Oregon Music Garage Part 1: Kyle Stumpenhorst Chooses LP Structural Solutions for Resiliency

Contractor Kyle Stumpenhorst’s latest project in partnership with LP Building Solutions is the Oregon Music Garage in Oregon, Illinois. After successful builds including a shed project, a re-side project and the LP House, Stumpenhorst is at work on this exciting LP Structural Solutions special project: an addition to one of Oregon’s longtime community sites.

About the Project

The Oregon Music Garage will sell acoustic instruments including ukuleles, banjos, mandolins and dulcimers. It'll also have an office space, performance stage and workshop area. As an extension of Ukulele Station America, owned by John Lindhorst and housed in the "Little Stone Building" in Oregon, the site will serve as much-needed expansion for this favorite Oregon music shop.

Stumpenhorst designed the structure with LP Structural Solutions products in mind. “We knew we were going to be sheathing it with 4-foot by 8-foot panels, both on the roof and the walls,” he says. “We laid out all the framing so that we would have very-little-to-no-waste while installing the sheathing.” The building was also 16 feet tall, which naturally aligned with the 4-foot by 8-foot dimensions of LP WeatherLogic^® Air & Water Barrier sheathing.

LP Structural Solutions products are also a great choice for resiliency. Stumpenhorst always keeps a product's ability to last in mind when weighing options. "The quality of the product makes my job easier because I don't have to pick and choose or worry," he says. With seamless installation and lasting durability, LP Structural Solutions products were a great fit for the Oregon Music Garage.

From the Ground Up

Stumpenhorst’s construction process began smoothly thanks to the reliability of LP^® SolidStart^® LSL framing. “LP SolidStart ensures that everything is perfectly straight from the beginning to the end,” he recalls, adding that builders who use it don’t have to worry about snapping chalk lines or keeping the bottom plates straight.

For sub-flooring, Stumpenhorst’s first pick was LP Legacy^® Premium Sub-Flooring. “When you pick up a board, you instantly realize how structurally sound and incredibly stiff it is,” he mentions. “Anytime I’ve installed LP Legacy, I’ve always thought I was standing on concrete once it was installed because it is so solid.” 

Creating a Tight Envelope

Once the Oregon music shop’s groundwork was established, Stumpenhorst turned to LP WeatherLogic^® Air & Water Barrier for not only a wall sheathing, but a built-in water-resistive barrier (WRB). “LP WeatherLogic installs just like every other structural sheathing for your exterior,” he says, “but you don’t have to come behind it and add house wrap. You’ve got a perfect structural panel with a built-in WRB.” Additionally, LP WeatherLogic panels are now Structural I rated for greater cross-panel strength and stiffness.

Stumpenhorst also added LP WeatherLogic Water Screen to this LP Structural Solutions special project.

He describes it as an “extra insurance policy” to maximize your build’s moisture protection and ensure that moisture that gets behind the siding can drain away far before it can lead to any damage.

A System of Resilience

"The beauty of using LP Structural Solutions as a total package is that everything is built with the other products in mind," Stumpenhorst adds, "so everything flows seamlessly together." With LP Structural Solutions products, builders can work with confidence, avoiding worry that materials will be compatible or that they'll have to navigate many different companies and warranties. "That goes a long way from a builder's point of view," he confirms.

For this special LP Structural Solutions project, LP's engineered wood products were invaluable. "They not only made it strong and better for the customer in the long run, but they made it easier for us to install which can lead to less waste," Stumpenhorst says. He felt confident in how the products would perform, so he could simply get to work with peace of mind that every piece of the product would be ready to go.

Next, Stumpenhorst and his team will finish the Oregon Music Garage by installing LP^® SmartSide^® ExpertFinish^® Trim & Siding. See more of the story in our highlights at @lp_pros, and tune in soon to see the finished build!