I have a section of wood siding that is soft and rotting. Complicating matters (and possibly causing the issue) is the placement of the seating area of the deck. The previous owners built a privacy wall and bench and it abuts the house.
The wood that I've tapped around the area feels firm, the damage is primarily on the top section of one plank.
Any advice on the steps, tools, and materials I'd need to properly repair this are appreciated. I'm concerned some moisture is in the wall cavity; after a recent heavy rain I noticed some minor paint bubbling on the interior side of this wall.
Best Answer
Frankly, replacing one horizontal run like that probably isn't worth the effort, unless there will be lots of rain in the future. It may well be sufficient to strip, putty the gaps, caulk the edges, and paint.
Otherwise, you'll have to replace the siding panel. Remove the bench and wall. Remove the siding, and renew.
The tools and materials are straightforward: hammer, pry bar, screwdriver (if anything is held with screws—probably nothing is), elbow grease, and patience. Nails or screws, a new siding panel, primer, caulk, and paint is all that should be needed.