Segment Information (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2012

Segment Reporting [Abstract]

Schedule of Segment Reporting Information, by Segment [Table Text Block]

Information about LP’s product segments is as follows:

	Year ended December 31,
Dollar amounts in millions	2012			2011			2010
SALES BY BUSINESS SEGMENT
OSB	$	814.1		$	542.0		$	602.7
Siding	500.9			429.8			427.8
Engineered Wood Products	213.4			203.3			192.0
South America	168.8			144.9			124.7
Other products	37.4			39.4			42.9
Intersegment Sales	(18.8		)	(2.5		)	(6.5		)
Total sales	$	1,715.8		$	1,356.9		$	1,383.6
PROFIT (LOSS) BY BUSINESS SEGMENT
OSB	$	124.0		$	(63.5	)	$	25.8
Siding	67.4			42.0			51.3
Engineered Wood Products	(13.9		)	(15.5		)	(21.3		)
South America	18.0			11.6			7.2
Other products	(5.7		)	(12.5		)	(1.1		)
Other operating credits and charges, net	2.9			11.2			(0.1		)
Gain (loss) on sales of and impairments of long-lived assets	(4.9		)	(73.9		)	(2.4		)
General corporate and other expense, net	(78.7		)	(66.4		)	(73.4		)
Investment income	14.8			28.7			38.4
Interest expense, net of capitalized interest	(49.3		)	(56.9		)	(63.9		)
Other-than-temporary investment impairment	—			(14.8		)	(17.0		)
Other non-operating income (expense)	(34.9		)	(1.0		)	2.2
Income (loss) from continuing operations before taxes	39.7			(211.0		)	(54.3		)
Provision (benefit) for income taxes	7.6			(39.1		)	(22.1		)
Income (loss) from continuing operations	$	32.1		$	(171.9	)	$	(32.2	)
	Year ended December 31,
	2012			2011			2010
DEPRECIATION AND AMORTIZATION
OSB	$	33.1		$	36.3		$	37.4
Siding	15.5			15.5			18.1
Engineered Wood Products	11.0			12.6			13.1
South America	12.0			11.6			10.0
Other products	0.6			0.8			1.1
Non-segment related	1.7			2.1			2.3
Total depreciation and amortization	$	73.9		$	78.9		$	82.0
CAPITAL EXPENDITURES
OSB	$	10.1		$	8.9		$	7.1
Siding	8.7			5.9			5.6

Engineered Wood Products	2.5		2.0		0.4
South America	4.6		2.7		1.1
Other products	0.9		0.2		—
Non-segment related	4.4		1.7		0.3
Total capital expenditures	$	31.2	$	21.4	$	14.5

Information concerning identifiable assets by segment is as follows:

Dollar amounts in millions	December 31,
	2012		2011
IDENTIFIABLE ASSETS
OSB	$	532.0	$	525.6
Siding	178.1		167.1
Engineered Wood Products	136.5		141.4
South America	168.1		156.6
Other products	25.2		33.6
Non-segment related	1,291.1		1,115.6
Total assets	$	2,331.0	$	2,139.9

Schedule of Segment Reporting Information, by Geographical Areas [Table Text Block]

Information concerning LP’s geographic segments is as follows:

	Year ended December 31,
Dollar amounts in millions	2012			2011			2010
GEOGRAPHIC SEGMENTS
Total Sales—Point of origin
U.S.	$	1,342		$	991		$	1,015
Canada	331			280			314
South America	164			145			125
Intersegment sales	(121		)	(59		)	(70		)
Total Sales	$	1,716		$	1,357		$	1,384
Operating profit (loss)
U.S.	$	169		$	14		$	55
Canada	3			(64		)	—
South America	18			12			7
Other operating credits and charges, net and gain (loss) on sales of and impairments of long-lived assets	(2		)	(63		)	(3		)
General corporate expense, other-than-temporary investment impairment, loss on early debt extinguishment, realized gain on long term investments, translation gains (losses) and interest, net	(148		)	(110		)	(113		)
	40			(211		)	(54		)
Provision (benefit) for income taxes	8			(39		)	(22		)
Income (loss) from continuing operations	$	32		$	(172	)	$	(32	)
IDENTIFIABLE TANGIBLE LONG LIVED ASSETS
U.S.	$	540		$	576		$	683
Canada	144			158			172
South America	100			107			127
Total assets	$	784		$	841		$	982