Oct 31 2007 12:00AM | Permalink | Email this | Comments (0) |
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Every couple of weeks, the editorial staff at Professional Builder and our sister publications meet with different product manufacturers and service providers who swing by the office. We enjoy these editorial meetings because it helps us keep up with what’s going on the industry. Sometimes, they’re great meetings when we learn a ton. Other times, they are little more than get-togethers with minor updates on what’s new.

Yesterday Louisiana-Pacific came by to announce a major product introduction – LP SolidStart LSL. Just our kind of meeting. A brand new product to talk about. 

So, what’s new about this product? First, it’s laminated strand lumber (as you could guess from the LSL designation) which is not new, but is a new material for LP. They’re entering the market with a product they hope will compete with solid-sawn lumber primarily in headers, columns, stair stringers, truss chords, and even studs.

The advantage, they claim, is the SolidStart LSL will deliver consistency. No warping, waning, twisting, or bowing. Walls will be straighter with less effort, reducing cost for the builder.

But the real differentiator is its strength. Solid-sawn lumber has a deflection measurement of up to 1.6E, and LVL (laminated veneer lumber) begins at 1.9E. The new SolidStart will slot in at a 1.75E rating, placing it squarely between solid-sawn and LVL. LSL can hold a nail even into the end, and can be toe-nailed and nailed on the end without splitting.

It will be interesting to see how LP’s $100+ million capital investment plays out as it converts its Houlten, Maine plant from OSB to LSL. These are tough market conditions to launch a new product. Perhaps the most remarkable element of their marketing efforts is that they’re underplaying the green aspects of this new product. I have to admit that in this environment when even BP Oil claims it is green, it’s nice to see a more restrained approach.