I have a client who had a substantial remodel done on her house about ten years ago, second story addition. The contractor (an idiot) did not used galvanized or ss nails, so all these nails are now bleeding. No one really seems to have a solution to this problem. As a paint contractor, I know that oil priming them will only work for awhile, since the rust on the other side of the head and shank will eventually bleed through. Another contractor suggested that she countersink all the nails fill the hole with spackle, sand, prime and repaint, but I’m skeptical this will solve the problem. I think the rust will work it’s way through the spackle in time. Maybe the best option is pulling all the nails (which would obviously damage the siding somewhat) and re-nailing with ss. Some have suggested that she should just reside the house, which would cost this poor woman thousands.
Has anyone run into this problem as a contractor? And what did you do? Any advice would be most helpful.
Replies
I'm not a contractor.
I would just countersink them, put some rusty metal type primer on them, then putty the nail heads with DAP Painters Putty 53. It's oil based putty. Seal the putty with aluminum leafing paint, like Ever-Bright Aluminum Paint for extra insurance. The aluminum paint will retard any rust stain from reappearing, but probably isn't necessary.
Also re nail as the old nail shanks are probably compromised.
Minimum would be to treat the nail heads with a rust-converting primer.
Pigmented white shellac is often used as a stain cover. Kilz also makes an exterior spot primer. Two coats as a spot primer, oil based primer over all, top paint of your choice. The nails can be set and filled. There isn't any guarantee that some bleed through won't occur over time. Spot priming will often show through paint if a primer isn't used over the entire surface.
At one point in time no one had galv. or ss screws/ nails, I assume that the oilbased paint prevented the rust more effectively than what she has on there now. I think that the suggestion of setting and filling would be the approach I would take too. If you try to pull them you will ruin the siding, you'll end up filling even more.
My dad built a cottage in the early 60's. Horizontal lap siding with countersinked nails. As a youngster, I got the job of filling these holes. Used putty, probably oil based glaziers putty. Oil based paints, many coats over the years.
You can see the nail holes when the light is at an angle. I doubt that the nails were zinc coated. No rust stains ever seen. I still have the cottage and no rust stain.
The only problem we have had is that the knots keep bleeding sap. They have been scraped, sanded, shellaced before every painting job.
I would investigate the condition of the nail shank. You will need to pull a few or at least try to pull them. If the nail shank is rusted down to next to nothing, you may be able to pop off the nail heads without much damage and it needs to be renail any ways before it starts falling off. A straight shank nail may come out easier than you think too. If it is ring shanked or a twist nail and in real solid, then you know that they won't be coming out easily and without damage, but the siding will stay put and you only need to deal with the cosmetics.
I have always read the countersink and oil putty is the way to go but can't imagine countersinking unless the nail heads are quite small.
Painted siding has been around for hundreds of years before galvanized nails so pulling all the nails is not the way to go.
Counter sink the nails, fill with bondo and repaint. If I remember right this is also what the major paint manufacturers list as the fix on their websites.