How To Keep Wood Siding From Rotting

These materials act as a barrier preventing water from coming into direct contact with the wood.

How to keep wood siding from rotting.

Avoid driving nails flush or countersink them. Make sure the wood isn t in direct contact with the ground. How to make your repairs last long. Use a rain screen or furring strips behind siding to allow airflow behind the siding.

Even the most well kept wood siding is susceptible to moisture and damage which will lead to rotted wood. How can i prevent future problems. Use a nail or a carpenter s pencil between deck boards to space them. Last but not least you need to clean your gutters regularly to prevent clogs.

The rotted portions of the wood siding can be replaced with new siding. Inspect the sidewall around and underneath the fascia and inside the house for signs of moisture damage and repair any rotted areas. Scrape away old hardened caulk and replace it with fresh caulk. The process of replacing rotten wood siding isn t difficult.

The steps involve cutting away the rotten siding clearing out the old nails cutting the new siding to the appropriate length and fastening the siding as well as caulking it to make the siding watertight. Clean gutters regularly at least twice a year to prevent blockages that can lead to water running over the backside of the gutter and. You just have to cut away the. Leave a gap of inches at corners and.

Which finish you choose is mostly an aesthetic choice. Add felt if needed before nailing the new wood on and prime the new wood on all four sides before installing it. If possible design your project with gaps between horizontal and vertical surfaces. Seal all cracks around exterior doors and windows with caulk.

Both are recipes for disaster when it comes to wood rot. You can go back with wood but you may want to choose fiber cement as it will last longer. The back and edges of the new sidings should be primed and thoroughly painted. The heads might break the paper face and water will soak in and damage the siding.

Leaning these items up against the siding might trap water against the house and cause rot. You simply have to remove the damage section and fill in that particular area. Install the kickout flashing underneath the first shingle photo 1.