Replacing Hardboard Siding

Let it dry before installing.

Replacing hardboard 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. Set the depth of the skill saw to just go through the hardboard siding. Use a 4 foot level to check and then hammer in another nail. Remove the deteriorated hardboard siding using a pry bar and chisel being careful not to damage the good siding above it.

This will protect it from any water damage. Begin painting the siding by applying acrylic latex primer. Let each coat of paint dry individually as instructed by the manufacturer. Use a pry bar to remove the damaged siding.

Remove any nails from the top piece of good siding. Check the rest of the hardboard siding for paint peelings. Make sure that the top surface of the siding is facing down away from the blade. Face nail the top piece of fiber cement siding through the old siding.

Cut the fiber cement siding to length wear approved dust protection. Blind nail the fiber cement siding in place starting with the bottom piece. If needed replace the sheathing behind the siding using 1 2 plywood covered with builder s felt or housewrap. Once the cuts are made prime the ends of the siding.

Replace siding by working from the bottom up you might need a helper here. To remove and replace damaged siding. If you re replacing more than one board in a run simply hammer a nail into the top corner to support it and then move half way down the board. Remove the peelings using a scraper.

Replacing the entire wall will blend better with the overall look of your home and also allow inspection of the sheathing to make sure there is no moisture damage or potential mold to other areas. Use sandpaper to smooth and even the entire hardboard siding surface. Paint the dried putty to match the hardboard siding. If you replace hardboard sections with suitable replacement products fiber cement sidng or vinyl siding you will definitely notice a difference between the 2 siding products in thickness hardboard is thicker and style texture.

Wash down the entire hardboard siding with water containing mild detergent and allow the siding to dry completely. The sheathing and framing sometimes need repairs too but that is less common. When you replace the boards use a homemade reveal set jig to match the reveal of the existing siding. Attach the siding with 10d galvanized box nails driven into the overlap at least 1 2 in.

Then hammer away on the rest of the board. Above the bottom edge. Using a paintbrush apply two coats of exterior house paint over the putty to hide the repair. The courses should overlap by at least 1 in.