Hey folks! I've noticed some vertical cracks in my wooden siding, and I'm hoping for some advice. I'm based in Canada, and this part of my house faces southeast, so it gets hit by all four seasons. Are these cracks a sign that the siding has reached the end of its life, or are they fixable? Can I just leave them as they are, assuming there's flashing behind them? If there is a way to fix them, what are the steps I should take? Here's a link to the photo for reference: https://imgur.com/a/gIYKpWb
3 Answers
It looks like those vertical cracks are a result of typical wood behavior, especially if you've used filler before. The expansion and contraction of wood due to weather changes can cause these cracks. If you’re aiming for a more uniform look, you might want to consider changing to a different style of siding. Just keep in mind that filling those cracks won’t hold permanently, so a full replacement may be your best bet.
Are your wood siding pieces full planks or shakes? If it’s just the paint that’s cracked, you might be in luck! However, if the wood itself is splitting, that could be a bigger problem. If it’s just surface paint, you could re-sand and repaint to give it a fresh look. But if the wood is cracked through, you might need to replace the affected boards to prevent further issues.
Quick question! Have you noticed these cracks appearing since you moved in? From what I can see in the picture, it seems like the shakes have some variety in sizing but may not be cracked beyond the surface. If they just look different, that could be normal. Keeping an eye on them for further damage is a smart move!