Replacing Hardboard Siding

Remove the peelings using a scraper.

Replacing hardboard siding.

Above the bottom edge. Remove any nails from the top piece of good siding. Then hammer away on the rest of the board. The sheathing and framing sometimes need repairs too but that is less common.

Set the depth of the skill saw to just go through the hardboard siding. To remove and replace damaged siding. Use a 4 foot level to check and then hammer in another nail. Using a paintbrush apply two coats of exterior house paint over the putty to hide the repair.

Check the rest of the hardboard siding for paint peelings. 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. Let each coat of paint dry individually as instructed by the manufacturer. Attach the siding with 10d galvanized box nails driven into the overlap at least 1 2 in.

We tear off the damaged hardboard and replace it with fiber cement siding. If needed replace the sheathing behind the siding using 1 2 plywood covered with builder s felt or housewrap. Use sandpaper to smooth and even the entire hardboard siding surface. This will protect it from any water damage.

Replace siding by working from the bottom up you might need a helper here. Set the saw on the mark and slowly cut through the siding. Install new hardboard siding. Wash down the entire hardboard siding with water containing mild detergent and allow the siding to dry completely.

Blind nail the fiber cement siding in place starting with the bottom piece. Cut the fiber cement siding to length wear approved dust protection. Remove the deteriorated hardboard siding using a pry bar and chisel being careful not to damage the good siding above it. When you replace the boards use a homemade reveal set jig to match the reveal of the existing 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. Paint the dried putty to match the hardboard siding. The courses should overlap by at least 1 in. 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.

Face nail the top piece of fiber cement siding through the old siding. Let it dry before installing. Begin painting the siding by applying acrylic latex primer. Once the cuts are made prime the ends of the siding.