How to Replace Cedar Siding

Cedar siding is a beautiful addition to a house and adds a lot of richness and warmth to your home's exterior. Although it is water resistant and durable, there will be times that you will need to replace or repair your cedar siding. Cedar shingles sometimes split or warp in severe weather. It is not hard to replace cedar siding. All you need are some new cedar shakes and a few tools. Here are a few tips for how to replace cedar siding.

The first thing you will need to do is collect the supplies and tools you will need to repair cedar siding. You will need a flat bar, hammer, straight edge, roofing nails and a utility nails as well as new cedar shakes. One thing you need to remember is that the new cedar siding will not match the rest of the siding on the house when you first put it up. Cedar shakes weather over time to gray or silver. Over time the new cedar siding will blend in with the rest of the cedar shakes.

Your next step is to thoroughly inspect the exterior of your house. Be on the look out for cracked, curled or split cedar shakes. Remove any damaged shakes with the flat bar. To do this, put the flat bar right beneath the cedar shingle's lower edge and gently pry if off.

Put the damaged shake on the top of a new cedar shake. Trace the shape of the old shake, using a straight edge. Then cut the new shake out with a utility knife. Take the new cedar shake and slide in into place where the old cedar shake was. To nail the cedar shake down, nail it to the shake that is directly above and also into the boxing. Leave a gap of about a quarter inch on both sides of the cedar shingle. You want to do this because cedar does tend to expand when it is wet. Follow this same process for each cedar shake that you need to replace.

As you can see, it is not hard to repair and replace the cedar siding that is on your house. It only takes a few simple tools, some new cedar shake, and a small amount of your time. Keeping your cedar siding well maintained and in good repair is well worth it. It will keep your house looking great and well preserved at the same time.