How to Replace External Cedar Siding

Set a sturdy stepladder against the wall so you easily access the topmost cedar planks. You want to remove the clapboard siding from the upper part of the wall and work your way down to the damaged planks, depending on where they are located.

Slide a flat bar under the lower lip or edge of the starter strip. Pry the bar upward to expose the nail shafts that hold it in place.

Use a reciprocating saw with a metal cutting blade to cut the nails, thereby loosening the plank. Grasp this plank and slide it out from the wall. Work carefully to avoid damaging this plank, since you will reinstall it once you replace the damaged planks.

Work your way down the wall, removing the planks until you reach the lowest damaged cedar plank. Set the damaged planks in a separate pile, since you will not be using these use these for the project.

Measure and split cedar clapboard siding planks identical in size to replace the damaged ones using a saw. If required, prime or paint the cedar planks to match the surrounding planks. Allow the primer or paint to dry before installing the planks.

Position a cedar plank flush against the wall, with its lower edge overhanging the plank below by 1 to 2 inches, depending on the overhang of the surrounding planks.

Hammer a row of nails along the upper edge of the replacement plank to secure it to the wall. Continue this process of installing replacement planks, and reinstalling the planks you set aside earlier, until you work your way to the top of the wall. Stagger the seams between adjacent planks by 14 inches from one course to the other.