As a Wenatchee home and pest inspector I am always evaluating the home for defects. Here is some information on engineered products issues that have occurred over the last decade or so.

Engineered products when properly installed and maintained can last, but some have been susceptible to early deterioration.

Moisture remains a common enemy, especially to the engineered wood siding industry, which has suffered a number of class-action lawsuits due to moisture-related problems. These problems stemmed from product imperfections and installation errors. “Our earlier attempt at engineered wood siding, called Inner-Seal, was not made or treated the way SmartSide is,” explains Skoog, “and the result was product failure.” Since the revamping of their siding line seven years ago, LP SmartSide products have been installed on more than 1.5 million homes.

Fiber cement siding is also vulnerable to moisture invasion, particularly if installed incorrectly. Failure to properly install fiber cement siding can lead to mold and rot in the sheathing or structural supports. Installation is also a concern with fiber cement siding—it weighs about 1.5 times as much as wood, and requires special tools for cutting.

Fiber-cement products seem to have the least siding related problems but if improperly installed over infected sheathing, they may just be covering up future problems. Under certain circumstances, efflorescence can be a problem. Water-soluble salts that are deposited on the surface as excess moisture evaporates cause efflorescence. This usually occurs on improperly stored materials that have adsorbed excess moisture.

Louisiana-Pacific:
· The Class Action Settlement ended on December 31, 2002. Claims should be directed to L-P’s product warranty department. Call 1-877-677-6722  for LP Siding installed before January 1996
Call 1-800-450-6106 for LP installed after January 1996, Includes Smart System Products
ALso: L-P Customer Support: 1-800-648-6893 Warranty and Technical Information
for WarrantyInfo press 1 / Tech Info press 2
Weyerhaeuser Hardboard Siding:
· Claims information can be found at www.weyerclaims.com
Masonite Hardboard Siding
· Claims information can be found at www.masoniteclaims.com
Masonite Omniwood Siding:
· Claims information can be found at www.masoniteclaims.com
Boise-Cascade Hardboard Siding:
· Need to submit a claim to Boise Cascade? Mail your claim to: Boise Cascade Corporation, Timber & Wood Products Division, P.O. Box 62, Boise, ID 83707, Attn: Tana Rasmussen; phone: 208/384-6162  Include six photographs, one of each side of your house from a distance and two close-ups that will clearly show the problems you are experiencing. c/o Tana Rasmussen.
Georgia-Pacific Company:Hardboard Siding:
· This case settled a national class action, but the time period for participating has expired. The last date for filing claims under the settlement was August 18, 1998.
Stimson Brand Hardboard Siding (Forestex):
· This company no longer manufactures or markets lap siding. They continue to produce a hardboard panel surfaced with tempered hardboard marketed as Duratemp. Need to submit a claim to Stimson? Mail your claim to 520 S.W. Yamhill, Suite 325, Portland, Oregon, 97204-1319; Remember to send a few photos of your siding with your claim letter.
ABTCO Hardboard Siding
· Claims information can be found at www.abtcoclaims.com.
Smurfit Paper Company a subsidiary of The Jefferson Smurfit Corporation:Cladwood hardboard siding

• This product has been out of production for a few years but damaged products continue to surface. A proposed settlement has been reached in a class action lawsuit concerning a siding product known as Cladwood. The settlement would provide compensation to persons who have incurred property damage resulting from failure of Cladwood siding installed on their homes or buildings. For claims call 1-888-572-3897 or visit their website at http://www.cladwoodclaims.com/

Shakertown panel
· Panels manufactured before 1992 have been reported have problems with the way that they were processed.. There have been some complaints of the cedar shingles separating from their plywood backing. Poor installation techniques appear to be a major contributor to this problem. This product has been improved and seems to be exhibiting fewer problems.
Fiber-cement Products:

• Fiber-cement siding manufactured by James-Hardie Company (Hardi-Plank, Hardi-Panel, and Hardi-Home) have gained product recognition and an increasing market share.

Wolverine Dura-Press
· This product has been renamed Weatherboard and is being marketed under the Certainteed family of products.
Additional Fiber-Cement Products
· Maxi-Plank, and Maxi-Panel, Cemplank, and FortaFiber are some of the other participants in this market. Maxi Plank and Panels have been failing in an ever-growing number of homes and is likely to be the subject of a class action law suit.
EIFS (Synthetic Stucco)
·
A class Action Settlement is in effect for Senergy and Thoro brands of EIFS in the Superior Court of the State of North Carolina, Hanover County, and 96 cvs 0059. An inspection protocol has been established to define the testing methodology and procedures for filing claims have been instated. These materials were first used in the mid to late 80's, depending upon the area that you live in. Claims against these companies are being accepted by the Claims Administrator and must be in the proper form and must be accompanied be several documents.

• An ever-growing number of insurance companies refuse to cover EIFS Installers. The average dollar amount of EIFS claims is substantially higher than most construction defect claims. Barrier Systems are still allowed but most residential applicators have switched to a Positive Drainage System.

Louisiana-Pacific:
· The Class Action Settlement ended on December 31, 2002. Claims should be directed to L-P’s product warranty department. Call 1-877-677-6722 for LP Siding installed before January 1996
Call 1-800-450-6106 for LP installed after January 1996, Includes Smart System Products
ALso: L-P Customer Support: 1-800-648-6893 Warranty and Technical Information
for WarrantyInfo press 1 / Tech Info press 2
Weyerhaeuser Hardboard Siding:
· Claims information can be found at www.weyerclaims.com
Masonite Hardboard Siding
· Claims information can be found at www.masoniteclaims.com
Masonite Omniwood Siding:
· Claims information can be found at www.masoniteclaims.com
Boise-Cascade Hardboard Siding:
· Need to submit a claim to Boise Cascade? Mail your claim to: Boise Cascade Corporation, Timber & Wood Products Division, P.O. Box 62, Boise, ID 83707, Attn: Tana Rasmussen; phone: 208/384-6162; Include six photographs, one of each side of your house from a distance and two close-ups that will clearly show the problems you are experiencing. c/o Tana Rasmussen.
Georgia-Pacific Company:Hardboard Siding:
· This case settled a national class action, but the time period for participating has expired. The last date for filing claims under the settlement was August 18, 1998.
Stimson Brand Hardboard Siding (Forestex):
· This company no longer manufactures or markets lap siding. They continue to produce a hardboard panel surfaced with tempered hardboard marketed as Duratemp. Need to submit a claim to Stimson? Mail your claim to 520 S.W. Yamhill, Suite 325, Portland, Oregon, 97204-1319; Remember to send a few photos of your siding with your claim letter.
ABTCO Hardboard Siding
· Claims information can be found at www.abtcoclaims.com.
Smurfit Paper Company a subsidiary of The Jefferson Smurfit Corporation:Cladwood hardboard siding

• This product has been out of production for a few years but damaged products continue to surface. A proposed settlement has been reached in a class action lawsuit concerning a siding product known as Cladwood. The settlement would provide compensation to persons who have incurred property damage resulting from failure of Cladwood siding installed on their homes or buildings. For claims call 1-888-572-3897, or visit their website at http://www.cladwoodclaims.com/

Shakertown panel
· Panels manufactured before 1992 have been reported have problems with the way that they were processed.. There have been some complaints of the cedar shingles separating from their plywood backing. Poor installation techniques appear to be a major contributor to this problem. This product has been improved and seems to be exhibiting fewer problems.
Fiber-cement Products:

• Fiber-cement siding manufactured by James-Hardie Company (Hardi-Plank, Hardi-Panel, and Hardi-Home) have gained product recognition and an increasing market share.

Wolverine Dura-Press
· This product has been renamed Weatherboard and is being marketed under the Certainteed family of products.
Additional Fiber-Cement Products
· Maxi-Plank, and Maxi-Panel, Cemplank, and FortaFiber are some of the other participants in this market. Maxi Plank and Panels have been failing in an ever-growing number of homes and is likely to be the subject of a class action law suit.
EIFS (Synthetic Stucco)
·
A class Action Settlement is in effect for Senergy and Thoro brands of EIFS in the Superior Court of the State of North Carolina, Hanover County, and 96 cvs 0059. An inspection protocol has been established to define the testing methodology and procedures for filing claims have been instated. These materials were first used in the mid to late 80's, depending upon the area that you live in. Claims against these companies are being accepted by the Claims Administrator and must be in the proper form and must be accompanied be several documents.

• An ever-growing number of insurance companies refuse to cover EIFS Installers. The average dollar amount of EIFS claims is substantially higher than most construction defect claims. Barrier Systems are still allowed but most residential applicators have switched to a Positive Drainage System.