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Masonite™ Woodruf™ Fiberboard Roof Shingles InspectAPedia®  -     Masonite Fiberboard Roofing Shingles Woodruf Fiberboard Roofs Roof inspection, defects, repair, maintenance

This website provides information about Masonite™ Woodruf™ fiberboard roof shingles and includes advice for home inspectors, home buyers, and homeowners where these roofing products are used.

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Inspection of Masonite Woodruf™ Fiberboard Roofs

Woodruf™ roof shingles, a fiberboard roofing product, were a Masonite™ roofing product consisting of "pressure bonded fibers designed to resemble natural cedar roofing" sold in the United States into the 1990's and have also been found installed on homes in Canada.

Masonite Woodruf shingles were the subject of a class action lawsuit and settlement concerning the durability of this roofing product - we discuss the Woodruf roofing class action settlement below. However the Woodruf shingle claims period expired on January 6, 2009.

Our photo (left) shows how easily a Woodruf roof shingle panel can be identified if you have access to its under-side.

The roofing shingle product was produced in four-foot sections that were 12" wide and with a nominal thickness of 7/16". The actual thickness varies due to raised ridges that give Woodruf shingles the appearance of a wood shake or shingle.

Our sources indicate that Woodruf shingles were marketed with a 30 year life expectancy. As of this artcle's last update (May 2009) there is no warranty service remaining on this roofing product.

The Woodruf™ shingle fiberboard was treated with a water repellant and a bonding agent to permit outdoor exposure. This product is softer than Masonite's hardboard products and to remain durable required an installation that permitted good roof drying (similar to the requirement for wood shingles or shakes). This is particularly true because the factory edges as well as any cut edges made during installation were not sealed.

Masonite Woodruf roofing was intended for steep slope roofs and should not be installed on slopes lower than 4" of rise in 12" of run (a 4/12 roof). The shingles were to be installed over roofing felt on a sound roof deck, with a 9" shingle exposure and requiring eight nails per roofing panel.

Special Flashing Required for Woodruf Roofing Shingles

Common Defects and Signs of Deterioration found on Masonite Woodruf Roofs

Buckling Woodruf shingle panels may occur if the proper aluminum flashing strips were not used at the butt joints Cut edges in the Woodruf shingles, made to fit to rake edges, valleys, and around chimneys or roof penetrations are more likely to be deteriorated from weather exposure and water. Swollen, delaminating Woodruf shingle material becomes soft and easily crumbles, suggesting that an on-roof inspection may further damage already-fragile or worn materials. Our photo (left) shows typical softening and aging at the edge of a Woodruf shingle panel. Thick, swelling Woodruf shingles may be found anywhere in the roof area, indicating material that is at the end of its life.

Moss, lichens, and deterioration caused by shading from overhanging trees and tree debris can substantially reduce the life of any roofing product, particularly one that may absorb moisture, swell, and delaminate when wet Our photo (left) shows moss and lichens growing in a butt joint between two Woodruf roof shingle panels. It appears that the desired special flashing strip may have been omitted at this location as well.

Masonite Woodruf Shingle Class Action Lawsuit Settlement Information for Homeowners

If you qualify as an Eligible Claimant, you may be entitled to recover under the Settlement. However the claims period expired on January 6, 2009.

To be an Eligible Claimant, you must:

1. Own property in the United States or its Territories on which Woodruf roofing has been incorporated and installed since January 1, 1980, and have not assigned the claim regarding the alleged damage caused by Woodruf;
2. Be a subsequent purchaser of such property and have properly documented assignments determined to be valid under the Settlement; or
3. Own or have formerly owned such property and have made Prior Un-Reimbursed Expenditures as defined by the Settlement.

Eligible Claimants do not include persons, associations or entities who made claims or filed lawsuits against Defendants other than in the Smith class action, if they were represented by counsel other than Plaintiffs' Class Counsel in the Smith class action, and their claims or lawsuits were resolved by payment based upon the entire square footage of Masonite Woodruf roofing on the structure, full release or judicial action

The Woodruf shingle claims period expired on January 6, 2009. Current information about Masonite Woodruf settlement and claims assistance is available by calling 1-800-256-6990. This information is available on the Internet at: http://www.masoniteclaims.com.

If are experiencing a problem or failure with Masonite Hardboard Siding see SIDING HARDBOARD.

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Use links just below or at the left of each page to navigate this document or to view other topics at this website. Green links show where you are in our document or website.

ROOFING INSPECTION & REPAIR
ASBESTOS CEMENT ROOFING
ASPHALT ROOF SHINGLES
ATTIC CONDENSATION CAUSE & CURE
BUILT UP ROOFS
CERTIFICATIONS for ROOFING CONTRACTORS
CHIMNEY INSPECTION & REPAIRS
CHOOSING A ROOFING CONTRACTOR
CLAY TILE ROOFING
FIRE RETARDANT PLYWOOD
HEAT TAPES & CABLES on Roofs for Ice Dams
LOW SLOPE ROOFING MATERIALS
MASONITE WOODRUF FIBERBOARD ROOFING
MEMBRANE ROOFS
METAL ROOFING TYPES
MODIFIED BITUMEN ROOFING
ROOF INSPECTION SAFETY & LIMITS
ROOF VENTILATION SPECIFICATIONS
ROOF VENTING ENERGY SAVING DETAILS
SLATE ROOF INSPECTION & REPAIR
SOD ROOFING
SIDING WOOD
STAIN DIAGNOSIS on Building Exteriors
STAIN DIAGNOSIS on Roofs
STANDARDS for ROOFING
STONE ROOFING
THATCH ROOFING
THERMAL EXPANSION of MATERIALS
THERMAL MASS in BUILDINGS
THERMAL MASS in UPSTAIRS
TILE ROOFING
WARRANTIES for ROOF SHINGLES
  CLASS ACTION SHINGLE LAWSUITS
  REPORTING SHINGLE FAILURES
  ROOF FAILURE REPORT FORM
WOOD SHAKE & SHINGLE ROOFING
WORKMANSHIP & WIND DAMAGE

• Masonite Woodruf roofing class action lawsuit: On January 6, 1999, the Circuit Court of Mobile County, Alabama, granted final approval to a settlement in the lawsuit known as Smith, et al. v. Masonite, CV-98-2447. The Settlement provides a program for eligible claimants to recover the costs associated with damage caused by the installation and incorporation of Masonite Woodruf roofing. For more information please call 1-800-256-6990. ® Woodruf is a registered trademark of Masonite Corporation. See http://www.masoniteclaims.com and also see a law firm's Masonite Woodruf class action litigation notice.
• Masonite Woodruf® Roofing or Masonite OmniWood® Siding Lawsuit Settlement Notice - PDF file
• Masonite, Chicago, IL, 312-750-0900 (George Podrug provided Masonite Woodruf roofing information for home inspectors in 1999)

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