Hardboard Siding - Built in 1995

[Brandon Lee]

Hello BP-ers!

I've been looking at a house that is in a desirable subdivision. It has been on the MLS for 115 days. The home is smaller than the others, and the kitchen/baths need work I am comfortable doing. I'm looking for the big unknown before I submit an offer.

The listing says the Exterior Construction is "Hardboard Siding." I have been doing some Googling, and reading the horror stories of Masonite. 

Is this a stay away situation?

Thanks.

[Account Closed]

I would just do a visual inspection of the siding and see what shape it is in. The masonite siding was bad to rot on the lower courses that got wet. It isn't that hard to fix if it is rotted. I just finished a job with this and it cost a couple of hundred dollars to fix it all up. In my case the actual sheathing on under the siding was in good shape, so the fix was easy. If your sheathing is rotted as well, the job will be a little bigger, but still not unmanageable if you budget for it.