Siding identification

[gbeaumont]

Hi to all,

I don't think that this is a cementatious product as it is so thick and appears to have a milled step at the top, I believe it is a variation on a product called Insulbrick which was sold as a siding/insullation product back in the 40's and 50's

Regards

Gerry

[Marcel R. Cyr]

Gerry;

Insulbric dates back to 1932, is it possible if it were that, it would have lasted this long?

You would think it would have delaminated by now.

Wish we had pictures of the products Manufactured in that era.
Wonder if there are any History books on siding from way back.


Marcel

[Timothy T. Shaffer]

There is no Portland cement in this siding. I just got the asbestos test results back from Western Analytical Lab and they report this siding contains no asbestos (so it's all getting ripped off the house now)!

Any of the siding that was not in direct sun light much of the time is still in reasonable shape. However, on the south side of the house, the siding is completely disintegrating. People can remember this house having this siding when they were kids, and they are in their 40's now.

I think it is something like Insulbrick. I am just calling this stuff "asphalt-coated fiberboard siding".

Thanks to everyone for their comments and research.

Here's more pictures of this stuff.
- far left: back of siding
- middle left: broken piece showing some of the fiberboard
- middle right: north-facing shaded siding
- far right: south-facing sun-exposed siding

[Brian A. MacNeish]

I think I'm going to name it "Insulshingle" since it's definitely the same compostion as "Insulbrick". It was quite easy to name.

[Christopher Currins]

Originally Posted by Brian A. MacNeish

I think I'm going to name it "Insulshingle" since it's definitely the same compostion as "Insulbrick". It was quite easy to name.

Here is another suggestion I just found on google.

ghetto brick
In the mid-20th century, before there was aluminum or vinyl siding, asphalt shingle siding was the alternative replacement siding. Some of this siding was ...
www.lestercat.net/house_03/archives/2005/08/ghetto_brick.php

[gbeaumont]

Originally Posted by mcyr

Gerry;

Insulbric dates back to 1932, is it possible if it were that, it would have lasted this long?

You would think it would have delaminated by now.

Wish we had pictures of the products Manufactured in that era.
Wonder if there are any History books on siding from way back.


Marcel

Hi Marcel,

I have never been able to track down the production dates for insulbrick, but there sure is a lot of it around in New England, I have seen it at several NH camps, the back of a resturant in Portsmouth NH and several residential properties in Portland Maine, in all cases it wasn't in the best of shape but had not fully delaminated either.

I would happily buy a book on the history of siding materials,but just don't know of one.

Regards

Gerry

[Larry D. Kage]

I picked up this book at one of the Florida conventions and have enjoyed it.

[klott]

Asphault shingle siding, was used a lot in the 50's & 60's.

[Marcel R. Cyr]

Originally Posted by lkage

I picked up this book at one of the Florida conventions and have enjoyed it.

Larry;

Did this book show any siding from 40-50 years ago and pictures to identify it?

Or was it more for siding developed in the past 30-40 years.

Thanks.

Marcel

[Larry D. Kage]

I was looking for the book but as I recall it was for the composite sidings mostly...sorry...not so much what you were talking about.

[Marcel R. Cyr]

Originally Posted by lkage

I was looking for the book but as I recall it was for the composite sidings mostly...sorry...not so much what you were talking about.

Thanks anyways Larry, but if you run in to a book that would describe these old siding materials, I would be interested.

I have seen most of the old sidings, in the past 40 years or so, but some of the older ones, I have no clue as to what they were called.

My Fathers house built in and about 1945 had siding with the imitation brick felt or roofing siding, and then replaced with asbestos shingle siding and sold as is in 1977.

Always interesting to talk about these old sidings.

Marcel

[Wayne Doolittle]

Inslebrick was manufactured in South Bend, Indiana by the Mastic Corp. It was developed in the early 30s. The company was sold to Alcoa and left town. It was applied to my 1883 house about 1935 and remained in good shape with the exception of the sections at the bottom coarse. While it held paint like a dream, it looked too dated. I removed the stuff this past April and it was easy to remove, but left a few nail holes. I went back to the old clapboards which were in great shape but very dirty. I used 300 feel of new ceder to repair the bad spots including around two windows that had been replaced in the 50's. There is no asbestos in the product. I have included a before and after photo.

Preservation specialist.
South Bend, In

[George Purpera]

If it's ashphalt, it's a real firetrap! Probably uninsureable these days.

[Lawrence A. Keefauver]

The siding appears to be John Mansville shingle siding. Most of that type of siding has asbestos content. I would have to see it up close or at least see a better photo to be sure.

[Roger Miller]

Hi All
First time here, I know this was an old post however, I have the same type of siding on one of my income properties that Tim was asking about. The stuff I have has an exposure of about 13.5 inches, over all size is 14 -14.24 inches X 48 inches. There is a name on the back " NU - BRICK " I could not find any information out about it. I was trying to find something that looks similar, not much luck there. The bottom 2 courses on the South side are disintegrating, The house would require about 45 sq to replace it all, can not afford that, need to patch it together.

Thank You this is a great site

Roger Miller