Fix Siding Leaks

Tools:

tongue depressor
clean rag
leather gloves
latex gloves
caulk gun
trouble light
harnesses
rope
dust mask
wood filler
silicone

1. Follow flow of water stain up to locate source of the leak. If you're going to explore the attic, wear a dust mask and gloves. Look for discoloration of the wood beams to find the leak.

2. Once you get it narrowed down, explore the roof. In this case, there were gaps between the siding and a window frame, a crack along a piece of wooden siding and some knotholes in the (figure A). This allowed water to get inside the walls and drip down, causing the water stains.

3. Fill gaps between pieces using clear silicone caulk (figure B).

4. For knotholes in the wooden siding, use wood filler. Use a high-performance wood filler that you mix before use. Mix the components in a small dish using a tongue depressor. When the color's consistent, pack the filler into the knotholes using the tongue depressor (figure C).

5. The silicone caulk is also good for sealing long cracks in the siding (figure D).

6. Allow the patches to dry and then wait. After you've had a couple of good, soaking rains inspect the walls again to see if the problem is fixed.