House Siding Class Action Suits

Abitibi (Abitibi-Price) siding is the subject of a class action suit. If the product fails to perform, the purchasers will be compensated for repairs or replacement of damaged product, including both labor and materials, subject to agreed upon exclusions and deductions.

• Timeframe for Claim Filing
  25 years after installation of siding installed between May 15, 1975 and May 15, 2000

What is Qualifying Damage?

Frequently Asked Questions (from section 1.18 of Settlement Agreement)
Damage, Damages and Damaged as it relates to Hardboard Siding means any of the following:

a. thickness swell in excess of 15% of the Defendants' maximum standard tolerance, that is, a total measure of 0.604" for Siding with a nominal thickness of one-half (1/2) inch and a total measure of 0.518" for Siding with a nominal thickness of 7/16 inch;
b. edge checking, where a feeler gauge of 0.025" thickness and one-half inch width can be inserted one-half inch into a suspected delaminated edge with moderate hand pressure;
c. fungal or other moisture induced degradation which results in soft board in which moderate thumb pressure deforms, indents or punches a hole in the board;
d. buckling, warping or bowing of Siding in excess of ¼" between studs spaced not more than 16" inches on center and 5/8" between studs spaced more than 16" and not more than 24" on center. Waviness or apparent warping, buckling or bowing of Siding is not considered to constitute Damage if such is due to the Siding conforming to the curvature of misaligned framing;
e. wax bleed, raised or popped fibers or fiber bundles, where the condition exists on more than 20% of the exposed board surface and, in the case of wax bleed, where the Siding in question was painted within two years of the date of the claim. "Wax Bleed" does not include paint discoloration;
f. delaminated or cracked primer or primer peel, or peeling, blistering, flaking, chipping, cracking of other loss of adhesion of the original factory finish;
g. separation of the Fusion FinishTM overlay from the substrate. Damage does not include (i) intentional, reckless or negligent physical damage to Siding (unrelated to installation or maintenance or weather) caused directly or indirectly by a Claimant or other Person; or (ii) conditions requiring routine painting, washing, caulking or similar maintenance; or (iii) damage to Siding to the extent resulting from natural disaster including but not limited to, fire, hurricane, flood, earthquake, earth movement, or other similar force majeure events.

Homeowners, who believe they have damaged Abitibi/ABTco siding, or who have questions concerning the program details, are encouraged to contact the Abitibi/ABTco Customer Support Office at 800-549-4465. Customers can also visit the website at www.abtcoclaims.com.

Certainteed Fiber Cement Siding (now owned by Allura) has reached a class action settlement. The settlement is intended to resolve disputes between the parties about the performance of the Siding. This proposed class action settlement covers the entire United States. CertainTeed will pay $103.9 million to settle the Class Action approved by the Court.

What is Qualifying Damage?

Qualifying Damage to Siding means damage caused by a defect in the Siding that is manifested as shrinkage between the ends of Siding in excess of 3/16" except that for Siding installed abutting windows, doors or trim, shrinkage must exceed 5/16". In addition, Siding with warping or bowing in excess of 1/2", field and edge cracking through the board, or delamination is also Qualifying Damage.

Siding means CertainTeed WeatherBoards™ Fiber Cement Siding, Lap Siding, Vertical Siding, Shapes, Soffit, Porch Ceiling, and 7/16" Trim installed on or before September 30, 2013.