Retirement Plans and Post Retirement Benefits Defined Contribution Plans and Other Benefit Plans (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2012 U.S. 401(k) Plans [Member]	Dec. 31, 2008 U.S. 401(k) Plans [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Canada Defined Contribution Plans [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Other Postretirement Benefits [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Other Postretirement Benefits [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Supplemental Employee Retirement Plans, Defined Benefit [Member]
Defined Benefit Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans Table Text Block [Line Items]
Defined Benefit Plan, Benefits Paid	$ 27.8	$ 17.6							$ (10.4)
Defined Contribution Plans [Abstract]
Maximum percentage of employee's wages eligible for company match				2.00%	3.50%	3.00%
Shares of LP common stock included in plan assets				3.0
Total market value of plan assets represented by LP common stock				21.20%
Percentage of base contribution						2.50%
Employer matching percentage						50.00%
Expenses related to defined contribution plans and multiemployer plan	5.2	5.5	4.2
Funded status	(92.7)	(92.2)					9.7	8.5
Deferred Compensation Arrangements [Abstract]
Deferred compensation plan maximum deferral percentage	90.00%
Deferred compensation plan, employer contributions and related earnings, maximum vesting period	5 years
Deferred compensation liability included in "Other long-term liabilities"	$ (1.5)	$ (2.1)