What is the board called?

10 replies

Underminer · 17/04/2023 00:17

We have a 60s house that used to have warm air heating with ducts through the house. it was replaced with gas central heating by the previous owners, but some of the ducting is still in place.
We have a cupboard with the old ducting in, and I realise this might contain asbestos, but I would like to add shelving to the cupboard so plan to box it in with better made stuff that the current boarding.
Can anyone tell me what the name of this board in the photo is? It is particleboard and is it something you find asbestos in? It’s like the backing board you get in DIY cupboards, but older and thicker. I want to remove that and box the pipes in with better quality MDF so I can no more nails some shelving.
Removing the asbestos is beyond my financial means at present.

OP posts:

minipie · 17/04/2023 00:53

Impossible to tell from just a photo but from age and where it is (around heating) it could well be asbestos insulation board. Can you cover it up without disturbing or breaking it (don’t drill or screw into it?)

CastlesinSpain · 17/04/2023 00:56

Looks like chipboard of some sort (it comes in different densities/strengths), what you have there looks very much like the boarding we used to line to roof of our loft in the 1970s. It won't have asbestos in it. Asbestos used to come in a form a bit like glassfibre insulation or thin whitish sheets which are surprisingly heavy. However if there is wide diameter pipework behind it with insulation on I would leave it alone or get an expert in.

CC4712 · 17/04/2023 01:10

I agree the backing, brown stuff looks like a chipboard of some sort, but can't tell from the pic if the white is just paint or something else?

You can buy asbestos testing kits online to check for sure.

Surplus2requirements · 17/04/2023 07:36

OSB Oriented Strand Board

Wednesdayonline · 17/04/2023 07:54

Please don't risk it if there is a chance it could be asbestos material, it is so dangerous if disturbed!

Diyextension · 17/04/2023 08:06

hard to be sure from the pictures but it looks like fibreboard/ particleboard , does it feel softer than wood ? It can be used for sound deadening and insulating. Wont contain any asbestos. It’s just made of fine wood fibres.

Original poster

Underminer · 17/04/2023 12:38

Thanks everyone.
the white stuff looks like wallpaper that has been painted, can’t really tell.
It feels like soft type of wood.
We will get a testing kit though.
the other pipes in the house have been like concrete ones and some were removed when the wet system was put in but these ducts remain.

OP posts:

SinisterKnitter · 17/04/2023 12:46

It looks like some sort of hardboard.

If you Google 1960s house interior hardboard you get some interesting info, eg:
https://www.diynot.com/diy/threads/what-are-these-internal-walls-made-of.517168/

What are these internal walls made of?

Dear experts, What do you think these internal walls are made of? It’s a 1930s building, not much altered. It has been suggested that these are made of some sort of “fibre board”, as they pre-date plasterboard.

https://www.diynot.com/diy/threads/what-are-these-internal-walls-made-of.517168/

jimjamy · 17/04/2023 20:34

looks like the pimply side of hardboard sheet to me. If so, the other side will probably be smooth. As you say, commonly used as back panel on cheap furniture. made of wood fibres (similar to mdf and chipboard)

minipie · 18/04/2023 09:24

the white stuff looks like wallpaper that has been painted, can’t really tell.

Ah ok if the white is only a very thin layer ie paint or wallpaper thickness then less likely to be asbestos I’d say. Still worth the testing kit tho.

Flip