Repairing Wood Lap Siding

However by waiting to replace the one or two rotten boards this problem can lead to more significant damage in time.

Repairing wood lap siding.

Siding repair is best done with hand tools with one exception. But without proper attention isolated areas can begin rotting in only a few years especially near the foundation. When crosscutting the existing siding be sure to stagger the end joints so they aren t aligned above each other. Instead you can size the replacement using the old clapboard as a template a simple technique that virtually guarantees a tight fit on the first try.

If a wood clapboard is rotted in a small area you can apply wood hardener and patch with wood filler or epoxy. Forget the tape measure tom says. Remove the nails on the lap board then use the claw of the hammer to split the board down the center image 1. If the siding doesn t have wood or plywood sheathing behind it be sure to crosscut the damaged siding over a stud.

If you have woodworking skills you can tackle small repairs by duplicating the way the siding is. Water splashes up from the ground frequently soaking the vulnerable bottom edges. How to repair wood siding. Remove the wood then the nails.

Besides prying out the rotten wood you may need to cut adjacent boards back a stud or two in either direction. Once all the nails are removed from the adjoining board the damaged one should just pull out. If the damaged area is large you ll have to replace the board or a part of the board. In most cases it s necessary to remove more than just the damaged wood to make the repair less obvious.

How to remove and replace wood siding. Expert advice on how to repair and replace wood siding including how to fix holes repairing warped wood and replacing wood siding shingles and boards. That s because the end seams on wood lap siding are staggered across the wall and have to be made at wall stud locations. Score down the damaged lap siding with a utility knife.

When hardboard siding is installed and maintained correctly it can hold up for 30 or 40 years. Wood siding comes in many forms including several types of boards shingles and sheets.