LP decking advisory

Frequently asked questions

Why has LP issued a product advisory for decking?

• Recently, LP has received a small portion of claims showing accelerated deterioration in product we manufactured at our Meridian, Idaho plant and sold after January 1, 2005.
• Some of the product can prematurely degrade and break, posing a risk of injury.
• Even though just a small percentage of the product is affected, safety is our Number One priority. That’s why we are asking deck owners to register with LP to determine if they have an affected deck, and arrange for inspection and replacement as needed.
• WeatherBest products manufactured after November 2007 by the subsequent owner of the Meridian, Idaho plant are different in composition and are not subject to this product advisory.

Which products are subject to this advisory?

• Products made by LP for the Veranda label, sold in the Western part of the US at The Home Depot -- AK, AZ, CA, CO, HI, ID, MT, NM, NV, OR, UT, WA, WY, and TX (El Paso markets.)
• Not all Veranda products are subject to the advisory, only those made at LP’s Meridian plant and sold after January 1, 2005. Veranda products currently for sale are not subject to the advisory.
• Products made by LP under the WeatherBest and LP WeatherBest label, distributed nationwide through building product manufacturers. Not all WeatherBest products are subject to the advisory, only those made at LP’s Meridian plant and sold after January 1, 2005. WeatherBest products not made by LP that are currently for sale are not subject to the advisory.
• ABTCo Decking products sold in the Western part of the US at The Home Depot -- AK, AZ, CA, CO, HI, ID, MT, NM, NV, OR, UT, WA, WY, and TX (El Paso markets.)

Are all Veranda products part of this advisory?

• No. Not all Veranda products are subject to the advisory. Only the portion of Veranda products made at LP’s Meridian plant and sold after January 1, 2005 are part of this advisory. Most of these were sold in the western United States- AK, AZ, CA, CO, HI, ID, MT, NM, NV, OR, UT, WA, WY, and TX (El Paso markets.)
• Veranda products currently for sale are not subject to the advisory.

Are all WeatherBest products part of this advisory?

• No. Not all WeatherBest products are subject to the advisory. Only those made at LP’s Meridian plant and sold after January 1, 2005. WeatherBest products currently for sale are not subject to the advisory.

Where were the products sold?

• Veranda and ABTCo products were sold in The Home Depot stores, mostly in the western states - AK, AZ, CA, CO, HI, ID, MT, NM, NV, OR, UT, WA, WY, and TX (El Paso markets.)
• WeatherBest products were sold through building products distributors and dealers nationwide.
• Please see LP’s Decking Customer Service Web site at http://www.deckingnotice.com/images/map.jpg for a map showing the relative concentration of product sales by state.

Does the current WeatherBest/Veranda product have the same issue?

• No. The WeatherBest brand is now manufactured by new owners using a different composition and process. The Veranda brand, a proprietary brand, is produced by several manufacturers, and only product produced at LP's Meridian facility from 2005-2007 is affected by this product notice.

What does the product look like?

• Veranda and WeatherBest are composite products that look similar to natural wood and are sold in several different colors including Driftwood Grey, Pacific Cedar, Tuscan Walnut, Western Redwood, Chestnut and Greystone.

How can I identify the product affected?

• If you bought your product before 2005, it is not subject to this advisory.
• If you have your invoice, it will assist LP Customer Service in determining whether you have product affected by the notice.
• Products can also be identified by product tags or stamps at the end of boards, which identify where and when the product was made. You will be asked about these when you register and file a claim.
• If these tags or invoices are not available, and you are concerned that your deck may be involved, LP will help you determine whether you have material affected by the advisory, arranging an inspection if necessary.
• WeatherBest products manufactured by the new owners of the Meridian plant after November 2007 are NOT subject to this advisory and are distinguishable by a kerf or groove cut into the side of each deck board, along the complete length of the board.
• If you are unsure whether your deck material is LP decking and subject to the advisory, submit the registration and claim forms on this website so that LP Decking Customer Service can help you determine whether you have this material.

What should I do if I have a deck installed with this material?

• Check your Veranda, WeatherBest, or ABTCo decking materials for visible cracks or deterioration on the surface, or chipping of the surface layers.
• If the deck or railing is degrading, do not use the deck. Contact LP Customer Service to promptly arrange for an inspection of the deck.
• Even if there is no visible sign of deterioration, if you purchased Veranda or WeatherBest decking or accessory products after January 1, 2005, please register through www.deckingnotice.com so that we may contact you if further steps are needed.

What does the premature deterioration look like? What are some signs of deterioration in the field?

• Premature deterioration can look like delaminating of the top layer of the product, cracking, and breakage or other obvious deterioration.
• Deterioration may vary depending on the exposure of the boards. Some boards may be unaffected at one end, but degraded on another end.
• Please visit www.deckingnotice.com/check.html for photo examples.

What is the potential safety hazard?

Premature deterioration may cause the board to weaken and break.

Is there a potential hazard if I only have a small amount of deterioration?

This must be determined through inspection. Please register and file a claim at www.deckingnotice.com or call 1-888-325-1184.

Should I contact LP even if I don’t see any visible deterioration on my deck?

Yes, please register at www.deckingnotice.com. We want to have a record of all decks subject to the advisory so that they can be inspected.

What is the process for the program?

If you have a decking product that is associated with this product advisory, the first step is to register your deck with LP. You can do that in two ways: (1) access the Web site www.deckingnotice.com, or (2) call the toll free number 1-888-325-1184 to register the deck with a customer support agent.

After you have registered your deck, you must file a one-page claim form. You will be provided a link to the claim form after you register your deck, or you can call the toll free number 1-888-325-1184 to ask that a claim form be sent to you.

Once LP receives the claim form back from you, and confirms that you have LP’s decking product that is a part of this product advisory, an inspection will be scheduled by a third-party inspection company, BrightClaim. You will be notified of that inspection and the results shortly after it is done.

Also, at any time during the process, you can call the toll-free number 1-888-325-1184 to check on the status of your claim.

After I file a claim, what happens next?

After you register and file a claim, an inspection of your deck by a third-party inspection company will be arranged by LP. Inspections will be arranged in the order that the claims are received, however priority will be given to decks that are exhibiting advanced deterioration or decks that appear to be a safety hazard.

Who will be doing the inspections? Can I use my own inspector?

Inspections will be done by a third-party inspection firm, BrightClaim. BrightClaim has inspectors throughout the country with experience in decking inspections. Since BrightClaim inspectors are trained to best determine the status of the affected decking product, it is not possible to use your own inspector.

What will LP do to fix my deck?

After you register and file a claim, LP will work with you to determine if you have decking that is the subject of this notice. If you do have decking subject to the notice, an inspection will be arranged. The results of that inspection may determine that the deck is prematurely deteriorating and if so, it will be remedied – at no cost to you. LP will arrange to have work performed by an independent contractor.

What should I do if I have purchased product subject to the advisory but haven’t built my deck yet?

LP will arrange to take back the material. Contact www.deckingnotice.com or call 1-888-325-1184.

What products will be used to replace affected decking?

Contractors will work closely with homeowners to replace decking with comparable material that is not affected by this Product Advisory. For example, if you have affected Veranda decks, Veranda products or products of similar value may be used. If you have WeatherBest decks, WeatherBest products or products of similar value may be used.

What are the timelines? How long will it take to get an inspection? How long will it take to get a replacement deck if needed?

At the current time, inspections take place within about 21-28 days. Priority claims, where safety issues exist, are sent to BrightClaim immediately, and an inspector can usually be at your home within 48 hours.

Is there priority status for unsafe decks?

Yes. Unsafe decks will have priority status for inspection and remediation as needed.

If I am selling my home, do I need to notify the buyers about decking notification?

We recommend that you do so as a safety precaution. Please talk to your realtor or attorney about requirements in your state.