How to Repair Cedar Shake Siding

siding
  • 1-8 hours
  • Beginner
  • 50-250
What You'll Need
Hammer
Utility knife
Straight edge
Blade
Galvanized nails
New cedar shakes
What You'll Need
Hammer
Utility knife
Straight edge
Blade
Galvanized nails
New cedar shakes

Cedar shake siding is appealing to many people due to the fact that it provides a rural effect in a natural way. It is resistant to insects and is relatively strong against moisture. Another benefit of cedar shake siding is the fact that when compared with other materials used for siding, it does not require much maintenance; however, you have to commit yourself to regularly checking the siding, so as to notice any problems in their initial stages and to be able to treat them while they are still approachable. The cedar siding shingles can distort or split in time, and when that occurs, you must take action and replace the damaged shingles in order to renovate the siding. Below are some basic steps to bear in mind to repair cedar shake siding effectively.

Step 1 - Inspect the Siding

Scrutinize the siding and look for shakes that have come slack from the nails or ones that have cracked and split down the focal point. These are the shingles that you will eliminate and replace with a new shingle. In some cases a cedar shake may bend outwards or inwards. Due to this a gap will be created, and water can flow in. Obviously, if this happens the moisture of the trapped water will have an adverse effect on the wood, and cause it to deteriorate and weaken in the long run. If, on the other hand, the problem is only with the nailing, then you can easily pry away the nail with the back part of a hammer, and fix with a new, galvanized nail.

Step 2 - Color Difference

Note the color dissimilarity between the new and the old shingles. The old shingles will have faded a bit due to the effect of the weather conditions. A good tip to use to avoid this color difference is to have some spare shingles stored outdoors. They will be exposed to the weather's effects and ultimately they will generate a color similar to the shingles which had been installed originally.

Step 3 - Remove the Damaged Cedar

Force open the damaged cedar shake by inserting a blade beneath the bottom edge of the shingle. Normally a cedar shake will have 2 nails fastening it. Normally, one can shift the shingle back and forth using a blade or a wide metallic instrument, while pulling it away from the boxing.

Step 4 - Sample the Old Cedar

Make use of your old cedar shake to serve as a guide. Place it over a new cedar shake that is a bit wider, and then use a straight edge so as to illustrate a line along the edge of the new shingle.

Step 5 - Slice the Cedar

Cut along the line sketched, with a sharp utility knife, and do the same thing in the same spot on the backside so as to slice the cedar.

Step 6 - Place the New Cedar

Slide the new cedar shingle into position.

Step 7 - Final Touches

Then, carefully nail in the new shake. Locate the shingle and use 2 nails to fix the shingle in place. Make sure to use nails which are galvanized, and of a suitable length. The nails should show on top of the upper shingle.