How can I fix Woodpecker holes?

[slowplod]

As soon as we moved in to our house, we hired a painter for the exterior, since the paint was starting to chip.  Pretty much right after that, woodpeckers did a number on my cedar siding.  I only have a compact car and no ladder.  I was thinking about buying a ladder, wood putty, and paint to fix this.  I'd need at least a 28' ladder.  I can get one on Amazon for ~$300 shipped, but it will take a few weeks to be delivered.

Is this the best way to go about the repair?  Will the paint over the wood putty be noticeable?

[Spork]

I've used Bondo as a filler for fairly large holes.  Now... as this is siding, I might be a little worried about how water proof that would be.  When I've done this it was in sofit where lights were removed.

Another worry: wood peckers are usually hunting bugs when they make holes.  Before I went and repaired everything, I'd want to really inspect where they were digging and make sure it wasn't full of carpenter ants or termites or something.

Another option on the ladder:  Around here Lowes/Home Depot will rent you a truck for about $25.  If the ladder is cheaper there, that might be another way to go.

[slowplod]

I've used Bondo as a filler for fairly large holes.  Now... as this is siding, I might be a little worried about how water proof that would be.  When I've done this it was in sofit where lights were removed.

Another worry: wood peckers are usually hunting bugs when they make holes.  Before I went and repaired everything, I'd want to really inspect where they were digging and make sure it wasn't full of carpenter ants or termites or something.

Another option on the ladder:  Around here Lowes/Home Depot will rent you a truck for about $25.  If the ladder is cheaper there, that might be another way to go.

Thanks for the response.  I've had an exterminator for mice and asked about the woodpeckers and if bugs were causing it, but he didn't really seem to think so.  I'll take a look if I successfully procure a ladder.

I was thinking about the truck option, but two issues I foresee: 1) does the truck have a rack?  The ladder is ~ 15 ft collapsed, so you can't just throw this in the bed

2) I think the round trip drive to the home Depot is ~2 hours that has the truck, and it looks like they charge $20/hour, so that option could get costly

[Spork]

I've used Bondo as a filler for fairly large holes.  Now... as this is siding, I might be a little worried about how water proof that would be.  When I've done this it was in sofit where lights were removed.

Another worry: wood peckers are usually hunting bugs when they make holes.  Before I went and repaired everything, I'd want to really inspect where they were digging and make sure it wasn't full of carpenter ants or termites or something.

Another option on the ladder:  Around here Lowes/Home Depot will rent you a truck for about $25.  If the ladder is cheaper there, that might be another way to go.

Thanks for the response.  I've had an exterminator for mice and asked about the woodpeckers and if bugs were causing it, but he didn't really seem to think so.  I'll take a look if I successfully procure a ladder.

I was thinking about the truck option, but two issues I foresee: 1) does the truck have a rack?  The ladder is ~ 15 ft collapsed, so you can't just throw this in the bed

2) I think the round trip drive to the home Depot is ~2 hours that has the truck, and it looks like they charge $20/hour, so that option could get costly

Ah... well if Depot is that far away, it's probably not an option.  (The truck at our depot is a very small flatbed.)

[Mtngrl]

Can you make friends with a neighbor and borrow a ladder?

We have a wood-sided house and the woodpeckers don't appear to be looking for bugs on ours, either. To repair holes, we use the colored putty in a tube sold at Home Depot. There is a color that matches the siding perfectly. You have to be pretty close to notice it. We have filled in some pretty big holes with this. Good luck!

[Milspecstache]

I used bondo as well in the past on siding.  The holes were too big to use anything else so I used fiberglass and epoxy to strengthen it.

I also found bugs as that is what the woodpeckers are chasing.  A good bug killer for bugs in wood that eat the wood is Tim-bor.  I just used it on powderpost beetles.  It will also kill termites and carpenter ants.

It won't, however, work on carpenter bees as those don't eat the wood.