Homeowners around the country are considering joining a class action lawsuit over Louisiana-Pacific <"https://www.yourlawyer.com/topics/overview/louisiana-pacific-lp-defective-siding-class-action-lawsuit">(L-P) TrimBoard siding products. The L-P siding products, which are also sold under the names ProTrim and ChoiceTrim, were manufactured by L-P subsidiary ABT Building Products Corporations (ABTCO).
Homeowners with L-P TrimBoard, ProTrim or ChoiceTrim siding have been complaining that the products are defective because they absorb moisture under normal conditions, which can affect the longevity, stability and appearance of the wood trim product. This can lead to swelling, decay and rotting, and eventually cause the development of mold, mildew, fungi or insect infestations.
TrimBoard, ProTrim and ChoiceTrim products are made of a composite wood material that is basically a concoction of wood scraps and resins. They have a paper surface which looks smooth or embossed with a cedar-like texture. L-P and ABTCO advertised these siding products as “easier to use†and “more durable†than other trim products. They were available as trim, soffit, fascia, lattice, fencing, handrails, vents, risers, and stringers.
Signs that L-P Siding has failed include:
• Original nails used to install the siding have sunk beneath the surface
• Mushrooms begin growing along the lower lap edges of the siding
• Swollen Panels
• Longitudinal cracks running along the lower edges of panels.
In most cases, when this siding has failed, it must be removed from a home and the underlying wood should be treated with a fungicide before being replaced.
Earlier this year, a settlement was reached in a class action lawsuit against L-P and ABTCO in United District Court for the District of South Carolina, Charleston Division. The settlement impacts owners of homes and other structures with TrimBoard, ProTrim or ChoiceTrim siding in Aiken, Lexington, Richland, Kershaw, Chesterfield, Marlboro, Barnwell, Orangeburg, Calhoun, Sumter, Lee, Darlington, Dillon, Marion, Florence, Clarendon, Bamberg, Allendale, Hampton, Jasper, Beaufort, Colleton, Dorchester, Berkeley, Georgetown, Williamsburg, and Horry counties.
Under the terms of the settlement, the defendants will provide a claims process to compensate Class Members for damaged TrimBoard that is still on the structure. In addition, a Class Member who replaced their TrimBoard between December 1, 2001 and December 17, 2010 without knowledge of the Settlement can submit a claim for the costs of replacing Damaged TrimBoard as long as they can show it was damaged when they replaced it.
