Repairing Siding This Old House

Pull siding away from house and cut through the bottom edge with aviation snips.

Repairing siding this old house.

Set the blade at a 5 degree bevel and a 1 inch cutting depth. Here s how to use it. Forget the tape measure tom says. The sheathing and framing sometimes need repairs too but that is less common.

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. Use framing square and utility knife to cut through face of siding. So when a piece of vinyl breaks the key to making the repair is a zip tool a miniature curved pry bar with a metal hook at its tip to unlock the siding. It ll better match the house than brand new siding.

Tack a batten to the water table horizontally to guide the saw and ensure a straight 90 degree cut. Snap out the old piece. Remove the wood then the nails. Cut piece of faded siding from an inconspicuous spot to replace the damaged section.

We tear off the damaged hardboard and replace it with fiber cement siding. In most cases the original layer of building paper or housewrap at the bottom of the wall was enough to prevent water infiltration and damage beneath the siding. Unlike wood clapboards vinyl siding is so thin and flexible that each piece has to lock onto the ones above and below to keep a house weatherproof.