This project was set up to investigate the effects of different coating types on the performance of hardboard sidings. Problems experienced in the 1980s with a New Zealand-produced product indicated that moisture entry was a key factor in the deterioration of these products.
Coatings play an important role in controlling the uptake and release of moisture in wood- based materials. With the introduction of imported hardboard cladding materials into the New Zealand market, further information on the effectiveness of different coating types was felt necessary.