On 4/15/2012 4:46 AM, wrote:
On Sun, 15 Apr 2012 04:19:21 -0500,
wrote:

wrote:
I have a cabin that was built in the 1940's and re-sided in the 60's
or 70's. The siding has an approx 8 inch coverage per sheet. It's a
horizontal siding where each strip overlaps the one below it. Looks
similar to the natural redwood siding used on many homes in the 50's.

The material appears similar to masonite. It's a type of hard
compacted particles. The surface has been painted, I dont know if it
came pre-finished or not.

....

Anyone know what this is called?


If it's about 1/8" thick, grey, and brittle, it may very well be asbestos.
It was quite popular in the early '50's.


I know what that stuff is, but that stuff only came in short sections.
I had to work with it a few times and needed to be drilled to pound in
nails or it would shatter.

This stuff is more like 1/2" thick, and comes in long sheets. I dont
know the original length, but the longest side of the cabin is 16 feet
and some strips are the full length. It's not brittle like asbestos,
and can be easily nailed. Its like masonite, the surface is smooth.

I removed one of the bad pieces yesterday. There is no name on the back
or anything other than numbers. Those appear to be a date, and the year
is 1969.

W/O anything but a verbal description (like a picture ) we're
guessing but likely was a hardboard siding (commonly called Masonite
even if was another manufacturer) or a similar product.

There's a useful fact sheet for identifying Masonite products altho may
not be of great help now that I think of it given the age; most is
concerned w/ the lawsuit settlement from a lesser-quality product during
the 80s rather than earlier, but it might be of some use. Go to
www.asurelook.com and click on the "Masonite fact sheet" link on the
left. It's got a lot of example types of multiple manufacturers.

Again w/o seeing the application it's hard to have too concrete
suggestions, but if the bottom row is close to the ground and is getting
water for that reason, I'd go w/ the other suggestion of Hardiplank or a
similar cement-board product over replacing w/ hardboard.

If it's only a single row another alternative would be the plastic
alternatives of Azek or similar that are now available.

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