How To Repair Cedar Lap Siding

When the caulk is dry paint the new siding to match the rest of the house.

How to repair cedar lap siding.

Follow the manufacturer s instructions regarding. Because the nails in wood lap siding sometimes go through two rows at once you may need cut the nails in a row above the one you re working on. Keep the cleaner wet to ensure its effectiveness. To cut out a damaged area use a square and a utility knife to scribe cut lines on each side of the damage.

The full strength solution should be strong enough to break down and remove failing coatings from the siding. Remove the nails on the lap board then use the claw of the hammer to split the board down the center image 1. Leave it on longer than 30 minutes if needed. Work your way up the wall with this method.

First to help avoid any future insect damage back prime the cedar with oil based primer image 1. The new siding is attached with galvanized nails to each stud at the top of the board so it will be concealed by the next piece. Caulk the edges of the patch with acrylic latex caulk. How to repair exterior cedar siding.

The top piece in the repair area will need to be nailed through the bottom edge of the row above it. Be careful not to damage the sheathing. Leave the wood cleaner on. Remove the nails in the corner cap.

Score down the damaged lap siding with a utility knife. Using a circular saw set to the thickness of the siding complete as much of the cut as you can without cutting into the siding above the cut. Use galvanized spiral shank nails to secure the boards. Finally caulk all the seams and edges to prepare the area for finish paint.

When you re ready to install the new material creating a gauge block will help ensure that the reveal of each board is identical. Wood cleaner is generally sold in a concentrated formula. Wet the wood with a hose and apply the wood cleaner with a roller or sprayer. Mist it with water if the cleaner starts to dry.

Slide the new clapboard into the gap with its top edge under the board above and its bottom edge over the board below. Once all the nails are removed from the adjoining board the damaged one should just pull out. Add new siding we used cedar siding to replace the rotted clapboards. Before the siding can go up 1x4 starter strips of treated lumber should be nailed to the sill where the lower most course of siding will go up image 2.

A quick video showing you how to replace damaged siding on your house all by yourself. Check the cleaner every 15 minutes.