How to Repair Masonite Lap Board Siding With a Hidden Nail

If a piece of Masonite siding on your house becomes damaged, you should repair the board as soon as possible. Moisture can enter the exterior walls of your house through damaged siding and rot the frame. If you’ve never replaced a damaged board, you can easily learn how to repair Masonite lap board siding with a hidden nail before more damage is done to your home.

Supplies

• Chisel


• Pry bar


• Hammer


• Hacksaw blade


• Wedges


• Square


• Pencil


• Utility knife


• Handsaw


• Roofing cement (optional)


• Nails


• Caulking gun and caulk


• Primer


• Paint

Instructions

1. Work a chisel underneath the bottom edge of the piece of damaged siding, carefully raising it up.


2. Continue pulling the board off with the pry bar. Be careful that you don’t damage the surrounding boards while prying it off.


3. Push up on the exposed nails underneath the board using the pry bar, tap the board down with a hammer and removed the nails.


4. Slide a hacksaw blade underneath the board and saw off any nails that did not come out.


5. Remove a small section of a damaged board by tapping wedges underneath the board directly above the damaged board.


6. Place a square on both sides of the damaged area on the board and use a pencil to mark the locations of your cuts.


7. Score the marks with a utility knife to lessen the chance of splintering the board.


8. Cut along the marks carefully with the handsaw to remove the damaged section.


9. Seal the building paper underneath the damaged board you removed with roofing cement if the paper was punctured while removing the board.


10. Measure the gap in the siding and use the handsaw to cut a replacement board that corresponds to your measurements.


11. Slide the cut board underneath the board above where you took out the damaged board. Make sure that the board fits snugly.


12. Tap the new board into place with the hammer and remove the wedges.


13. Nail the board into place at the top and bottom of the board.


14. Caulk the nail holes and run a bead of caulk along the vertical seams of the new board.


15. Prime the board and apply a coat of paint to match the rest of the siding.