The other name of Masonite Siding is hardboard Siding, and it is a budget-friendly Siding which means it comes at affordable costs. And this type of Siding was also popularized in the 1980s and early 1990s. We can describe Masonite Sidings as the sawdust, which was glued together with the paper overlay.
What is Masonite Siding?
Masonite Siding provides the home’s exterior with the appearance of natural wood with comparable performance. The materials which were present were extremely susceptible to moisture penetration, mildew, and mold. When some water starts to decay the substrate, it acts as a brittle material. It seems like it is cardboard but still, it contains some strength.
The components by which Sidings are made of wood fibers. That was held together with resin or glue through heat and the compression process. People were very fascinated to take it after seeing its low cost and initial strength. It is even cheaper than vinyl Siding. Because of this, it is a more popular choice for many people.
It was very lovable to the people, but its reputation decreases when it gets exposed to the elements. And people knew about the lifetime of home exteriors. It caused large damage between 1980 and 1998. And after following the lawsuit, manufacturers stopped making the Material. In modern construction, the Masonite Siding is still being used. But the building professionals have deemed it to be an inferior building product.
Because of the lawsuits and so much criticism of Masonite Siding, the original manufacturer of Masonite Siding whose name was Masonite is no longer manufacturing it and the leading manufacturer today of Masonite Siding is Louisiana Pacific. He is also known as LP. Masonite Siding and is mainly used in new construction completely online title loans no phone calls.
How to Repair Masonite Siding?
Masonite is also an alternative to solid wood and is partially synthetic because of its density, strength, and the traditional wood appearance. Natural wood generally shrinks, blister, and swell but Masonite hardboard does not shrink-swell or blister. But the disadvantage of Masonite hardboard is that it gets affected by the moisture and is susceptible to deterioration. The holes of Masonite are one of the prominent problems. Repairing the holes in Masonite hardboard can prevent the moisture from the further permeating the Siding. Now in this section, we will discuss the repairing of Masonite hardboard Siding with wood putty.
Now here we go with the solutions:
Step 1: You can use the stiff bristle brush to clean the hardboard. You must scrub the brush around the holes. It will dislodge dirt and debris.
Step 2: Use the trowel to pack the wood putty into the hole. Now the surrounding hardboard should slightly overlap the putty by 1 inch. It would be best if you assured that the putty is completely compressed into every depression.
Step 3:To make the repair aesthetically appealing you should use the trowel to level the putty, and for the sanding purpose, you should leave about 2mm of excess putty.
Step 4: Now, you have to leave the putty to get dried for the time span, which is indicated on the product’s label.
Step 5: Use the medium-grade sandpaper to sand the dried access putty. You should make the dried putty thoroughly flushed and should level it with encompassing Siding.
Step 6: Now you can remove the sandpaper dust by scrubbing the smoothed putty with the brush.
Step 7: To match the hardboard Sidings and to look effective, you should paint the dried putty. To hide the repairs, you can use the paintbrush and apply two coats of exterior house paint. To prevent mold and mildew on Sidings, finish with a protective coating spray. Now you should leave every coat of paint to get them dried individually, which is instructed by the manufacturer.
Cause of the failure of Masonite Siding
In the 1990s the Masonite Siding gained a lot of critics due to various reasons, and as a result, the original manufacturer of Masonite Siding whose name was Masonite is no longer manufacturing it and the leading manufacturer today of Masonite Siding is Louisiana Pacific. He is also known as LP. Masonite Siding and is mainly used in new constructions. In this section, we are going to see the problems which most of the homeowners face after taking the decision of putting Masonite Siding.
Here we go with the problems:
- Deterioration:The cracks, holes or the different missing pieces of Masonite Siding material displays that there are some problems with Sidings and it decreases the look of Sidings which says that you must replace the Sidings as soon as possible.
- Buckling: Whenever the Masonite Sidings absorbs the water, it gets expanded and makes weird curves and abnormal bulges in the Masonite. The Sidings should be flat and stiff ideally so that if it starts to buckle, you must contact a contractor for some consultation.
- Discoloration: when the Sidings start to rot or decompose the color of the Masonite changes. So, always keep an eye for the minor changes in color. And always get an inspection if you suspect any problem.
- Blistering: The blisters can be formed in Masonite Siding if the layers of the wood particles separate. You should know that if the Siding blisters or get soft, the time has arrived to change it.
- Insect infestation: Most of the insects love the wood that makes up Masonite Siding. It can not only destroy the Siding but also can change the structure of your home beneath the Siding. So, you will have to regularly inspect the insects and have to exterminate your house if they show up. The insects could cause an overwhelming and costly infection.
- Moisture Damage: Moisture is one of the biggest reasons in the failure of Masonite Siding. Not only the Masonite Siding but also the structure of your home can be negatively impacted because of the moisture. The materials which were present were extremely susceptible to moisture penetration, mildew, and mold. When some water starts to decay the substrate, the Masonite Siding starts to act as a brittle material. It seems like it is cardboard but still, it contains some strength. The wood rot can spread very fast, and it can cost you the remodeling of your Siding and even your home.
Where to Buy Masonite Siding?
Now here arises the biggest question that where to buy a Masonite Siding? Since Masonite was very neglected in the 90s, so there are very few dealers of this. As we discussed earlier that the biggest manufacturer today is LP. Masonite Siding of Louisiana Pacific. Though are a few online dealers which I know for the Masonite Siding are Hod Supply construction & white industrial cap. It is an online dealer. Now coming to the second one, Green Fiber – it is also an online dealer of the Masonite Siding. They’re also a name come to The Home Depot – it is an online dealer and for me the best one for the Masonite siding. And the last one I know in this field is improved net by craft jack – it is also an online dealer of Masonite Siding.
How to Identify Masonite Siding
Now, after reading this article, you might be eager to know that do you have Masonite Siding or not. In this section, we are going to give you the knowledge of how will you identify the Masonite Siding. To identify Masonite Siding, you must look in your attic or garage. You will have to check the manufacturer’s name or the American Hardboard Association code in the tar paper from the back of the Siding. Now you have to look online for the type of material that makes the Siding.
Tips for the Masonite Siding For Home Owners.
In this section, you will get some suggestions and tips for the Masonite Siding. If you are a homeowner containing Masonite Siding, then this is a must-read section for you.
Now here we go with some Masonite Siding tips:
- Regular maintenance – You must perform regular maintenance to keep the problems at bay if your Masonite Siding is not damaged.
- Moisture Damage – If you noticed the damage in your Siding because of moisture in its early stage then, it is the time to slow down with the caulk and paint. This is one of the parts of the ongoing maintenance needed if you have the Masonite siding and now you just have to monitor the Siding for further deterioration.
- Needed Repairs – With the more contemporary product any worthy trust contractor can repair problems with Masonite Siding just by matching the look and style of the Siding.
- Regular Inspection – You must inspect your Masonite Siding regularly, and if you suspect any problem any time, then you must contact a contractor promptly to get an estimate of the siding condition and recommendation for the remedy.
Conclusion
We have read in this article about the Masonite Siding. Its advantages, its failures and have seen the various aspects of Masonite Siding. Lastly, I want to thank you for spending your precious time in reading this article and appreciating our work.
