Anyone out there who might know how to replace rotted boards on exterior wall ?

Question

I think(but am not sure) the type of siding board is called lapboard (not tongue-in-groove, not clapboard). Want to replace just the rotted mid-sections of two boards without harming other boards. Thanks for your attention.

Answer 1

It's not too difficult to remove the rotten portions as previously described. I personally would try using a reciprocating saw to cut out the rotten pieces - as it's most versatile. The important part though, is when you've removed the rotten wood, you need to cut back the remaining exterior lapboard to the closest stud to the damaged area. The remaining lapboard should extend about halfway on the stud, which will allow about half again the area to nail the new lapboard, thereby ensuring a tight and sturdy joint (you don't want to wind up with an edge of the lapboard ending in an open space without stud support). In other words, you always want to wind up with the edges to be nailed directly over a stud. This provides an area to nail both edges and provides solid construction.

There's a fairly easy way to accomplish this as well. Determine where the old lapboard needs to be cut to ensure the edge covers a stud. Use a pencil and draw a vertical line up and down the outer lapboard to indicate the exact middle of the stud behind it. Using a circular saw, set the depth of the cut to equal the width of the outer lapboard (probably qtr to half inch). Following the marked line, cut the existing lapboard with the circular saw. This will provide a lip area on the stud to attach the new lapboard to the stud, and ensure a strong, sturdy construction for the new board, as well as a nice joint for the old and new boards.

Answer 2

The most important part of this whole deal is to match what is currently installed.

First, carefully loosen each board you want to replace. Once loose it will be necessary to find the nails holding it in place and to cut them off, thus releasing the board. Reciprocating saws with a fine toothed bi metal blade is an excellent to for doing this. But use care these are quick cutting tools and you can get into trouble quickly.

Once the boards are removed, take one or a piece of one to your favorite lumber yard and see if they have a match. If not they may be able to direct you to a place that can.

To replace the new boards, carefully align them one at time with the existing siding boards (to keep the lines straight horizontally) and using finish nails, nail them in place. Use finish nails because it will not be possible to hide the nails as was originally done.

Answer 3

Use a small flat pry bar. Place a scrap of wood up under it, and pry up slowly around nails. Once nail heads start showing, use pry bar and block of wood to pull them out. The block of wood is to keep pry bar from pocking through good boards