Masonite, hardboard, and pressboard are names used interchangeably for a type of manufactured siding. Masonite is the name of the company that made most of the product. It discontinued production in 1998 after losing a billion-dollar class action lawsuit. No product manufactured by Masonite is available anywhere.
A few other companies still manufacture hardboard siding. It is inexpensive and popular with tract housing builders.
What is Masonite Siding?
Masonite was patented in 1924 by William H. Mason and began mass production in 1929. It is manufactured using wood chips–often recycled–resins, glue, and pressure. The mixture is heated and compressed into hard siding. Masonite siding is available in multiple designs, sizes, and colors. It has a hard smooth or woodgrained finish and comes prepainted or primed.
Masonite has other uses including doors, countertops, flooring, furniture, cabinets, pegboards, and many other applications.
Advantages Of Masonite Siding
Masonite siding has many advantages that still make it a popular choice.
- Cost. Hardboard siding costs $4.00 – $8.00 per square foot supplied and installed–less than vinyl siding in many cases.
- DIY. It is easy to install–making it a good DIY project. Ease of installation is one of the reasons the supply and install prices are reasonable.
- Strength. Very durable. Crack and dent-resistant.
Appearance. Woodgrain patterns look more like real wood than vinyl, aluminum, or fiber cement siding.
Problems With Masonite Siding
Masonite siding has been called one of the worst construction materials ever made. This is unfair. Masonite and some other manufacturers were successfully sued for over a billion dollars but some 30 and 40 year old hardboard sided houses still look very good and the siding is still functioning properly.
- Availability. Hardboard is a special order product from almost all building supply outlets. Masonite brand siding is not available anywhere–making repairs difficult. (You may be able to get some from a siding company that is removing old siding before installing a new product.)
- Maintenance. Should be repainted every 6 – 8 years to prevent water infiltration. Inspect the siding every year. Especially the lower three feet where rain, snow, and lawn watering get the siding wet regularly. Never ignore any damaged, blistered, or wet siding. Repair it as soon as you see it.
- Water Damage. Hardboard siding that is not sealed properly absorbs moisture. (The bottoms of each lower course of siding are the most likely locations.) The siding swells, warps, rots, blisters, and invites pests like termites, carpenter ants, and mold infestations. It crumbles after sufficient wet and dry cycles.
- Improper Installation. Many DIYers and professional installers neglect proper installation like priming any cut edges or using the correct caulking. These allow water infiltration that can be absorbed by the siding and even rot the framing behind it.
Masonite siding is a good option for siding a house but only if it is installed properly and well-maintained. It easily lasts 30 years and continues to look very good. Masonite can turn into an expensive disaster if things go wrong or it is not well taken care of. Know your own strengths and limitations before deciding to install it on your home.
