Inspections You Can Trust Composite Siding Independently owned

Inspections You Can Trust Composite Siding Independently owned and operated

Composite Siding • Four biggest manufacturers: ◦ Louisiana Pacific (LP) ◦ Masonite ◦ Georgia Pacific ◦ Weyerhaeuser • All are under current or past class-action lawsuits Independently owned and operated

What Is Composite Siding? • Composite siding is a type of exterior cladding system that is available in many different styles, designs and patterns • Made from wood byproducts such as sawdust, card board, paper, wafers and glue, it is coated in resin and formed into a mold under heat and pressure to form individual boards or 4 x 8 sheets • It is difficult to identify which brand has been installed ◦ Only LP in a limited version can be visually identified • All others must be removed to see identifying trademarks • Inspectors CANNOT remove siding to identify the brand Independently owned and operated

How to Identify the Product • From a visual standpoint, it is difficult to tell • Composition lap siding, when installed, looks like any other type of wood vertical lap or horizontal siding. • Boards are available in 16 -ft. lengths, come in various widths from 6 to 12 inches wide, and are textured to look like real wood siding • Lap siding is installed horizontally with the top portion of each board overlapped by the board above Independently owned and operated

LP Composite Siding • One characteristic that can be associated with older type of LP lap siding: ◦ Company’s distinctive trademark was imbedded into various pieces of the boards as they were being manufactured • Only LP Inner Seal Siding has this identifying trademark Independently owned and operated

LP Composite Siding • The drawing on the left depicts how randomly the knots may appear • The drawing on the right side is an example of what 4 x 8 panel siding may look like Independently owned and operated

LP Composite Siding LP-sided home, rear view Independently owned and operated

LP Composite Siding LP-sided home, swollen, delaminated drip edges Independently owned and operated

LP Composite Siding LP-sided home, exposed edges Independently owned and operated

LP Composite Siding LP-sided home, failed caulking joints Independently owned and operated

Reasons for Failure • Improper installations by contractors ◦ Overdriven nailing procedure allows moisture penetration internally to product ◦ Failure to reseal exposed ends during installation ◦ Failure to properly caulk exposed ends and butt joints • Lack of homeowner maintenance ◦ Failure to keep siding maintained ◦ Improperly painted, caulked and sealed ◦ Requires periodic inspection — home should be painted and sealed every five to seven years depending on exposure to outside elements Independently owned and operated

Result of Class-action Lawsuit on LP Products • As a result of a class-action lawsuit against LP, an upgraded version of LP’s Inner Seal siding was introduced after 1996 • LP introduced its “Smart System” • Same components as before only introduced more chemicals to deter moisture intrusion and WDO infestation • GPI’s opinion: If the same methods of installation and maintenance continue, then the same problems will result — it’s only a matter of time Independently owned and operated

Summary • If composite siding is maintained properly, it can last 20 years • Composite siding MUST BE KEPT SEALED WITH PAINT, CAULKED PROPERLY AND CHECKED PERIODICALLY FOR PROPER MAINTENANCE • For current status of class-action lawsuits, go to www. sidingsolutions. com/pages/classtat. htm Independently owned and operated

Thank you! Independently owned and operated