Home repair expert Henry Harrison shows how to replace damaged siding. He helps a homeowner remove the old siding, cut new boards to size and install new the new siding. This repair is crucial to protect the home from weather damage. On his elbow grease scale of one to four, Harrison gives this project a three.
Materials
pry bar
hammer
tarpaper
siding
circular saw
drill
carpenter's level
combination square
pencil
tape measure
safety glasses
- Using a small pry bar, remove any trim attached to the siding. Slide the end of the pry bar under the siding at the nails (figure A). Work it up and down until the nails loosen and you can pull the trim off.
- Remove the old siding in the same way, with pry bar and hammer, working from the bottom up.
- Check the surface below the tarpaper. If it's not solid, look for studs where you'll attach the new boards.
- Slide a hammer flat across the tarpaper to check for leftover stray nails (figure B), and remove them.
- If the tarpaper is torn or damaged, rip it off and replace it. Tack on the new tarpaper with roofing nails, nailing about every 4' (figure C).
- Take measurements for the new boards of siding and cut them to size with a circular saw. Don't forget to wear safety glasses while sawing the boards.
- Line up the new siding boards, working from the bottom up. Use a carpenter's level to make sure the boards are straight, and stagger your joints so that you don't have them all in one place. A section with a lot of joints is a good place for water to seep in.
- Drill pilot holes in the new siding before tacking it up with nails. This will prevent the boards from splitting when you hammer into them.
- Before you put up the each piece, make sure it's flush across the top with the piece before it. Overlap the boards top-to-bottom about two inches (figure D).
- Space nails about 12" apart.
- Once all of the siding is up, nail the trim back in place.
Resources HardiPlank siding
1"x12"x12', about $14 at hardware stores and home improvement centers
(1" sold only in Texas)
James Hardie
Mission Viejo, CA
Toll Free Phone: 888-542-7343
E-mail:
info@JamesHardie.com
Website:
www.jameshardie.com
Also in this Episode
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