LP Building Products has announced the launch of its new LP® SolidGuard™
LSL, adding protection against termite damage and fungal decay to its
LSL product. As the industry embraces wood framing in taller multifamily
structures, this new product provides a treated sill plate solution to
help eliminate shrinkage.
“Shrinkage is an important concern for lumber in multistory structures
as it can affect shear wall performance and structural capability. Using
LSL for wall plates and sill plates as a part of a wood framing system
can significantly reduce plate shrinkage,” said Kim Rogers, EWP product
manager for LP Building Products. “The new LP SolidGuard LSL provides
our customers with a full wall plate solution for taller wood-framed
buildings.”
In typical dried lumber, moisture content may be up to 19 percent. Over
time, the lumber will dry down to the moisture equilibrium of the
finished building—typically 8 to 12 percent—causing the wood to shrink
and potentially resulting in misaligned framing, broken window seals,
and damaged plumbing.
Using LSL wall plates and sill plates can help eliminate plate
shrinkage. “The moisture levels of our product are carefully controlled
throughout the manufacturing process, giving all LP SolidGuard and
SolidStart LSL products a 7 to 10 percent moisture content, similar to
the moisture equilibrium inside the building, meaning that there’s no
moisture level to which our product has to dry down.”
LP SolidGuard LSL is treated with zinc borate for fungal decay and
termite resistance. LP SolidGuard LSL framing materials are intended for
use in aboveground protected applications such as sill plates, columns,
rim board and studs. The product is not intended for ground contact or
continuous exposure to weather, nor can it be substituted for treated
studs in a permanent wood foundation. The zinc borate is blended into
the LSL, eliminating the need for field treatment of cut ends. The
product requires no special handling or disposal as borate is a
naturally occurring mineral that is odorless and colorless in wood.
LP SolidGuard LSL is available in longer lengths than traditional
lumber, and its manufacturing process provides a uniform cure and even
density gradient across the thickness of the product, adding to its
strength and making it more resistant to warping, shrinking and twisting.
Visit WhatIsLSL.com
to learn more about LP® SolidStart® products and
to download an infographic on the benefits of LSL in tall, wood-framed
structures.
About LP Building Products
Louisiana-Pacific Corporation is a leading manufacturer of
quality engineered wood building materials including OSB, structural
framing products, and exterior siding for use in residential,
industrial and light commercial construction. From manufacturing
facilities in the United States, Canada, Chile and Brazil, LP products
are sold to builders and homeowners through building materials
distributors and dealers and retail home centers. Founded in 1973, 2013
marks the company’s 40th anniversary. LP is headquartered in Nashville,
Tennessee, and traded on the New York Stock Exchange under LPX. For more
information, visit LPCorp.com.
Copyright Business Wire 2013