How To Replace Rotten Lap Siding

Tap flat bar under siding to loosen nails.

How to replace rotten lap siding. Protect sound siding with a scrap piece of 1 4 in. You can cut a board almost anywhere if your sheathing is solid plywood or osb but if the sheathing is not solid it must be cut in the middle of a. Take the replacement board fit it in place image 2 and nail it in with a hammer using galvanized nails. However the amount of present rot can be deceptive.

Here s how to repair damaged clapboards also known as bevel or lap siding. Wedge the board away from the house by driving wedges up under the damaged board to pull it out from the sheathing below. Pull loose nails from clapboard siding. Remove the nails on the lap board then use the claw of the hammer to split the board down the center image 1.

If a wood clapboard is rotted in a small area you can apply wood hardener and patch with wood filler or epoxy. Watch this video to find out more. If your siding has a lot of damage due to pests or rot then that s probably the time to think about replacing it for a more robust siding like this fiber cement lap siding. When the repair is complete caulk all the end joints and then apply two coats of high quality exterior paint.

If the damaged area is large you ll have to replace the board or a part of the board. Secure old siding by driving ring shank nails down at an angle through the old nail holes. Generally fiber cement sidings last a lot longer than their wooden counterparts. Pry off the rotted boards.

Rotten hardboard siding before replacement with fiber cement siding. Once all the nails are removed from the adjoining board the damaged one should just pull out. Replacing rotten hardboard siding video how to replace damaged hardboard siding with fiber cement video. In this video this old house general contractor tom silva explains how to repair clapboards.

Hardboard lap siding has been used on homes for years because it mimics the look of wood siding but is much less expensive. Replace the old board with a new one of the same size and shape. One of the disadvantages of hardboard siding is that exposure to water can cause it to deteriorate over time.