How To Replace Rotten Lap Siding

Tap flat bar under siding to loosen nails.

How to replace rotten lap siding.

Replace the old board with a new one of the same size and shape. Caulk and paint siding. Take the replacement board fit it in place image 2 and nail it in with a hammer using galvanized nails. If the damaged area is large you ll have to replace the board or a part of the board.

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. Hardboard lap siding has been used on homes for years because it mimics the look of wood siding but is much less expensive. 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. Generally fiber cement sidings last a lot longer than their wooden counterparts.

Protect sound siding with a scrap piece of 1 4 in. After you remove the rotted courses use a small hacksaw to cut any protruding nail shanks or if you have a very strong grip use a good pair of wire cutters. 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.

Secure old siding by driving ring shank nails down at an angle through the old nail holes. In this video this old house general contractor tom silva explains how to repair clapboards. 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.

To learn how to repair wood siding remove rotted boards with a flat pry bar. One of the disadvantages of hardboard siding is that exposure to water can cause it to deteriorate over time. Pry off the rotted boards. Replacing rotten hardboard siding video how to replace damaged hardboard siding with fiber cement video.

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. If a wood clapboard is rotted in a small area you can apply wood hardener and patch with wood filler or epoxy.