Contingency Reserves (Tables)

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2012

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	March 31, 2012			December 31, 2011
Environmental reserves	$	14.6		$	15.0
Hardboard siding reserves	6.1			6.2
Total contingency reserves	20.7			21.2
Current portion of contingency reserves	(4.0		)	(4.0		)
Long-term portion of contingency reserves	$	16.7		$	17.2

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 three months of 2012 and 2011 are summarized in the following table.

Dollar amounts in millions	March 31, 2012			March 31, 2011
Beginning balance, December 31,	$	6.2		$	17.8
Payments made for claims	(0.1		)	(0.3		)
Payments made for administrative costs	—			(0.1		)
Ending balance	$	6.1		$	17.4