Siding repair: what to know

What the job involves, what changes the price, and what to ask a pro.

What siding repair is

Siding repair replaces cracked, warped or rotted siding sections, repairs the sheathing and flashing behind them, and seals gaps so water stays out. People call after storm damage, after a leak shows up on the wall inside, or when a section of siding is loose, split or soft.

Signs you need it

  • Cracked, split or warped boards or panels, especially near the ground, the corners or the windows
  • Soft or spongy wood when a screwdriver is pressed into a siding board or trim near the bottom edge
  • Gaps at the joints, corners or where siding meets window trim that let in water or insects
  • Peeling paint or swelling at the bottom of wood siding, which can point to moisture behind it
  • Interior stains or damp drywall on a wall that has siding outside it

What the pro does

  • Probe the siding and the wall behind it with a tool to find soft or rotted sheathing and framing
  • Remove the damaged siding sections and inspect the house wrap, flashing and sheathing behind them
  • Repair or replace rotted sheathing and flashing, and install new weather barrier tape at each cut opening
  • Set replacement siding that matches the profile and color as closely as possible, with the joints lapped and the nails set correctly
  • Caulk the joints and trim with a sealant suited to the material, then prime and paint or finish the new section to match

What changes the price

Every job is different, so we do not publish prices. These are the things that move the quote up or down.

  • Siding material, such as vinyl, fiber cement, wood or engineered wood, since each has different parts and labor
  • Number of damaged sections, and whether they are spread across one wall or several
  • Extent of rot in the sheathing, framing or flashing behind the siding
  • Height and access, including second-story work that needs a lift or staging
  • Whether matching the color, profile or finish requires repainting a larger area
  • Trim and corner pieces that must be replaced along with the siding
  • Whether the repair needs a permit

What a written quote should spell out

  • Siding material, profile, color and manufacturer, and whether a match was found
  • Each damaged section, with its location on the house and the reason it is being replaced
  • Sheathing and flashing repairs listed separately, with photos of the rot found
  • Weather barrier and flashing materials used at the repaired openings
  • Caulk and sealant type, and where each is applied
  • Primer and paint or finish work for the new sections, including the number of coats

Questions to ask before you hire

  • Can you match the profile and color of my siding, and what happens if the product has been discontinued?
  • How far behind the siding do you check for rot, and what do you do if you find it?
  • Will you replace the house wrap and flashing at any opening you cut into?
  • How do you match the paint on the new sections, and will they blend with the old paint?
  • Who is on the ladder or lift, and how is it set up for the second story?
  • What sealant do you use at the joints, and what is its warranty?
  • Will you clean up the old siding pieces and any nails or splinters from the yard?

Red flags

  • Caulk or paint used to cover a soft board instead of replacing it
  • No check of the sheathing or flashing behind the damaged siding
  • New siding installed over wet or rotted sheathing with no repair plan
  • Nails driven through the face of the siding instead of set in the nailing strip
  • A quote with no plan for matching the color or profile of the new section

What you can do yourself

You can safely check the siding from the ground for cracks, soft spots and gaps you can reach, and caulk a small crack at ground level with an exterior sealant. Do not work on a ladder to replace upper siding, and do not cut into a wall that may have wiring or plumbing behind it. Call a pro for rotted sheathing, water getting inside the wall, or any damage that needs a ladder or lift.

Licenses and permits

Siding repair is commonly done by licensed general or exterior contractors, and a permit is sometimes needed when framing or sheathing is replaced. Check with your state and local licensing and building offices for what applies where you live.

Siding repair questions

Can one siding board be replaced without redoing the whole wall?

Often, yes, if the board matches the profile and color. Older or discontinued siding can be hard to match, so a pro should show you options before cutting.

Why is my siding soft when it looks fine on the surface?

Water often gets behind siding through a gap or failed flashing, so the sheathing rots while the surface still looks fine. A pro should probe the wall to see how far the damage goes.

Will I have to repaint the whole house after a siding repair?

Not always. New sections may need paint to match, and a full repaint may be needed if the color cannot be matched. Ask for a color sample first.

Can caulk fix a siding gap?

Caulk can seal small gaps at trim and joints. It does not fix a board that is cracked, warped or rotted, and it can trap moisture if the wood behind it is wet.

About this guide

This national guide is written and checked by infinibell. Rules and conditions differ by place, so local pros are credited on guides for the cities they serve, not on national ones.

Edit history

How it works

  1. 1. Describe the job

    Pick the service, add your ZIP and a sentence about what is going on.

  2. 2. Pick the pros you want

    See pros who serve your ZIP and choose who you want to hear from.

  3. 3. They reach out

    They contact you the way you chose: phone, email or in-app messages.

More roofs and exterior guides

Find a pro near you

Find a pro

About this guide

Request siding repair