Institutional Application of LP SolidStart LSL, LP SmartSide Trim & Siding, and LP TechShield Radiant Barrier Sheathing

SUMMARY

HARDAWAY Construction is one of the leading builders in the Southern United States. With nearly 90 years experience in the construction industry, they have risen to one of the largest firms in Tennessee. They are known for their quality, commercial construction projects that include, but are not limited to, churches, schools, health- care facilities, and hospitality, retail and recreational facilities.

Lighthouse Christian School was founded in 1979 and serves a pre-K through grade 12 student population under the leadership of administrator Brian Sweatt. The school extensively serves the Antioch community in South Nashville, often being viewed as a beacon to the community.

In May 2010, severe flooding hit Nashville, including Lighthouse Christian School’s campus. Hardest hit was the preschool, which was completely destroyed in the flooding. As the foundation for the entire educational facility, this endangered the existence of the entire school.

OBJECTIVES

The hit ABC show _Extreme Makeover: Home Edition_entered the scene and decided to rebuild the preschool. HARDAWAY Construction was picked to lead the construction project – along with the roughly 4,000 volunteers and dozens of businesses that stepped up to help.

However, the challenge was to build a 6,500-square-foot preschool that would meet the needs of Lighthouse and the Antioch community – and do it in less than a week. That meant around-the-clock construction and accomplishing in one hour what might normally take a day to finish on a traditional jobsite.

IMPLEMENTATION

HARDAWAY Construction’s project managers, Bryon Olsen and Darrell Etheridge, met early on with the project managers from Extreme Make- over: Home Edition to gain an understanding of horizontal construction – a method by which the contractor and multiple subcontractors work on-site at the same time.

There was a need for a high degree of efficiency on the jobsite, and the project managers knew that LP® SolidStart® LSL, LP® SmartSide® Trim & Siding, and LP® TechShield® Radiant Barrier Sheathing were the options to use.

LP SolidStart LSL has several advantages over traditional lumber, according to Olsen. Not only is it stronger, straighter and can handle longer spans, but it has a more consistent moisture content than lumber, which prevents warping and twisting.

However, Olsen said the real advantage came when using the product itself. As an engineered wood product, it lacks the voids, knots and imperfections of lumber, which results in reduced time on-site having to cut and work around such imperfections. It also results in substantial reductions in wasted product. He said that saved valuable time on-site, which was critical to finishing the project on the show’s required deadline.

LP SmartSide Trim & Siding was a logical extension from using LP SolidStart LSL, Etheridge said. Like its counterpart, Etheridge said LP SmartSide lacks the imperfections of lumber, yet builders can cut, hammer and screw into it just like lumber. The product offers the added peace of mind of being resistant to termites and fungal decay, due to LP’s proprietary SmartGuard® manufacturing process.

LP SmartSide siding also comes in longer lengths than many other sidings, which resulted in fewer pieces having to be handled by work crews on-site.

As a final step, LP TechShield Radiant Barrier Sheathing was installed in the school’s roof. This was a critical step in providing the preschool with long-term energy efficiency and should help Lighthouse achieve savings on its utility bills during the hot Nashville summers.

OUTCOME

Lighthouse Christian preschool students will learn in a facility built on higher ground from durable, sustainable products that will resist termites, fungus, and moisture. And with LP TechShield Radiant Barrier Sheathing, the school should see reduced utility costs.

On September 16, the new school was “revealed” to Sweatt, his family, the students, teachers, and community of Lighthouse Christian School. They were greeted with a beautiful facility, thanks in part to the colorful LP SmartSide siding.

On November 14, 2010, ABC’s Extreme Makeover: Home Edition revealed the school to the nation in their weekly episode.

But the real reward came at the end of the episode when the nation saw the rays of hope shining on the faces of those who are Lighthouse Christian School.