might be a good idea to apply a water repellent afterward, because any previous treatment might be removed with cleaning. You also can check with an awning dealer to see if it has a special cleaner that will work on your awnings.

Q. My shower has some sort of rubber gasket on the bottom of the door, and it has started to split. Can you tell me how to fix it?

A. Most of these strips slide up into a groove at the bottom of the shower door. You can buy a replacement strip at your home center or hardware store. Pull the old one out and then just slide the new strip into place.

Q. I am going to need to re-shingle my roof, and am wondering if it makes a difference which color I use in regard to blocking some of the heat in the summer. What is your opinion?

A. It stands to reason that a light-colored shingle would reflect some of the heat. But you also should consider the type of shingle used. Some shingles are better insulated than others, and they would make more of a difference than the color of the shingle.

Q. I have a tile in my kitchen that has come loose from the countertop. I want to glue it back into place. What type of glue will work best in a kitchen, and is there anything else I need to do to prevent it from happening again and to keep other tiles from coming up?

A. You can use regular tile adhesive to glue it back down. If there is any buildup on the surface of the tile or the surface you are gluing it back to, you should try to grind, sand or chip it away for the best adhesion. After the adhesive has set up, come back in with some grout and re-grout the area. To prevent more tiles from coming up, we suggest applying a grout sealer to the surface. Grout will absorb water sometimes, and this can cause tiles to loosen. Some sealers will cover the whole surface, and others are applied just to the grout. Make sure it's OK to use it in your kitchen, and that you follow the package directions.

Reader tips

• I ran across this incredible paint that can turn a wall or any other surface into a chalkboard. It's even called chalkboard paint. You can spray or brush it on, and it's great for the shop or for your kids' rooms. I painted an old coffee table with the paint to put in the game room for the kids to play on. It's so nice to have them playing right here with us when the game is on, and they really like playing on it, too. You can even use regular, inexpensive chalk on it. It's great. I got my paint at the hardware store, but I've seen it at the home center, too.

• I finally got tired of all the dust and dirt in my workshop drawers, and decided to clean them up. After all, I have nice tools, and they really need to be kept cleaner. I put a piece of window screen over the end of my vacuum hose and started vacuuming the drawers and cabinets out. The screen blocked the tools and hardware from being sucked up, but it did get most of the dust and debris out of the way.

• I visited the Caribbean this summer and fell in love with the house I stayed in. The steps were covered with tiles, and I came home and re-created them at my house. I used concrete paint to paint some "tiles" on the steps and front porch. I coated it all with clear epoxy paint to protect it, too. It looks super!

• I found a great way to store my screwdrivers on my workbench. I cut the tops off some plastic bottles and set them on the back of the workbench where the tools would be easy to get to. I put a couple of inches of sand into each container and then placed the screwdrivers in the sand. The sand serves two purposes: It keeps the bottles from tipping over, and it keeps the screwdrivers standing upright. The containers are free and work quite well.

• I found some great peel-and-stick reflectors that are made for cars, trucks and trailers. I put some on my utility trailer so it would be more visible at night. I had two left over, so I put them in my garage. One is next to the light switch, and the other is next to the garage-door opener. It helps when I am in the garage at night and find it hard to see.

Shop talk

• Bosch's new PS50 Multi-X is a super multipurpose oscillating tool that can help you tackle a wide variety of chores. The 12-volt Max Litheon battery platform provides the power and also can be used with the PS10 I-Driver, PS40 Impactor and the rest of the line. It can cut, grind, sand and a whole lot more simply by switching accessories. If you are in the market for a multitool, you should take a close look at this handy helper. It's available at hardware stores and home centers where Bosch tools are sold. If you would like to learn more or find a nearby dealer, visit the company's Web site, www.boschtools.com.

• We all reach for a flashlight when working in the dark, but the new Energizer Hard Case Professional Headlight lets you wear your lamp. The powerful LED lamp puts the light right where you need it. It's heavy-duty and tough to last through all sorts of situations - including clumsiness - and even has a shatterproof lens. It has about a 50-hour run time and, with four lighting modes, is perfect for just about any do-it-yourself situation. The headband is an extra-wide comfort strap that is easy to adjust. Check it out at home centers and hardware stores, or at www.energizer.com.

• Write to Al and Kelly Carrell in care of the Daily Herald, P.O. Box 280, Arlington Heights, IL 60006.