Removing Sun Damaged Wood

• 1). Mix a solution of wood cleaner. Wood cleaner is generally sold in a concentrated form. Follow the manufacturer's instructions regarding the proper dilution for removing sun damaged wood fiber.
  
  
• 2). Wet the siding down with water and apply the wood cleaning solution. Allow the wood cleaner to sit on the surface of the wood for 15 to 30 minutes.
  
  
• 3). Scrub the siding down vigorously with a nylon scrub brush. Scrubbing should loosen and remove the deteriorated wood fiber while leaving the healthy underlying wood intact.
  
  
• 4). Rinse the siding down thoroughly with water.
  
  

Fixing Minor Defects in Vertical Wood Siding

• 1). Use your putty knife to apply exterior grade wood filler to holes or gouges in wood. Work the filler down into the defect, and leave a little excess product over the surface and edges of the problem area.
  
  
• 2). Allow the wood filler to dry. Follow the manufacturer's instructions regarding dry time. In general, small nail holes may only require a couple of hours to dry, while larger repairs may require 24 hours to dry completely.
  
  
• 3). Sand the filled defect with a piece of 120-grit sandpaper. Use the sandpaper to work the filler until it is smooth and flush with the surface of the wood siding.
  
  

Replacing Badly Damaged Vertical Siding Boards

• 1). Use a pry bar to loosen the siding and expose the nail shafts. Work the pry bar into a seam between siding boards.
  
  
• 2). Use a slater's ripper to pull nails, or use a hack saw blade saw to cut the nail shafts. A slater's ripper is a hooked tool that can be slid under the siding to grab and pull the nails shafts. A hack saw blade saw is a thin, toothed saw blade mounted on a handle. The blade can be slid underneath the siding to cut the nail shafts.
  
  
• 3). Remove the damaged siding once all the nails have been pulled or cut.
  
  
• 4). Fasten a new piece of vertical siding in place using corrosion resistant nails. Hammer the nails flush with the wood surface, but do not over-drive them. Over-driving nails can lead to warped siding.
  
  Follow the existing nail patterns to create a consistent appearance.