Repair Cracked Cedar Siding

Avoid polyurethane finishes as they can trap moisture below the surface of cedar.

Repair cracked cedar 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. Sand the surface of the siding at the area of the crack with a sanding block. If the siding is unpainted stick with epoxy filler it s. Remove the nails on the lap board then use the claw of the hammer to split the board down the center image 1.

Forget the tape measure tom says. Refinish the siding if just the repaired portion needs refinishing apply a deep penetrating wood stain in the color of your choice. 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. Use long horizontal strokes with the block instead of short vertical strokes.

Sand 3 inches past the end of the crack. These small repairs can add years to the life of the siding. 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. Holes dents and other damage to siding can usually be fixed quickly and inexpensively.

Score down the damaged lap siding with a utility knife. 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. Siding repair is best done with hand tools with one exception. Fill cracks in painted siding with either exterior acrylic latex caulk caulk or with epoxy wood filler which is a better choice.

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