Repair Cracked Cedar Siding

Repairing minor defects in cedar siding step 1 use a putty knife to apply exterior wood putty to smaller cracks or holes in siding.

Repair cracked cedar siding. These small repairs can add years to the life of the siding. Avoid polyurethane finishes as they can trap moisture below the surface of cedar. 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. 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. Fill cracks in painted siding with either exterior acrylic latex caulk caulk or with epoxy wood filler which is a better choice.

Siding repair is best done with hand tools with one exception. Once all the nails are removed from the adjoining board the damaged one should just pull out. If the siding is unpainted stick with epoxy filler it s. Refinish the siding if just the repaired portion needs refinishing apply a deep penetrating wood stain in the color of your choice.

Use long horizontal strokes with the block instead of short vertical strokes. Holes dents and other damage to siding can usually be fixed quickly and inexpensively. 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.

Sand 3 inches past the end of the crack. Work the putty down into the holes and smear the putty over the top and edges of the defect.