Polybutylene Piping

 Masonite Siding 

Original Masonite Siding - notice the wood rot in the lower left hand corner.

Pre-Painted Hardie Plank siding and trim installed to replace Masonite.

Popcorn Ceilings, Polybutylene Plumbing, and Masonite Siding are  three things that most buyers DO NOT like to see when looking at homes to purchase. They like smooth natural surfaces, reduced risk of water leaks, and reduced maintenance.  Because all three were present in the home we purchased, we decided to remove them in the rebuilding process.

The popcorn ceilings are the sprayed on ceilings that leave little bumps.   They are common in homes that were built during 1980-1996. This is not a popular feature with most buyers.

Polybutylene is a form of plastic resin that was used extensively in the manufacture of water supply piping from 1978 until 1995. Due to the low cost and ease of installation it was viewed as the "pipe of the future". They were installed in over 6,000,000 homes. Because of the failure rate of these pipes, it is now believed that oxidants in public water cause them to be brittle and break or leak. The biggest problem these pipes present is in the joints. The failure rate is much less if the joints are copper fittings.

Masonite siding was used by most builders until 1998. It is a wood product that needs to be carefully maintained by checking for nail pops and wood rot. The exterior is wood but the interior of the boards are wood filler. That is why wood rot and nail pops are so prevalent. Today most homes are built with fiber cement products.  They typically have a 25-40 year guarantee. This makes home exterior maintenance almost foolproof.

Our ultimate goal is to replace everything in the home so that it will require little or no maintenance for the next several years. It is costly, but in the long run it will pay for itself in time, dollars, and peace of mind.