James Hardie Building Products settled a class action lawsuit stemming from the premature delamination of roof shakes it sold between 1989 and 2001, the Mission Viejo, Calif., company announced last November. The products were sold under the names Hardieshake, Hardieslate, and Hardieshingle, and according to James Hardie's marketing manager John Dybsky, they "represented a very small portion of our overall domestic business and [were] marketed only in select states." The products were sold in Pacific-coast and Southern states, and the company ceased distribution of the products in the Pacific Northwest in 1995. The settlement establishes a program for affected homeowners to recoup the cost of roof replacement. "In all of our roofing markets, we have only seen a very small percentage of homeowners who have experienced problems," James Hardie president Louis Gries stated. "We believe that this program is the final step to ensuring customer satisfaction."
Gries encourages anyone seeking further information to call (888) 780-8579 or visit www.hardieroofingclaims.com.
