Fixing Wood Siding

Remember to add new tar paper for extra weather proofing.

Fixing wood siding.

See how to remove the damaged siding with little damage to existing siding. Repairing wood siding is integral to owning a home with wood siding. So when a piece needs fixing it s a task that merits a big red flag on the to do list. When you come across rotted wood in your old house projects instead of replacing the damaged wood you also can repair it with specialty epoxy penetrants also called consolidants and fillers to make repairs.

Whether it s cracked rotted or the victim of a woodpecker s bill a damaged strip of wood siding is an open invitation for water to leak in and wreak havoc on a house. If the screwdriver sinks into the wood you ve got a wood rot problem. Paint can hide wood rot so poke the siding with the tip of the screwdriver the wood should be firm and hard. A new generation of wood fillers hardeners and epoxies fill holes and firm up soft spots so they are as strong as the original wood.

Finally attach the new siding with sliding nails that do not rust and fill seams with outdoor caulk. Boards shingles and panels usually can be replaced without too much trouble. These small repairs can add years to the life of the siding. Then measure for proper fit of the new siding.

How to repair wood siding. You can try pulling a warped board so that it s flat and tight by driving a couple of long galvanized screws through the siding into studs drill pilot holes to avoid splitting the siding. But without proper attention isolated areas can begin rotting in only a few years especially near the foundation. You can often repair damaged nonstructural wood such as molding siding or trim on your home by filling the damaged area with automotive body filler.

Water splashes up from the ground frequently soaking the vulnerable bottom edges. When hardboard siding is installed and maintained correctly it can hold up for 30 or 40 years. The most important step of any wood siding repair is the final process of weatherproofing the repair area with paint or another type of sealant and caulk.