How LP Building Solutions Is Committed to You During COVID-19

At LP, our first priority is always the safety and well-being of our employees, customers, suppliers and communities. We understand the challenging dynamics of the building industry-deadlines, limited skilled workforces, potential liabilities, reputation management, and inventory shortages, just to name a few-and how those are amplified during this uncertain time of COVID-19.

As we navigate the challenges of COVID-19 together, LP is committed to providing the solutions that best support you-just as we always have. Here is a look at how we are protecting our employees, supporting our communities, and how we are committed to you to ensure you have the products, tools and resources you need during this unprecedented time.

Our commitment to customers is based in:

• Safeguarding our employees
• Best-in-class customer service
• Industry-leading warranties
• Third-party testing and validation
• Improved jobsite efficiency 
• Community involvement and support

Commitment to Employees

As COVID-19 reached North and South America earlier this year, we implemented swift and comprehensive health and safety measures to protect our employees and ensure the continuity of our business. Spearheaded by LP's Pandemic Response Team, the precautions we are taking have minimized transmission risk and kept our employees safe while they have continued to work.

Our Pandemic Response Team monitors new information to make timely updates to our intervention plans. As we continue to navigate the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the communities where some of our mills are located have become hot spots. We have seen a slight uptick in the number of employee cases, and thankfully all impacted employees have recovered or are recovering. Our teams continue to take the necessary precautions to minimize the spread of COVID-19 and safeguard themselves and each other. We have yet to have any mill closures caused by COVID-19 outbreaks, and we will maintain these precautions for as long as necessary to keep our employees, vendors and customers safe.

Commitment to Customers

While business has and will continue to change, we're here to offer resources to get through it together. And we take pride in LP's reputation for caring for customers. Brent Taylor, owner of O.C. Taylor, said now is the perfect time to take advantage of manufacturer loyalty programs for support. “Could a loyalty program offer you more leads, brush up your installation techniques or help you with new marketing materials? As a longtime LP^® BuildSmart^™ Preferred Contractor Program member, I know they offer all these things.” Due to COVID-19, we have adapted our training approach to host virtual events led by The Kruse Brothers. LP BuildSmart members can reach out to their local sales reps to take advantage of these exclusive product training events. LP also launched LP SkillBuilder^®, a free online resource portal that features LP^® SmartSide^® Trim & Siding courses and training, quick tips, and additional resources to help professionals take their business to the next level. Professionals can find access to exclusive content offered in both English and Spanish, such as simple product installation tips and tricks, advice on how to improve jobsite efficiency and reduce callbacks, proven in-home selling techniques, and more. Current LP BuildSmart members have single sign-on access to LP SkillBuilder through the LP BuildSmart portal.

We're also here to help bring pros together to address common concerns and offer trusted peer advice during COVID-19. For example, click here for helpful suggestions and resources from five pros and click here for tips on how to manage COVID-19's short- and long-term effects on your construction business.

Commitment to Industry-Leading Warranties

We know a product warranty that offers peace of mind is as important as ever—and we have your back. LP's industry-leading warranties are a cornerstone of customer care. The LP SmartSide limited warranty offers 5/50-year protection customers can trust. For example, Jeff Hanesworth of Mountain Standard Homes said, “I want my customers to be happy indefinitely—not just for the first year until the builder warranty runs out—and LP SmartSide products offer that peace of mind.” 

LP WeatherLogic Air & Water Barrier offers a 30-year warranty, longer than most housewraps. For contractor Jeff Smith, he takes pride in using the highest quality building materials and the warranty was a major factor in his decision to use it on his own home. “Choosing LP WeatherLogic Air & Water Barrier was an easy decision because of its durability, strong warranty and company standing behind it.”

Commitment to Third-Party Testing

Wood scientists at the University of Maine tested LP Legacy^® Premium Sub-Flooring under rigorous requirements to measure moisture resistance, strength and stiffness.

Now more than ever pros are looking for ways to work smarter, not harder with economically viable product choices producing less waste, reducing labor and requiring less equipment alongside faster installation. We regularly engage in third-party testing to help you make informed product decisions you can trust. For example:

• We recently examined productivity differences between LP SmartSide siding installation vs. competitive products. How does LP siding compare to fiber cement siding? LP SmartSide Lap Siding installed up to 22 % faster than fiber cement lap.
• Wood scientists at the University of Maine tested LP Legacy^® Premium Sub-Flooring alongside commodity OSB and plywood in a four-phase study simulating how the products would perform after a home installation. LP Legacy sub-flooring showed superior moisture resistance by taking two and a half times longer to absorb moisture.

Commitment to Jobsite Efficiency

Additionally, John Babcock, owner of renovationPLUS, said that by using LP^® SmartSide^® ExpertFinish^® Trim & Siding, he is confident he is easing homeowner concerns amid COVID-19. “By using LP SmartSide ExpertFinish products, we are able to offer homeowners security. This includes the obvious LP SmartSide product attributes and LP warranty, but also the additional layer of fewer people at their home and shorter project duration with prefinished siding.”

Commitment to our Communities

Hardin Memorial Health Medical Group – Bardstown Family Medical Center Physician Holly McCoy displays LP Building Solutions donation.

In addition to our customers, we're here to support our communities working to fight COVID-19. Earlier this year, the LP Foundation donated 50 000 $ to support healthcare workers and relieve hunger in our home city of Nashville.

Additionally, LP mills have donated personal protective equipment-including N95 masks, gloves, Tychem suits and hoods-to healthcare systems, hospitals, and first responders across the U.S. and Canada. Our mill located in Two Harbors, Minnesota created a billboard thanking healthcare and essential workers in the community, recognizing the enormous impact these personnel have had on the health and well-being of the community.

Where we did see builder sentiment, home sales, and demand for building products drop at the beginning of the pandemic, these have rebounded sharply and continued to climb. If the housing crash of the mid-2000s taught us one thing, it is just how resilient we are as an industry. We have taken learnings from that experience to determine how to best adapt and adjust to the current situation to offer you support every step of the way, and we're here to get through this together. For more advice, follow us on Instagram at @lp_pros.