Contingency Reserves (Tables)

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2011

Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]

Schedule of Loss Contingencies by Contingency [Table Text Block]

LP maintains reserves for various contingent liabilities as follows:

Dollar amounts in millions	September 30, 2011			December 31, 2010
Environmental reserves	$	15.2		$	14.3
Hardboard siding reserves	6.4			17.8
Other reserves	0.2			0.8
Total contingency reserves	21.8			32.9
Current portion of contingency reserves	(4.0		)	(7.0		)
Long-term portion of contingency reserves	$	17.8		$	25.9

Settlement Agreement Reserve Rollforward [Table Text Block]

The activity in the portion of LP's loss contingency reserves relating to hardboard siding contingencies for the first nine months of 2011 and 2010 are summarized in the following table.

Dollar amounts in millions	September 30, 2011			September 30, 2010
Beginning balance, December 31,	$	17.8		$	24.2
Reversal of reserves	(10.7		)	—
Payments made for claims	(0.4		)	(2.4		)
Payments made for administrative costs	(0.3		)	(1.2		)
Ending balance	$	6.4		$	20.6