Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2021

SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES [Abstract]

Nature of Operations [Policy Text Block]

Nature of Operations

Louisiana-Pacific Corporation and our subsidiaries are a leading provider of high-performance building solutions that meet the demands of builders, remodelers, and homeowners worldwide. Serving the new home construction, repair and remodeling, and outdoor structures markets, we have leveraged our expertise to become an industry leader known for innovation, quality, and reliability. The Company operates 25 plants across the U.S., Canada, Chile, and Brazil, through foreign subsidiaries, and operate facilities through joint ventures. The principal customers for our building solutions are retailers, wholesalers, and homebuilding and industrial businesses, in North America and South America, with limited sales to Asia, Australia, and Europe. References to "LP," the "Company," "we," "our," and "us" refer to Louisiana-Pacific Corporation and its consolidated subsidiaries as a whole.

See Note 19 below for further information regarding our products and segments.

Consolidation, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Basis of Presentation

The accompanying Consolidated Financial Statements have been prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP. The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the Consolidated Financial Statements and accompanying notes. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

The Consolidated Financial Statements include the accounts of LP and our controlled subsidiaries. All intercompany transactions, profits, and balances have been eliminated. All dollar amounts are in millions except per share.

Cash and Cash Equivalents, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Cash and Cash Equivalents

Cash and cash equivalents include cash on hand and short-term investments of three months or less when purchased. These investments are stated at cost, which approximates market value.

Investment, Policy [Policy Text Block]

InvestmentsOur long-term investments are classified as available-for-sale and are reported at estimated fair value. Unrealized gains and losses, net of tax, on these investments are reported as a component of accumulated comprehensive loss in stockholders’ equity until realized. Impairment losses are charged to income for other-than-temporary declines in fair value. Realized gains and losses (including impairments) are recorded as investment income. For purposes of computing realized gains and losses, the cost is identified on a specific identification basis.

Fair Value of Financial Instruments, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Fair Value Measurements

Fair value is defined as the exchange price that would be received for an asset or paid to transfer a liability (an exit price) in the principal or most advantageous market for the asset or liability in an orderly transaction between market participants on the measurement date. The fair value hierarchy requires an entity to maximize the use of observable inputs and minimize the use of unobservable inputs when measuring fair value. We are required to classify these financial assets and liabilities into two groups: (1) recurring, measured on a periodic basis, and (2) non-recurring, measured on an as-needed basis.

There are three levels of inputs that may be used to measure fair value:

Level 1    Unadjusted quoted prices in active markets that are accessible at the measurement date for identical, unrestricted assets or liabilities.

Level 2    Quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities in active markets; quoted prices for identical or similar assets or liabilities in inactive markets; or valuations based on models where the significant inputs are observable or can be corroborated by observable market data.

Level 3    Valuations based on models where significant inputs are not observable. Unobservable inputs are used when little or no market data is available and reflect the Company’s own assumptions about the assumptions market participants would use.

The Company's financial instruments consist of cash and cash equivalents, short-term receivables, trade payables, debt instruments, and trading securities. Carrying amounts reported on the balance sheet for cash and cash equivalents, receivables, and accounts payable approximate fair value due to the short-term maturity of these instruments. See discussion on fair market values for long-term debt included within Note 11 below.

Trading securities consist of rabbi trust financial assets, which are recorded in other assets in our Consolidated Balance Sheets. The rabbi trust holds assets attributable to the elections of certain management employees to defer the receipt of a portion of their compensation. The assets of the rabbi trust are invested in mutual funds and are reported at fair value based on active market quotations, which represent Level 1 inputs.

Inventory, Policy [Policy Text Block]

InventoriesInventories are valued at the lower of cost or net realizable value. Inventory costs include materials, labor, and operating overhead. The FIFO (first-in, first-out) or average cost methods are used to value our inventories as of December 31, 2021.

Timber and Timberlands [Policy Text Block]

Timber and Timberlands

Timber and timberlands are comprised of timber deeds and allocations of the purchase price to Canadian timber harvesting licenses. Timber deeds are transactions in which we purchase timber but not the underlying land. The cost of timber deeds is capitalized in timber and timberlands and charged to the cost of timber harvested as the volume is removed. Timber that has been severed but has not yet been delivered to a facility is included in timber and timberlands. As of December 31, 2021, and 2020, we had timber and timberlands of $53 million and $18 million, respectively.

Timber licenses have a life of twenty to twenty-five years. These licenses are amortized on a straight-line basis over the life of the facilities. As of December 31, 2021, and 2020, we had timber licenses of $31 million and $34 million, respectively. Certain Canadian timber harvesting licenses also include future requirements for reforestation. The fair value of the future estimated reforestation obligation is accrued and recognized in cost of sales based on the volume of timber harvested; fair value is determined by discounting the estimated future cash flows using a credit adjusted risk-free rate. Subsequent changes to the fair value resulting from the passage of time and revisions to fair value calculations are recognized in earnings as they occur.

Property, Plant and Equipment, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Property, Plant, and Equipment

Property, plant, and equipment, including capitalized interest, are recorded at cost and consisted of the following:

	December 31,
	2021		2020
Land, land improvements, and logging roads, net of road amortization	$	182	$	172
Buildings	352		356
Machinery and equipment	2,050		1,971
Construction in progress	202		63
	2,786		2,562
Accumulated depreciation	(1,717)		(1,644)
Property, plant, and equipment, net	$	1,069	$	918

Depreciation is calculated on a straight-line basis over the estimated useful lives of the assets, which typically range from 10 to 20 years for buildings and land improvements, 3 to 15 years for equipment, and the shorter of the lease term or estimated useful lives for leasehold improvements.

Asset Impairment, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Long-lived assets to be held and used (primarily property, plant, and equipment and timber and timberlands) are reviewed for impairment when events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of the assets may not be recoverable. When impairment is indicated, the book values of the assets are written down to their estimated fair value as calculated by the expected discounted cash flow or estimated net sales price. See Note 14 below for a discussion of charges related to impairments of property, plant, and equipment. Long-lived assets that are held for sale are written down to the estimated sales proceeds less cost to sell unless the estimated net proceeds exceed the carrying value.

Goodwill and Intangible Assets, Goodwill, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Goodwill and Intangible Assets

Goodwill and indefinite-lived intangible assets are assessed annually for impairment during the fourth quarter or earlier upon the occurrence of certain events or substantive changes in circumstances. Impairment is evaluated by applying a fair-value based test. Impairment losses would be recognized whenever the implied fair value of goodwill is less than its carrying value.

During each of the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020, we recognized non-cash impairment charges of $5 million, associated with goodwill from the purchase of our off-site construction operation, Entekra. Our 2019 annual impairment assessment did not result in impairments of our goodwill or intangible assets. See Note 5 below for further discussion of goodwill and intangible assets.

Investments in Affiliates

Investments in AffiliatesWe account for investments in affiliates when we do not have a controlling financial interest using the equity method under which LP’s share of earnings and losses of the affiliate is reflected in earnings, and dividends are credited against the investment in affiliate when declared.

Restricted Cash, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Restricted Cash

Our restricted cash accounts generally secure outstanding letters of credit. The restricted cash balance at December 31, 2021 and 2020, was $13 million and $0 million, respectively.

Asset Retirement Obligation [Policy Text Block]

Asset Retirement Obligations

We record the fair value of the legal and conditional obligations to retire and remove long-lived assets in the period in which the obligation is incurred. These obligations primarily consist of monitoring costs on closed landfills, timber reforestation obligations associated with our timber licenses in Canada, and site restoration costs. When the related liability is initially recorded, we capitalize the cost by increasing the carrying amount of the related long-lived asset. Over time, the liability is accreted to its settlement value, and the capitalized cost is depreciated over the useful life of the related asset. Upon settlement of the liability, we recognize a gain or loss for any difference between the settlement amount and the liability recorded. The activity in our asset retirement obligation liability for 2021 and 2020 is summarized in the following table.

	Year Ended December 31,
	2021		2020
Beginning balance	$	10	$	11
Accretion expense	1		1
Adjusted to expense (cost of sales and other operating credits and charges, net)	(2)		(1)
Payments made	—		(1)
Ending balance	$	8	$	10

Income Taxes, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Income Taxes

We account for income taxes under an asset and liability approach that requires the recognition of deferred tax assets and liabilities for the expected future tax consequences of events that have been recognized in our Consolidated Financial Statements or tax returns. In estimating future tax consequences, we generally consider all expected future events other than the enactment of changes in tax laws or rates. The effect on deferred tax assets and liabilities of a change in tax rates will be recognized as income or expense in the period that includes the enactment date. Additionally, deferred tax assets are reduced by a valuation allowance when it is more likely than not that some portion of the deferred tax assets will not be realized.

We recognize the effect of income tax positions only if those positions are more likely than not to be sustained. Recognized income tax positions are measured at the largest amount that is greater than 50% likely of being realized. Changes in recognition or measurement are reflected in the period in which the change in judgment occurs.

We classify interest related to income tax liabilities or uncertain tax positions as interest expense or interest income and, if applicable, penalties are recognized as a component of income tax expense.

We are subject to global intangible low-taxed income, an incremental tax on foreign income. We have made an accounting election to record this tax in the period the tax arises.

Consolidation, Variable Interest Entity, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Redeemable Noncontrolling Interest

Redeemable noncontrolling interest in subsidiaries that is redeemable outside of our control is classified as mezzanine equity and measured at the greater of estimated redemption value at the end of each reporting period or the historical cost basis of the noncontrolling interest adjusted for cumulative earnings allocations. Net income attributed to noncontrolling interest is recorded in the Consolidated Statements of Income. Any adjustments to the redemption value of redeemable noncontrolling interest are recognized in either net income or through accumulated paid-in capital, depending on the nature of the underlying security (preferred or common units). See Note 8 below for a further discussion of redeemable noncontrolling interest.

Stock-based Compensation Policy [Policy Text Block]

Stock-Based Compensation

We have stock award plans covering certain key employees and directors, which provide for awards of restricted stock units, performance stock units, stock-settled stock appreciation rights (SSARS), and stock options. In addition, we offer an Employee Stock Purchase Plan (ESPP) to employees.

The fair value of our restricted stock and restricted stock units is the closing stock price of LP’s common stock the day preceding the grant date. The fair value of our performance stock units is estimated using the Monte Carlo simulation pricing model. The key assumptions used in this model include expected volatility, risk-free rate, and average and grant date stock prices. The estimate of expected volatility for performance units is based upon historical stock price volatility and the length of the performance period. The risk-free interest rate is based on zero-coupon U.S. Treasury bonds. The beginning average stock price equals the average closing value stock price over the defined period of trading days with the assumption that dividends distributed during the period were reinvested.

Foreign Currency Transactions and Translations Policy [Policy Text Block]

Foreign Currency Translation

The functional currency for our Canadian subsidiaries is the U.S. dollar. The books and records for these subsidiaries are maintained in the Canadian dollar. The financial statements of these foreign subsidiaries are remeasured into U.S. dollars using the historical exchange rate for property, plant, and equipment, timber and timberlands (related depreciation and amortization on both property, plant, and equipment and timber and timberlands), goodwill, and certain other non-monetary assets. We use the exchange rate at the balance sheet date for the remaining assets and liabilities, including deferred taxes. A weighted average exchange rate is used for each period for revenues and expenses. These transaction gains or losses are recorded in other non-operating items on the Consolidated Statements of Income.

The functional currencies of our Chilean, Brazilian, Argentinean, Columbian, and Peruvian subsidiaries are their respective local currencies, and therefore, their books and records are maintained in local currency. Translation adjustments, which are based upon the exchange rate at the balance sheet date for assets and liabilities and the weighted average rate for the income statement, are recorded in accumulated comprehensive loss in stockholders’ equity on the Consolidated Balance Sheets.

Other operating charges and credits policy [Policy Text Block]

Other Operating Credits and Charges, Net

We classify significant amounts unrelated to ongoing core operating activities as other operating credits and charges,

net in the Consolidated Statements of Income. Such items include, but are not limited to, restructuring charges (including severance charges), charges to establish and maintain litigation or environmental reserves, product reserves, gains or losses from settlements with governmental or other organizations, and gains (loss) on the sale or disposal of long-lived assets. Due to the nature of these items, amounts in the income statement can fluctuate from year to year. The determination of which items are considered significant and unrelated to core operations is based upon management’s judgment.

Retirement Benefits Policy [Policy Text Block]

Retirement BenefitsWe are required to use actuarial methods and assumptions in the valuation of defined benefit obligations and the determination of expense. Differences between actual and expected results or changes in the values of the obligations and plan assets are not recognized in earnings as they occur but, instead, systematically and gradually over subsequent periods.

Comprehensive Income, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Comprehensive IncomeComprehensive income consists of net income and other gains and losses affecting stockholders’ equity that are excluded from net income, including foreign currency translation adjustments, costs associated with pension or other post-retirement benefits that have not been recognized as components of net periodic benefit costs, and net unrealized gains or losses on securities and is presented in the accompanying Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income.

Advertising Cost [Policy Text Block]

Advertising costsAdvertising costs of $24 million, $20 million, and $28 million in 2021, 2020, and 2019, respectively, are principally expensed as incurred and included as part of selling, general, and administrative expenses within our Consolidated Statements of Income. Advertising costs include product displays, media production costs, agency fees, sponsorships, and cooperating advertising.