Exterior siding is a building material or the wall covering of boards fastened to your exterior building frame or sheathing. It helps you protect the house damage done by the sun and moisture. Sidings are made of several natural or even man-made materials such as wood, vinyl, and aluminum. You need to immediately repair the siding if you notice any damaged on your siding and if it is beyond repair, you should just replace it. Most of the repair work that you can do to your siding involve filling and sanding of holes or gouges in your wood by using putty. In order to replace a severe damaged siding, you need to pry out the siding board and loosen it up before you can install a new siding board. Below are some of the tips that you can use to repair your exterior siding.
To repair exterior siding, you need:
- Screwdrivers
- Drill
- Caulking gun and weatherproofing caulk
- Galvanized nails
- Galvanized screws
- Wood stain
- Hammer
- Nail set
- Exterior paint
- Paint brush or pad
- Wood chisel
- Wood adhesive
- Mini-hacksaw blade
- Pry bar
- Safety goggles
- Work gloves
- Zip tool
- Metal snips
- Utility knife
- 120-grit Sandpaper
- Metal primer
- Wedges
- Automotive body filler
- Sheet metal screws
- Replacement siding boards
Repairing Exterior Siding
How to Repair Exterior Siding
- In order to repair exterior siding that has been damaged by sunlight, you need to mix a solution of wood cleaner.
- You will find that wood cleaner is normally made of a concentrated formula.
- Make sure to follow any of the instructions supplied by the manufacturer of the product especially when it relates on the dilution recommended by them to remove sun-damaged wood fiber.
- You will find that wood cleaner is normally made of a concentrated formula.
- The next step is for you to wet the siding by using a hose before you can apply the wood cleaner solution.
- Then, allow the solution to remain on the surface of the siding for at least 15 to 30 minutes.
- Then, allow the solution to remain on the surface of the siding for at least 15 to 30 minutes.
Always be careful when using certain types of wood because it might contain high level of tannins which is a natural preservative that can bleed onto the surface of your wood and in the end causes dark staining and discoloration. In order to neutralize the content of tannins within your wood you can use wood brightener with oxalic acid. This method can restore back the natural luster of your wood.
- After that, you have to scrub the siding thoroughly using a nylon scrub brush in order to remove any of the loosened wood fiber thus leaving the wood intact and looking healthy.
- Next, you have to rinse the siding using water thoroughly.
- Next, you have to rinse the siding using water thoroughly.
- If you notice that there are minor defects in your wood siding, you can simply use a putty knife or other simple tools to repair it.
- For example, the putty knife can be used for spreading the putty over any holes or gouges in the wood siding.
- You need to only spread a liberal amount of putty. Work your putty knife down into the holes and over the gouges.
- For example, the putty knife can be used for spreading the putty over any holes or gouges in the wood siding.
- When it comes to the drying time of the putty, you should follow the instructions made by the manufacturer.
- Normally, putty that you used on small holes or gouges need several hours before it is dried thoroughly. However, for deeper fills used on large holes may require at least 24 hours or more.
- Once the putty has dried, you have to sand the affected areas by using a piece of 120-grit sandpaper. By using the sandpaper, you will be able to smooth the putty to make it look flush with the surface of your wood.
- Normally, putty that you used on small holes or gouges need several hours before it is dried thoroughly. However, for deeper fills used on large holes may require at least 24 hours or more.
- For those of you who want to replace badly damaged siding boards, the first thing that you have to do is to find the nails in your exterior siding boards.
- You can use a pry bar to gently lift the damaged board in order to expose the nail shafts.
- To pull out the nails, you can use a slater’s ripper or even use a hack saw blade saw to cut the nail shafts.
- You can use a pry bar to gently lift the damaged board in order to expose the nail shafts.
- After you have finished pulling out all the nails you would be able to remove the damaged siding board.
- You will notice that for certain types of interlocking exterior siding, you need to at least loosen up the boards on top and beneath so that you can remove the damaged board easily.
- You will notice that for certain types of interlocking exterior siding, you need to at least loosen up the boards on top and beneath so that you can remove the damaged board easily.
- The next step to take is to fit in a new replacement siding board and lay it into the affected area.
- You must make sure that you fasten it securely in place along with corrosion-resistant nails.
- Remember to use the correct size of nail for your exterior siding. The size of nail will depend on the thickness of your exterior siding board. You can also check with the manufacturer’s instructions in terms of the nail type and size that you should be using.
- In order to create a consistent look, it is recommended that you line the nail holes up with the nail holes in the surrounding of your exterior siding.
Always remember that whenever you want to repair your exterior siding
- You can simply use paint or stain that you can apply over your siding in order to protect your wood from moisture and being damaged by ultra-violet (UV) rays coming from the sunlight.
- For those of you who want to stain the wood siding, you can use wood putty but make sure that it matches the basic tone of your wood and able to accept a stain.
- Whenever you use wood cleaner, you should be wearing protective clothing which include an eye wear along with rubber gloves. This is because wood cleaner contains chemicals that can be harmful not only to your skin but also to your eyes.
- You must make sure that you fasten it securely in place along with corrosion-resistant nails.
