How To Repair Rotted Wood Siding

It is a good idea to fill areas of rotted wood when pieces of the original wood remain for the filler to adhere to.

How to repair rotted wood siding.

Paint can hide wood rot so poke the siding with the tip of the screwdriver. The nails should be placed into each of the individual wall studs. Use a ruler and insert it in the rotted wood. One trick is to build a form and line it with plastic sheeting.

To learn how to repair wood siding remove rotted boards with a flat pry bar. 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. Position the groove along the bottom part of the new wood piece onto the upper edge of the wood piece. Place the new wood piece under the lower edge of the blank in the upper plank.

On the exposed wood photo by brian wilder a two part epoxy primer brushed on the exposed wood ensures that the final repair will bond to the surface. Dig out any rotten wood. Using 2 inch siding nails attach the new wood piece. As the filler starts to cure shape it to conform to the molding.

If your home has wood siding examine the siding around and beneath the windows for signs of swelling or discoloration. Not only is this faster but the fixed wood is stronger than the original. Mix up two part automotive filler. However by waiting to replace the one or two rotten boards this problem can lead to more significant damage in time.

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. Protect sound siding with a scrap piece of 1 4 in. If it goes in further than an inch or penetrates the other side then you may be better off replacing the wood. Fill the void with the filler.

Many people delay getting new wood siding when one or two boards are rotted out because it can be hard to match new materials to the wood species and the same look of the existing siding. Pry off the rotted boards. After waiting about 15 minutes for the thin liquid to penetrate stahl wipes off the excess with a paper towel.