How to Repair a Hole in a Vinyl Deck

Holes in a vinyl deck are normally the result of a screw or nail hole. Unlike wood, however, a smattering of putty and some sandpaper won't fix the problem. A plastic based product is the best bet for patching holes in vinyl, and you may need to paint the patch with epoxy based paint. However, keeping any holes filled in your vinyl deck will ensure that your deck will remain attractive and easy to clean for many years. This technique can also be used to fill holes in vinyl fences and other vinyl planks.

Step 1: Clean the area surrounding the vinyl deck with a garden hose and scrub brush as necessary. Use a nail set to dig out any debris that may be inside the hole in the vinyl.

Step 2: Sand around the hole using sandpaper in a circular motion. The sanded area should extend about 2 inches away from the hole. Use a clean rag to remove the dust created by this step.

TIP: If you can find plastic body filler that is the exact color of your deck, you can skip this step and continue to step 3.

Step 3: Fill the hole with plastic body filler that is close to the color of your vinyl deck using a metal putty knife.

TIP: If you are filling a hole in a vinyl fence or other vinyl plank that does not have to withstand foot traffic, and is larger than an inch in diameter, fill the hole with expanding foam before using the plastic body filler. Once the expanding foam is dry, you can saw off the excess and sand away another small amount so the surface of the foam is slightly depressed. Then cover the foam with the plastic body filler.

Step 4: Sand the plastic body filler until it is smooth and is perfectly level with the surrounding area. Wipe away any resulting dust.

Step 5: Paint the sanded area with an epoxy based paint that was tinted to specifically match your deck. If your plastic body filler was an exact match to your vinyl deck, skip this step.