DIY & Home Improvement

If your fall/winter/spring is utterly drenched with rain, that's more of a concern but probably still OK. Snow isn't a concern.

What year was the house built? And are they the original clapboards? Late 60's clapboards are probably pressure-treated lumber, so they can easily withstand that small exposure. Much earlier than that and pressure-treated wasn't available.

If you want to get an idea of how the wood is right now, go get a flathead screwdriver and poke the wood with the blade aligned with the wood grain - the long direction of the board when you're talking about clapboards. Don't beat on it, just give it a firm shove.

Wood that is in good shape won't let the screwdriver in at all. Utterly rotten wood that must be replaced will disintegrate. Wood that is starting to be damaged will separate a little along the grain lines and let the screwdriver in. How far gives you a hint at how bad the wood is. If the wood is in good shape, one winter won't change that.