Masonite for roofing material?

[TD4FREEW/CTD]

found this on wikipedia, thought it was interesting. no glue, apparently. according to wikipedia, that is.

Masonite is a type of hardboard invented by William H. Mason.[1] It is formed using the Mason method, using wooden chips and blasting them into long fibers with steam and then forming them into boards. The boards are then pressed and heated to form the finished boards. No glue or other material is added. The long fibers give Masonite a high bending strength, tensile strength, density and stability. Unlike other composite wood panels produced using formaldehyde-based resins to bind fibers, Masonite is made using natural ingredients only, which makes it an environmentally friendly "green" product.

[bgordon]

Clear penetrating epoxy sealer... I buy it here

http://www.rotdoctor.com/products/cpes.html

But over there, you might want to plan on sealing it with epoxy, or spar urethane like Len does.

Mike...

Mike,

Thanks! I read the link and now I know what it is. Looks like great stuff. Pity we don't have it over here...

[Cliffmeister2000]

Clear penetrating epoxy sealer... I buy it here

http://www.rotdoctor.com/products/cpes.html

But over there, you might want to plan on sealing it with epoxy, or spar urethane like Len does.

Mike...

Mike,

Thanks! I read the link and now I know what it is. Looks like great stuff. Pity we don't have it over here...

I found this supplier in Southern Africa. I assume that would include South Africa.

[url][email protected][/url]

This is the manufacturer website

http://www.smithandcompany.org/

[Larwyn]

I may have already posted this, when this subject came up a few years ago.

Before I moved ot Kerrville I actually did not have a shop. All my work was outside or under a tarp and storage was under tarps. I had a 4 x 8 foot table which I kept level and covered with a tarp when not in use. All my sheet goods were stored on top of that table. The top of the table was 1/2 inch plywood covered with 1/8" masonite. I had both 1/4" oak and luan as well as some 1/8" oak paneling stacked on the table, some of it for quite some time There were also a few 1/4" masonite templates and such stacked along with the sheet goods. After one particular wet season most of the material on the table under the tarp became and stayed quite damp. Of all the material which steamed there under that tarp, the masonite came through in the best shape. I did not build the Escape Pod from masonite, but from what I have witnessed I do feel that masonite would be a suitable material for the purpose and would not hesitate to use it. The luan came through in okay condition too but it did suffer more warpage and seperation than the masonite. If painted or otherwise sealed they would all work out just fine.

If this involuntary test had preceeded me putting a roof on the Escape Pod there is a good chance that the roof would now be masonite....

[Hoosier Greg]

[quote="len19070

Now If I'm doing a rubber roof I don't do anything, just scuff it up and laminate right to it.

Len. I'll be doing a rubber roof on my build.How did it work out for you.
Thanks,Greg.

[2bits]

Well, I did it. Given the dramatic angle of the front of the profile, cost concerns, and "you're gonna seal the heck out of it anyway" in my brain, I installed masonite.

I notice that screws seemed to tear right through it, but tiny trim nails kept it in place for the glue to dry just fine... used titebond for glue and will put at least two coats of CPES on it. Just now got it on, will trim the edges after the glue dries.

[McBrew]

Lookin' good! Keep us informed on the masonite. I'm thinking about doing the same thing. Looks a lot easier than dealing with lauan. I'd CPES it like you're going to do and cover it in aluminum... so it seems like it would work just fine.

[RICHARD FURROW]

Gee Sparksalot, you sure did SPARKSALOTTA attention with this one! I appreciate it though because it is an interesting subject. It seems that the 1/8" Baltic Burch is hard to come by in some parts of the country. The folks that can't get it easily are all looking for an alternative. Sorry about the pun, couldn't help it!

Ricky

[2bits]

i would have preferred to get some birch like i used for the headliner, that bent very well but i didnt have the $$$ and i would have needed to take time off work to go get it too. i had a hard time getting it done at the front and i am not in love with the texture but i think it will be just fine.

[Sparksalot]

Gee Sparksalot, you sure did SPARKSALOTTA attention with this one! I appreciate it though because it is an interesting subject. It seems that the 1/8" Baltic Burch is hard to come by in some parts of the country. The folks that can't get it easily are all looking for an alternative. Sorry about the pun, couldn't help it!

Ricky

i'm glad this has been helpful to all.

I ended up getting 4x8 sheets of 'Mahrcan birch to do the roof. From the pictures you can't really tell this. The sheets wanted to curl inward, and i wanted to let then lay nicely.

[GPW]

You guys really need to try the poly/mineral spirits sealing trick on Masonite ... we did a sample ,two coats of a good high solids Polyurethane and Min. Spts. mix... threw it out in the yard ...rain /Gustav-Ike, no problems ...got a little dirty ,but easily brushed off ... no water intrusion , no mush...
We've been painting on Masonite panels for over 50 years now, early examples still in good shape , just a little dusty....

[H@nk]

I used hard board on my TD. Flexible cheap heavy stuff, but it has to stay dry. I painted it first with some kills and good exterior paint then covered it with aluminum.



no leaks please

Thats the same I did. I used hardboard for the roof, but putted some epoxy on it, the same stuff they use for the boats together with sheets of glass.

[2bits]

I liked CPES personally because it penetrates all the way through so when it is done you end up with a sheet of epoxy resin, not a sheet of Masonite with a coating of sealer on top. I'm not "dissing" anyone else's method at all as I have no experience, this was just my thoughts when I chose the CPES.