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What is “LP” Siding?
When clients or real estate agents hear that a house has LP siding there is a lot of concern. Let me explain few things that these folks have found helpful.
First, this is a manufactured material made from wood-fibers (ground up trees) and a resin glue that holds its together. It is pressed together, cured and pressed with an wood-looking surface. In the end it shows up on houses looking like any other type of material. A significant portion of new homes still have this material. LP siding should not cause immediate crisis. More information is needed.
Second, the questions that answer most of the concerns: What year was this siding put on? How has the siding been maintained? The problematic siding was primarily installed from about 1988 through 1996. This was when many companies were rushing new composite wood materials into the market. If it was not properly painted, caulked and sealed from moisture, problems arose. Most deterioration began on the bottom drip edge where water naturally wicks on its way to the ground. I have to look up at the bottom edge siding, often with a flashlight to see the shadowed drip edge.
Third, LP siding creates home purchase scares when associated with “failing siding.” Strong sounding words. In other words, failing siding is absorbing moisture, swelling, softening and beginning to flake. It may be unsightly and in more extreme cases cracking, loose and growing organic materials. Siding is designed to protect the interior structure from moisture, not absorb and cause damage to the parts its suppose to protect. In my experience, it is usually not a all-or-nothing repair proposition. Each one should be evaluated and specific recommendations made.
Fourth, the easiest way to recognize the “LP” brand of siding is what is well known as the LP knot. Hidden in one of the knot impressions is a “L” leaning backward and a “P” standing upright. Kind of like an artist hiding her name in the artwork.
Interesting history note, types of this material starting showing up on Northwest homes in the early 1970s as the price of real wood siding increased. One of the ones I can recognize a home built in the 1960s or 1970s is the wide, thick beveled siding. You don’t see hefty real wood siding on the homes from the 1980s forward. As with any new material or technology it takes a while to get the issues worked out and it looks like we are there!
