How to Replace Shake and Shingle Siding

Wood shake and shingle siding should last about 30 years if you treat it right. Replace damaged shakes or shingles using these easy steps.

Difficulty:

Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need

• Spray-on Wood Sealants
• Saws
• Common Nails
• Hacksaws
• Pry Bars
• Straight Claw Hammers
• Wood Chisels

1. Pry up the nail heads holding the damaged shingle.

2. Split the shingle with a wood chisel if it doesn't slide right out.

3. Pull out all of the pieces and discard them.

4. Cut off nails covered by the row above the damaged one with a mini hacksaw.

5. Cut a replacement shingle to fit where the damaged one was.

6. Put the shingle into position and then slip it down about 1/2 inch.

7. Drive the nail with the head angled toward the ground.

8. Hold a piece of scrap wood along the bottom edge of the new shingle and tap it with a hammer. The nail will straighten out below the covering row.

Tips & Warnings

• Examine the damaged pieces for signs of rot, insects, mildew or mold.

• Keep up on the sealants (about every 5 years) and control mildew, or you'll be replacing shingles more often than every 30 years.