Billion-dollar weather disasters have more than doubled in frequency since 1980. With the increase in hurricanes, tornadoes, wildfires and more, rebuilding after natural disasters has become top-of-mind for many building professionals, especially those in areas prone to natural disasters.
If the need for rebuilding and repairing property damage arises, designing structures that can withstand future weather events is crucial. Rebuilding with sustainable materials also contributes to the well-being of the area that has been damaged. Let’s learn how to rebuild after a natural disaster, from structural elements to siding, and why it’s more important than ever.
The LP Structural Solutions portfolio represents a durable, strong option for sustainable rebuilding. The portfolio of products is designed to Defend Your Build® come hail or high water, fire or heat. It addresses top concerns when rebuilding property damage, such as structural strength, water resistance and flame-spread resistance. Check out how the products can help builders and contractors when rebuilding homes after weather damage:
LP® SmartSide® Trim & Siding also adds a durable exterior element to structures. Manufactured with four elements of protection from the SmartGuard® process, this beautiful, durable siding option offers resistance against many common weather occurrences.
Additionally, because all products in the LP Structural Solutions portfolio are made of engineered wood, they are responsibly sourced sustainable products certified by the Sustainable Forestry Initiative®.
Rebuilding after natural disasters involves several challenges and considerations. Often homes and businesses need much more than repairs; they must be rebuilt from the ground up, which increases the already high costs associated with disaster recovery. Structural elements and exterior elements like siding usually need to be replaced. Severe weather can also happen repeatedly, delaying the construction process due to inadequate time in between weather disasters. At times the weather event may have even blocked roadways and affected shipping and manufacturing timelines, causing delays in repairing homes and other structures.
Rebuilding communities after natural disasters is often a long process, but it can be done well when building professionals approach it with the perspective of resilient rebuilding. This means not simply getting structures back up as soon as possible but making intentional choices to help prevent further damage. When they’re rebuilding property damage, pros can shift to a value-added, solutions-based mindset to build more resilient structures, leading to increased durability and long-term efficiency.
LP has taken steps to help efforts in rebuilding after natural disasters. In one such case, the May 2010 flooding in Nashville led to repairs of a school campus. LP Building Solutions products, including LP TechShield sheathing, added increased energy efficiency as well as core strength.
Jeff Yelle, Director of OSB/EWP Technology at LP Building Solutions, sees resilient rebuilding as a key component in the future of how structures withstand weather challenges.
“When products can withstand greater challenges from the environment, this translates to less rebuilding and in turn less waste and less energy consumption,” he says.
“I also believe we are going to see a continued convergence of resilient design and resilient solutions,” Yelle adds. “No building solution performs independently—each component complements other components.”
That’s the innovative thinking behind the LP Structural Solutions portfolio, showing LP’s dedication to ensuring our engineered wood products work together to add resilience to structures in areas that need it most.
Check out our LP Structural Solutions portfolio and the LP SmartSide Trim & Siding collection, including products that are durable and sustainable for longer-lasting, environmentally friendly builds.
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