Repair Cracked Cedar Siding

Once all the nails are removed from the adjoining board the damaged one should just pull out.

Repair cracked cedar siding.

Siding repair is best done with hand tools with one exception. Remove the nails on the lap board then use the claw of the hammer to split the board down the center image 1. Avoid polyurethane finishes as they can trap moisture below the surface of cedar. Refinish the siding if just the repaired portion needs refinishing apply a deep penetrating wood stain in the color of your choice.

Fill cracks in painted siding with either exterior acrylic latex caulk caulk or with epoxy wood filler which is a better choice. Instead you can size the replacement using the old clapboard as a template a simple technique that virtually guarantees a tight fit on the first try. These small repairs can add years to the life of the siding. Sand 3 inches past the end of the crack.

If the siding is unpainted stick with epoxy filler it s. Score down the damaged lap siding with a utility knife. If the entire exterior needs to be refinished wash all the siding down with wood surface cleaner. Use long horizontal strokes with the block instead of short vertical strokes.

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. Repairing minor defects in cedar siding step 1 use a putty knife to apply exterior wood putty to smaller cracks or holes in siding. Once the paint starts to peel costs can quickly grow as sanding out walls is not cheap let alone replacing warped twisted and cracked siding panels. Cedar wood siding should be painted or stained every 6 years or sooner depending on the level of uv exposure in order to reduce the costs of repainting.

Sand the surface of the siding at the area of the crack with a sanding block. Work the putty down into the holes and smear the putty over the top and edges of the defect.