Cedar Siding Repair

jlaky2000 · 05-04-2008, 08:53 AM

I have 6" wide tongue-and-groove cedar siding on my house that runs vertical on my garage exterior. Some of the boards are starting to buckle at the seams. Can nail the boards down to the framing of the house to fix the buckling? I mean not just to nail at the seams, but also in the middle of the boards, then to set the nails into the wood a little, fill them and paint.

Pro Color · 05-09-2008, 10:02 PM

Yes, you can. Be sure to make new holes with your nails (old ones can be too bored out). We have fixed and replaced literally 100's of 1000's of feet of this product. Contact me if ya wanna see examples, many pics on the web (not sure if I can mention this link in a thread?)

Just a few tips/
1. Try to stay about an inch off the edge with your new nail, old dry wood splits easy at the edges.

2. Turn your nail around backwards, with the head of the nail placed exactly where your going to drive it, tap the point with a hammer (to flatten tip) the head of the nail will give a pilot impression. Helps with splitting.

3. IMPORTANT: Depending on the age of your structure, it's possiable to hit unguarded water lines or even electrical while nailing. Even when hitting directly into a stud/member (thats where the lines run). So be careful of the nail length you use. I could tell you horror stories of my guys hitting water lines and not knowing it....

4. If using a nail gun: In certain wind zones you have to use a full head nail instead of a clipped head, if unsure check local codes. I would urge you to to use a full head nail. Much better and not much more expensive.

Pro Color

bofusmosby · 05-10-2008, 08:33 AM

On the repair I have been making to the siding of my house, I usually use screws, and drill a small pilot hole to prevent splitting. As Pro Color stated, the old wood splits easy.

Pro Color · 05-10-2008, 08:41 AM

Yes, even longer lasting method.

But, if you have a lot to do this can really take some time for some. When we run 1000's of feet on a building, this is not an option for us.

However, it will hold great. Just make sure to use an "exterior" screw.

Pro Color

bofusmosby · 05-10-2008, 08:43 AM

I agree. I do what I am doing only to repair the existing siding, not all. It would take way too much time to do it all in this manner.

jlaky2000 · 05-11-2008, 08:29 AM

Thanks for all the help. The pilot holes are a good tip. Cedar siding is expensive, and I'd hate to crack a 16' foot board. I'll give it a try, and look out for pipes when I'm nailing...