Staining around nail holes in timber weatherboards

Staining around nail holes in stained or clear-finished timber weatherboards

Causes

Rust staining from mild steel or hot-dip galvanised nails 

Staining from hot-dip galvanised, copper or aluminium nails in cedar (typically a teardrop-shaped stain)

Listed under: Exterior, finishes, clear finishes, timber and wood-based, stain, stains, timber, cladding, walls, durability, rust, wall cladding, stained or clear-finished timber weatherboards

Cause

Rust staining from mild steel or hot-dip galvanised nails 

Repair

  • replace mild steel or hot-dip galvanised nails with stainless steel or silicone bronze nails if old nails can be removed (it may be better to leave as is until the cladding is either removed and replaced or painted)
  • the timber surface may be sanded but the stain will re-occur and, until it weathers, the sanded area is likely to be more obvious than the stain

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Cause

Staining from hot-dip galvanised, copper or aluminium nails in cedar (typically a teardrop-shaped stain)

Repair

  • replace existing nails with stainless steel or silicone bronze nails if old nails can be removed (it may be better to leave as is until the cladding is either removed and replaced or painted)
  • the timber surface may be sanded but the stain will re-occur and, until it weathers, the sanded area is likely to be more obvious than the stain

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