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Discussion Forum

WHY do they still make Masonite siding??

MisterT | Posted in General Discussion on July 31, 2003 12:50pm

We call it dirt board, or dearth booard, or just plain junk!!

Just finished a garage addition where we put it on the side and back to “save money”.

Now I am repairing some water/ant damage at a customers house where they are having the house painted.

Looking at this crap, most places the paint is all that is holding it together.

Is there and affordable alternative for wide lap siding?

On the front of the garage we used cedar 3/4 x 10 claps.

$$$$$$

something like 3-4 $ /lft.

Pine would be preferable to masonite.

 

 

 

Mr T

Do not try this at home!

I am an Experienced Professional!

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  1. User avater
    jagwah | Jul 31, 2003 05:11pm | #1

    I use a product here when I have to replace hardboard called Hardi-plank. It's a concrete based product made by James Hardi Co. out of California I think.

    This stuff comes in 12' lengths and several widths. It's about 1/2" shy or so thick. Dusty to cut but there is some great saws out there with dust colection ports.

    Cost me here about $8.40 for a 1x12x12' stick.

    I agree with you the hardboard is an awful product. But with wxtra care when you have to it can be ok.

    Back prime with a penetrating oil base paint the bottom starter course at least. The small starter strip you'll apply under the starter course should be a ripped pressure treated strip with a run of 30#felt over it before the starter course is applied. At every butt joint place a 6" wide strip of 30# felt under the joint just over the lower course. Don't butt tight leave an 1/8" gap, don't caulk, back prime this joint. Heavily flash all openings with 30# felt or better.

    Never never never set the nail heads, they should just touch the surface. (This penetration breaks the paper surface and will wick water no matter what you do).

    Now maybe you'll gain some distance before that call back to repair.

    Ya, I hate hard board siding. To much work and always a call back.

    Hope this helps.

    1. ccal | Jul 31, 2003 08:20pm | #2

      i dont know why they still make it either, but i make money replacing it every year. I replace with hardi.

      1. Scooter1 | Jul 31, 2003 09:36pm | #3

        Because they can.

        Regards,

        Boris

        "Sir, I may be drunk, but you're crazy, and I'll be sober tomorrow" -- WC Fields, "Its a Gift" 1934

      2. danj | Aug 01, 2003 02:30am | #5

        What kind of saw blade do you use to cut hardi plank? Carbide seems to dull in no time

        1. Justus | Aug 01, 2003 07:01pm | #7

          There are a couple, I know that makita makes a hardi plank blade, but I havent used it, I've been using a black DeWalt masonry blade for a long time. It will cut through 4-5 boards at a time. and still cut as well as the first time I used it.  Dusty dusty though. Justus Koshiol

          Running Pug Construction

          1. ccal | Aug 01, 2003 07:11pm | #8

            Ive tried several, and currently use the six tooth fibercement blade. It keeps the dust down a little more. Its about 20 bucks here.

    2. MisterT | Aug 01, 2003 02:12am | #4

      Hardi Plank ......thanks

      DUH!!!

      :)

      I never get to use new stuff, the boss still thinks this is the late triassic period.

      I am thinkingof using it for the bottom course after I repair all the ant damage.

      the little buggers have been busy!

      This house has masonite right at grade on two sides.

      the garage has a 12" wall under the regular walls!!! Right where you would expect a course of CMU's.

      Nice folks, he is a pediatrician and she is a retired teacher.

      I am going to suggest replacing the bottom course every where it is to close to the dirt.

      Mr T

      Do not try this at home!

      I am an Experienced Professional!

      1. User avater
        deadmanmike | Aug 01, 2003 09:37pm | #9

        Boy do those pics look familiar, I'd like to know how you snuck up to my house while I was re-siding it.

        Mike

        1. 4Lorn2 | Aug 02, 2003 05:03am | #10

          Recently I did some work on a house that was having Hardi-board lap siding installed by a crew I have worked around a lot. A great group of people, not guys because the crew chief is a very nice but tough lady.

          They primarily used two shears. They look like a standard drill motor driven sheet metal job but with a bigger depth of cut. These units are fairly quick and produce very little dust. The other thing I liked was that they are no where near as loud as a circular saw. I have seen them in the catalogs for around $250. A bit more than a stack of cheap circular saw blades but if the job was big enough to justify buying another tool, like I need an excuse, It would be my preferred method.

  2. DougU | Aug 01, 2003 02:33am | #6

    Mr T

    I dont like the stuff either but there must be different qualites of the stuff.

    I have a friend that has it on his house and the house was built in the early 70's, it's perfect. And it has not been painted since then.

    I've seen some that is 30 years old and looks great, other times after about 5 or 10 years the stuff looks like sh!t. Just my observation.

    Doug

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