Masonite International
Masonite International was a global designer, manufacturer, and distributor of interior and exterior doors for residential and non-residential construction markets.
Last updated September 23, 2026
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Overview
Masonite International was a building-products company focused principally on interior and exterior doors. Its products served new residential construction, repair and remodeling, commercial construction, and architectural applications. The company developed from the Mason Fibre Company, established in Laurel, Mississippi, in 1925 after inventor William H. Mason developed a process for converting wood waste into useful fiberboard through heat, steam, and pressure. That material became known as Masonite hardboard and initially positioned the company as an innovator in engineered wood products. The company’s early activities centered on insulation board and hardboard. During the Second World War, Masonite materials were used as substitutes for metal and contributed to the construction of Quonset huts and other military applications. The business received three Army-Navy Production Awards. After the war, hardboard found broader uses in shipping containers, toys, furniture, artwork, and consumer products. Its material was also used by designers Charles and Ray Eames in furniture produced for Herman Miller. Masonite moved decisively into doors in 1972, beginning production of molded wood-composite door facings and related components. This shift eventually transformed the company from a diversified hardboard producer into a specialist door manufacturer. Ownership changed several times: the company’s timber properties were spun off in 1982; USG acquired Masonite in 1984; International Paper purchased it from USG in 1988; and Toronto-based door supplier Premdor acquired Masonite from International Paper after an agreement reached in 2000 and completed in 2001. Premdor changed its corporate name to Masonite on January 1, 2002, combining the established Masonite name with a broader international door platform. KKR acquired Masonite in 2005 through a leveraged buyout. The global housing downturn later placed substantial pressure on the company, which entered coordinated Chapter 11 proceedings in the United States and proceedings under Canada’s Companies’ Creditors Arrangement Act in 2009. Masonite completed its restructuring and emerged approximately 85 days after filing. In 2013, it returned to public ownership through a New York Stock Exchange listing under the symbol DOOR. In the following decade, Masonite expanded its reach across residential and architectural door markets. It operated in multiple countries and served customers in dozens of markets worldwide. The company developed products through its Masonite Innovation Center in West Chicago, Illinois, which included testing and research laboratories dedicated to door performance, energy efficiency, fire resistance, storm protection, security, and sustainability. Masonite described itself as serving both residential and architectural markets, a combination that differentiated it from manufacturers focused on only one segment. Masonite’s independent corporate existence ended when Owens Corning completed its acquisition of the company on May 14, 2024. The transaction brought Masonite’s door portfolio into Owens Corning’s building-products group. Masonite International should therefore be understood historically as a major engineered-door and door-systems business, while its brand and product operations may continue under new ownership rather than as a separately listed public company.
History
Masonite International traces its origins to William H. Mason’s work on a process for transforming wood waste into fiberboard. Mason, an engineer, inventor, and former apprentice of Thomas Edison, developed the process in 1924 by applying heat, steam, and pressure to wood fiber. Financial backing from lumber interests in Wisconsin and Mississippi enabled the creation of the Mason Fibre Company in 1925. The first plant was constructed in Laurel, Mississippi, to manufacture insulation board and the newly developed hardboard, which became known as Masonite. The company expanded the hardboard business through licensing arrangements in Australia, Canada, Italy, and Sweden. Mason continued to improve the material’s strength and performance and received patents associated with its production and applications. After his death in 1940, the company continued to build on the technical foundation he established. During the Second World War, Masonite board helped replace scarce metal and was used in military construction, including Quonset huts. The company received three Army-Navy Production Awards for its wartime contribution. In the postwar period, Masonite broadened the uses of hardboard beyond construction materials. Applications included shipping containers, toys, furniture, artwork, and other manufactured goods. The material was used in furniture associated with Charles and Ray Eames and Herman Miller. In 1960, the company established the Masonite Innovation Center, originally known as the John M. Coates Technical Center, to support product and process development. Masonite’s strategic direction changed in 1972 when it entered the door industry with molded wood-composite door facings and related components. The door business gradually became central to the company. Masonite spun off its timber property in 1982, was acquired by USG in 1984, and was sold by USG to International Paper in 1988. During the 1990s, Masonite developed a close relationship with Premdor, a Toronto-based door supplier, and became Premdor’s largest supplier. Premdor agreed to purchase Masonite from International Paper in September 2000, and the transaction received regulatory approval and closed in 2001. On January 1, 2002, Premdor adopted the Masonite name. This rebranding united the historic hardboard identity with a growing international door platform and supported the company’s effort to reduce duplicated raw-material and marketing costs while expanding global demand. KKR acquired Masonite in 2005 through a leveraged buyout. The severe global housing downturn that followed created major challenges for the business. In 2009, Masonite sought protection under Chapter 11 in the United States and the CCAA in Canada as part of a pre-arranged restructuring. The company emerged from the proceedings in approximately 85 days, in June 2009. Masonite became publicly traded again in 2013, listing on the New York Stock Exchange under DOOR. Over the next decade it expanded its door operations across residential construction, repair and remodeling, commercial construction, and architectural applications. The company operated internationally, served customers in numerous countries, and invested in research at its West Chicago innovation center. Its development priorities included insulating performance, energy conservation, fire protection, storm resistance, security, and compatibility with sustainable-building standards. Masonite announced a proposed acquisition of PGT Innovations in December 2023, but the agreement was terminated in January 2024. Owens Corning subsequently acquired Masonite, completing the transaction on May 14, 2024. Masonite is consequently recorded here as a former independent corporate brand and public company, with its operations incorporated into Owens Corning’s building-products portfolio.
- 2024
Owens Corning completes Masonite acquisition
[1]Owens Corning completes the acquisition on May 14, ending Masonite’s independent corporate status.
- 2023
Masonite announces proposed PGT Innovations acquisition
[1]The company announces a planned acquisition of PGT Innovations, a windows and doors manufacturer and supplier.
- 2013
Masonite lists on the NYSE
[1]Masonite returns to public markets under the ticker DOOR.
- 2009
Masonite completes financial restructuring
[1]The company enters U.S. Chapter 11 and Canadian CCAA proceedings and emerges from its pre-arranged restructuring in June.
- 2005
KKR acquires Masonite
[1]KKR acquires the company in a leveraged buyout.
- 2002
Premdor adopts the Masonite name
[1]Premdor changes its corporate name to Masonite and uses the positioning line “The Beautiful Door.”
- 2001
Premdor completes acquisition of Masonite
[1]After regulatory approval, Premdor completes its purchase of Masonite from International Paper.
- 1988
International Paper acquires Masonite
[1]International Paper purchases Masonite from USG.
- 1984
USG acquires Masonite
[1]USG purchases Masonite as part of its building-products activities.
- 1982
Timber properties are spun off
[1]Masonite separates its timber holdings as the business becomes more focused on engineered materials and doors.
Products and positioning
A technically oriented, vertically integrated door and engineered-wood products company serving residential, remodeling, commercial, and architectural markets. Masonite emphasized design, material innovation, durability, energy performance, security, fire and storm protection, and broad international distribution.
Engineered wood board · 1925
Masonite hardboard
The company’s original engineered wood material was produced by applying heat, steam, and pressure to wood fiber. It was used in insulation, containers, furniture, toys, artwork, and other manufactured applications, and provided the technological and brand foundation for Masonite’s later building-products business.
Interior doors · 1972
Molded composite interior doors
Masonite’s molded interior doors use engineered wood-composite facings and cores to provide a consistent, manufacturable alternative to solid wood doors. The line supported residential new construction, replacement, and remodeling applications and became one of the company’s central product categories after its entry into doors in 1972.
Exterior doors
Exterior entry doors
Masonite exterior offerings included door systems intended for residential entrances and other exterior applications. Depending on the product, the portfolio used fiberglass, steel, or wood construction and emphasized appearance, weather resistance, security, energy performance, and compatibility with replacement and new-build projects.
Commercial doors
Architectural and commercial doors
The architectural and commercial portfolio served non-residential construction and institutional applications. These products were developed around project requirements such as durability, fire performance, acoustics, security, design coordination, and compliance with building specifications, helping Masonite address markets beyond residential construction.
Door components · 1972
Door facings and components
Masonite manufactured and distributed door facings and other components used in assembled door systems. These engineered components supported vertical integration, manufacturing scale, and the company’s ability to supply door producers, builders, distributors, and other construction-sector customers.
Marketing campaigns
- 2002The Beautiful Door
International
Following Premdor’s adoption of the Masonite name, the company used “The Beautiful Door” as a positioning line to connect design appeal with its expanding global door portfolio.
Outcome. The rebranding supported the integration of Premdor and Masonite and helped present the combined business as a global door specialist.
Brand decisions
2024
Acquisition by Owens CorningM&ABackground
Masonite operated as an independent publicly traded global door manufacturer serving residential and architectural markets.
Action taken
Owens Corning completed its acquisition of Masonite International on May 14, 2024.
Aftermath
Masonite ceased to operate as an independent listed company and became part of Owens Corning’s building-products portfolio.
2023
Proposed acquisition of PGT InnovationsM&ABackground
Masonite sought to expand its building-products platform through the acquisition of PGT Innovations, a windows and doors manufacturer and supplier.
Action taken
Masonite announced a planned acquisition valued at approximately $3 billion.
Aftermath
The agreement was terminated in January 2024, and the transaction did not close.
Proposed transaction value. (Announced December 2023; terminated January 2024)
2013
Return to public ownershipStrategyBackground
After its 2005 leveraged buyout and subsequent restructuring, Masonite pursued a return to the public markets.
Action taken
The company filed a registration statement and listed on the New York Stock Exchange under DOOR.
Aftermath
Masonite again operated as a publicly traded door manufacturer until its acquisition by Owens Corning in 2024.
2009
Pre-arranged restructuring under U.S. and Canadian insolvency protectionStrategyBackground
The global housing-market downturn created severe pressure for the door manufacturer and its customers.
Action taken
Masonite sought Chapter 11 protection in the United States and CCAA protection in Canada under a pre-arranged restructuring plan.
Aftermath
The company completed the restructuring and emerged approximately 85 days after filing, in June 2009.
Recent events
Masonite unveils M-Pwr Smart Doors[3]
Reported:
Masonite unveiled M-Pwr Smart Doors, residential exterior doors integrating power, LED welcome lighting, a Ring video doorbell, and a Yale smart lock.
Sources3 sources
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