Photo: Erik Mclean

Is Masonite the same as MDF?

Masonite is compressed the most and is similar to MDF except that it is denser because it has been highly compressed (as opposed to, let's say… gently compressed). Masonite is most often used in furniture making and in the construction industry and is most commonly used in the 1/8″ format.

midtownlumber.com - What Is Masonite? And, When To Use Masonite! - Midtown Lumber

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So, what is Masonite?

Good question!

Let’s start at the top of the lumber food chain and move down. Masonite is a type of “engineered wood” which simply means man-made, usually by compressing together fibres and different materials in one way or another to make a board (more on that later!). Masonite, MDF, particleboard, and plywood all fall into that category. Masonite is a type of hardboard, also referred to as HDF or high-density fiberboard, a type of fiberboard. As opposed to MDF or medium-density fiberboard.

Let’s move on to the types of fiberboards now…

Breaking down Masonite (HDF), MDF, and Particle Board (LDF)

So, we’ve got HDF (like Masonite), and MDF (just called MDF), and LDF (like particleboard) all distinguished by density! Masonite is compressed the most and is similar to MDF except that it is denser because it has been highly compressed (as opposed to, let’s say…gently compressed). Masonite is most often used in furniture making and in the construction industry and is most commonly used in the 1/8″ format. Included in the fiberboard family is also particle board or low-density fiberboard (LDF) which is used sometimes instead of wood or plywood when appearance or strength does not matter. It can be made to look nicer with a little paint. We don’t sell particle board nor do we recommend using particle board for projects as it will easily expand if exposed to any water or moisture.

And now, the Mason Method, which makes Masonite, Masonite…

Hardboard (HDF) is produced in one of two ways, either a wet or dry process. Masonite is produced using the wet process only, and the wet process is known as the Mason Method! The Mason Method, was patented by William H. Mason (Fun Fact: He was BFF with Thomas Edison) and uses steam pressure to compress fibers into boards. Masonite boards are therefore kind of flexible, or bendy…which can sometimes be useful. See image below! Okay, now that we have given you the breakdown, history, and more information than you ever thought you needed about Masonite…let’s talk about when to use Masonite.

When to use Masonite?

We do stock and sell a lot of Masonite, mainly to contractors. Most contractors use Masonite as floor protection on construction sites to prevent floor damage while working on other parts of the home. It is often used by moving companies or by maintenance crews to protect services when moving furniture in and out. Masonite is also used in the construction of sets for theater, film and television, and at Midtown Lumber, we use it as the surface for our table saw. Masonite is a very thin and light material, so it can easily be moved around and / or re-used, like from one job site to the next. Masonite is not a material we would recommend for any at home or DIY project, as the finished look is not very nice. It is also a very thin. The typical size for Masonite is 4’ x 8’ (48” x 96”) sheets with a ⅛” thickness. For convenience and ease of use, we also cut Masonite into 4’ x 4’ sheets. The material is paintable but it is not stainable. If you are looking to use Masonite on your next project, you should know that it can be nailed or screwed to other materials, but generally not itself.

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What is CDX plywood?

CDX Plywood is used primarily by contractors to build exterior walls and roofs. CDX plywood has one side veneer grade “C” and one side veneer grade “D”. The two are bonded together with glue which can withstand a little moisture. The APA would recognize CDX Grade Plywood as C-D Exposure 1 plywood.

roof.atlasrwi.com - CDX Plywood 101 - Atlas Roofing Insulation

The letter “X” in CDX refers to the type of glue used in the factory to bond the plywood veneers. Some mistakenly think the “X” stands for “exterior”—which is not true. The letter “X” stands for exposure, which means the plywood is tough enough to withstand a little moisture—but for only a short time. Eventually, the panel must be covered by something more weather resistant—like bricks, siding or shingles. CDX PLYWOOD CDX Plywood is used primarily by contractors to build exterior walls and roofs. CDX plywood has one side veneer grade “C” and one side veneer grade “D”. The two are bonded together with glue which can withstand a little moisture. The APA would recognize CDX Grade Plywood as C-D Exposure 1 plywood. CDX DOES NOT AUTOMATICALLY MEAN PRESSURE-TREATED Be careful not to confuse the words “outdoor,” “exterior,” and “pressure treated” to all mean the same thing. Pressure-treated plywood, which is saturated with chemicals to ward off mold, mildew, and insects, can survive outside for decades without paint or a protective finish.

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