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L-P Siding Failure (Bellingham Home Inspector) King of the House

By
Home Inspector with King of the House Home Inspection, Inc. Home Inspector Lic #207

In the 1980's and up to 1995, and even after that,  Louisiana Pacific (L-P) innerseal siding was popular with builders. That was, especially so, true in my corner of the Pacific Northwest.

L-P siding is still available and, whether or not the new variation of the product is much of an improvement over vintage innerseal is up in the air. I see plenty of delamination and decay at newer oriented strand board or OSB sidings such as L-P.

We do know that some problems with the siding involve installation errors but, also, the L-P innerseal product, due to durability issues, was subject to a class action lawsuit. Typical problems with L-P cladding include swelling, fungal growth, delamination, decay, cracking and buckling.  When siding ends up in the condition shown in photos below, all you can do is replace it and hope that sheathing behind the material is not too messed up. If sheathing is damaged, replacement costs will go even higher.

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L-P knot, distinctive, on innerseal siding
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L-P knot defined. L is blue. P is red

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Siding failure -crumbling (two examples)                                             

 


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Posted by

Steven L. Smith

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Comments (3)

Paul S. Henderson, REALTOR®, CRS
Fathom Realty Washington LLC - Tacoma, WA
South Puget Sound Washington Agent/Broker!

Even after all these years after the settlement has sunset I still an abundance of LP issues. Some look like mushroom farms Steve!

Jun 09, 2014 06:12 AM
Jay Markanich
Jay Markanich Real Estate Inspections, LLC - Bristow, VA
Home Inspector - servicing all Northern Virginia

Wow, I would think in your neck of the country, with as little sunlight as you get, that LP would not be a very good product.  I am kind of surprised it was used there.

Jun 09, 2014 09:33 AM
Donald Hester
NCW Home Inspections, LLC - Wenatchee, WA
NCW Home Inspections, LLC

Steve, Over here sprinklers can wreck havoc on it. For the most part it tends to fair pretty well here.

Jun 10, 2014 10:23 AM