Some relief for rotten problem
Something isn't quite right about John Reigart's high-end home in Mount Pleasant.
Surrounded by marshland with a picturesque view of Charleston Harbor, the coastal home appears stately and comfortable. But a closer look shows the wood-like trim boards that wrap around the 10-year-old residence are peeling, bulging and chipping away, revealing a brown rotting substance under the neat white paint.
"The house is a very pretty house in a gorgeous location," Reigart said. "The siding is perfect; the windows are perfect. But the trim is falling apart on us."
Reigart will likely be one of the first homeowners to receive money from a class-action lawsuit settlement that involves Charleston County property owners. The settlement, which isn't capped at any monetary amount, provides up to $11.33 cents per linear square foot to homeowners whose trim has started to rot prematurely.
A similar class-action lawsuit, which is scheduled for trial next summer, could make additional money available to homeowners in a region that covers nearly half of South Carolina.
"The closer you get to the water and the coastal area, the quicker the product deteriorates," said Paul Dominick, an attorney with Nexsen Pruet's Charleston office, who is handling claims on behalf of the class.
He said the product tends to fail in "more humid" environments.
The lawsuit, which was settled last fall in federal court, alleged that the manufacturer, Louisiana-Pacific Corp. of Nashville, sold a defective product that promotes the growth of mold and attracts termites and other insects, according to the court documents.
It also alleges the product was distributed without adequate installation instructions.
The company did not admit any wrongdoing by settling the case.
Dominick's firm estimates that roughly 800 homeowners in Charleston County could be eligible for money to replace the boards. Only 56 homeowners have filed claims so far, said Marilyn Trevino, a paralegal who is working on the case.
Builders used the construction material most frequently between 1994 and 2004. The product is made out of wood fibers that are glued together and then coated with a thick, textured material that resembles a natural wood pattern.
Builders installed it on a wide range of homes, both brick and vinyl-sided.
"It's a very inexpensive product that was used extensively on Kiawah (Island) on multimillion-dollar houses," Dominick said. "We've seen it everywhere from small tract-style houses to mansions."
Homeowners who suspect their home has been outfitted with the product should contact the law firm by Feb. 1, Dominick said.
Reach Katy Stech at 937-5549 or kstech@postandcourier.com.
