Failing paint on timber cladding does not automatically mean the boards themselves have failed. A large proportion of tired-looking cladding is sound underneath and simply needs proper stripping and a correctly specified system, but boards that are soft, split or rotten at the fixings need replacing rather than coating over.
Probe the timber at board ends, fixings and near ground level. If it resists firm pressure and the damage is only in the paint layer, a full strip and recoat is usually appropriate.
Generally not, since the boards themselves stay in place — this is one of the advantages of repainting over re-cladding where the timber is sound.
Yes, this is common on larger elevations — failed boards can be replaced individually while sound sections either side are stripped and recoated.
A firm probe with a screwdriver at board ends, fixing points and ground level tells you quickly whether the timber is sound. Boards that resist the probe and only show surface greying or flaking paint are strong candidates for a full strip and recoat rather than replacement.
Soft, spongy timber, boards that have cupped or twisted away from the frame, and repeated paint failure in the same spots despite previous repainting all suggest the timber itself, not just the coating, has reached the end of its life.
This is more than a wash and a topcoat. Failed paint needs stripping back to sound material, bare timber needs priming before the elements get to it again, and end grain and fixing points need particular attention since they are where moisture gets in first.
Repainting sound cladding extends its life without disturbing the building's fixings or weatherproofing detail. Re-cladding resets the clock completely but disturbs more of the building envelope and is the right call only where the timber genuinely justifies it, not simply because painting feels like the smaller job.
Send photographs of the worst-affected boards and we will tell you which sections need replacing and which just need recoating.
Sound timber deserves a proper repaint; failed timber deserves honest replacement, not paint over the top.
Speak to a Hampshire commercial decorating contractor that turns up, communicates clearly and delivers a finish that lasts.
