How To Repair 1960s Lap Siding

Score down the damaged lap siding with a utility knife.

How to repair 1960s lap siding. Cut all the way through the board to include the damaged area. Remove the nails in the corner cap. Remove the nails on the lap board then use the claw of the hammer to split the board down the center image 1. The top piece in the repair area will need to be nailed through the bottom edge of the row above it.

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. Work your way up the wall with this method. Finally caulk all the seams and edges to prepare the area for finish paint. The new siding is attached with galvanized nails to each stud at the top of the board so it will be concealed by the next piece.

Power tools are out for this job. Forget the tape measure tom says. When the board is completely cut through on both sides of the damage the damaged section should pull down and out fairly easily. If necessary move the wedges to make room for the saw but leave the wedges under the clapboard.

Siding repair is best done with hand tools with one exception. Tap the new pieces in place using a block of wood so you don t dent the siding. Whether you have shingles clapboard fiber cement or vinyl siding this video. Siding on houses invariably will get damaged during the lifetime of the house.

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