HARDBOARD

MASONITE/PRESSED WOOD

Hardboard – Masonite/Pressed Wood is made from chipped wood and reconstituted with resin (adhesive) under
pressure. Available in interior and exterior grades with or without factory primer applied. Used extensively on exterior
applications painted with a factory applied primer coat. (Factory applied primers are intended for short term
protection of the material while in transit and prior to installation.

They should not to be considered a full prime coat prior to the application of field applied finishes.) Production
materials and fabricating methods vary according to manufacturer and geographical location of plant. Most West
Coasts raw materials are composed of redwood and cedar (back of board dark brown) where Southern and Eastern
varieties utilize yellow pine (light to medium gray).

Each manufacturer offers their own painting specification, but the following will provide acceptable
recommendations:

1. Not factory primed. This is seldom encountered for exterior work. Requires prompt protection with a full coat
of oil/alkyd primer (Kwal 9200) or a full coat of stain blocking latex primer (Kwal 5810). Finish with two coats
of latex (recommended) or oil type finish coats. On interior use, hardboard should be treated as unfinished
wood. Some coarse “chipboards” require filler coat if a completely smooth surface is desired.

2. Factory primed. Effective way of protecting the face and lap board siding during transit and during
installation. All hardboard manufacturers stress that pre-primed hardboard must be finished within 90 to 120
days of exterior exposure. If finishing is delayed beyond that period, treat the exterior siding as though it were
unprimed, (i.e. requires an exterior primer and two finish coats). Failure to follow these precautions can cause
premature delaminating (peeling) of the finish coat from the primer. Directions for application of siding (as
listed on packages) should be followed, paying particular attention to vapor barrier instructions. Hardboard
should be protected from the weather, as any water may cause stains that reappear after finish has been
applied. (See the Section 3 Reference regarding “Surface Stains on Painted Surfaces” and “Wax Bleeding”
problems encountered with siding).

Kwal Paint
3900 Joliet Street
Denver, CO 80239