He used a product that comes with a four-year warranty, so he was surprised this fall to notice that the stain was already flaking off. By spring, the big chunks were gone and it was clear that the deck would have to be re-stained. “It’s devastating because it’s not just paint and money that you put in — it’s your free time, it’s your work, it’s your sweat,” Mann said. Mann complained to the store where he bought the stain and the company that makes it. The manufacturer offered him some compensation, but he refused to sign a release form containing a confidentiality clause. Many deck staining companies say their products will last for four years or more, but many Canadians are seeing their stains peel prematurely. Many professional painters told CBC News that stains can last three to four years, but only if the wood is properly prepared and the stain is applied at the right time. Much of the stain that Andreas Mann painted on his deck has peeled off. (David Bajer/CBC)
“It’s not about the money”
Mann trained as a professional painter in Germany, so he knew the steps to take before and after painting his deck. After he pressure-washed the treated wood, he let it dry for several days before sanding it with two types of sandpaper. His wife used a vacuum cleaner to ensure all dust and debris was gone before painting. Mann applied two coats of Olympic Maximum Stain + Sealant after one didn’t sit well on the wood, he said. In the following months he protected his deck from the elements. She mopped up the water if it rained too much and swept up the snow with a broom to avoid scraping the stain with a shovel. After discovering the extent of the stain damage this spring, Mann complained to the Lowe’s store where he had purchased the product. Through Lowe’s, a representative of the stain manufacturer, PPG, contacted Mann. After some back and forth, the company offered to refund him for the bucket of stain he used, as well as money to cover a cleaner, cleaner, and a bucket of a different stain. Andreas Mann and his cat stand on their stained deck. (Submitted by Andreas Mann) Before receiving a check, however, Mann was asked to sign a release form, which he shared with CBC News. The form said PPG Canada would pay Mann $485.46, not as an “admission of any liability” but “to settle the claim amicably, to avoid litigation.” Both parties will agree to keep the deal “highly confidential” and refrain from sharing it with anyone, it said. Mann said he did not sign the form because he wanted to share his experience so others could learn from it. “It’s not about the money anymore,” he said. Mann was also frustrated by some of PPG’s suggestions: that he should have used only one layer of stain, that his ground-level deck did not have enough room for airflow underneath, and that the proper way to stain the deck his would be painting all six sides of the wood. He wished the company had sent someone to his house to inspect the deck in person and reimburse him for his labor.
The stand by stain company
The stain Mann used is guaranteed for four years of satisfaction on decks when applied and maintained according to label directions, Mark Silvey, PPG’s director of corporate communications, said in an emailed statement. Application guidelines say consumers should paint when no rain is expected for eight hours and when the temperature is at least 2C and will remain warmer than that for 24 hours, the guidelines say. Consumers should also apply a thin layer and avoid staining in direct sunlight, they add. Silvey said the company’s technical services team is available by phone to help customers with questions.
How to prevent premature peeling
Two master painters at Red Seal in Edmonton told CBC News that deck stain should last three to four years, but many homeowners see it fail sooner due to poor preparation, staining at the wrong time or using the wrong products. David Ebert of King Coatings said that preparation is the most important part of the painting process. David Ebert, a Red Seal painter and craftsman who owns King Coatings, works on a peeling deck. (Madeleine Cummings/CBC) He uses a moisture reader to make sure the wood is dry enough to stain — containing between 12 and 15 percent moisture — and he doesn’t like pressure washing because it tends to force water into the wood. If you pressure wash first, Ebert recommends letting the deck dry for four days. After sanding — usually first with 60-grit paper, then 120-grit paper — he either wipes away the dust or uses a compressor and air gun to blow away the debris. Ebert recommends applying the stain when the temperature is between 15 and 24 degrees and, ideally, out of direct sunlight. “If the wood isn’t dry enough and people do it in the hot sun, that also causes the stain to evaporate a little faster,” he said. Mike Pratt of Precision Cut Painting recommends researching stains and choosing one of the good quality ones with positive reviews. He also suggests using a stain brush—not an ordinary paint brush—and reading all directions on the stain label. The label on the stain Mann used said it could be applied eight hours after it rained, but both Ebert and Pratt recommend waiting longer for the wood to dry completely before painting. Ebert said cedar tends to hold up better than pressure-treated wood, and that, on Edmonton decks, oil-based stains seem to last longer than water-based ones. His final recommendation: use a tarp to protect the deck from moisture during the winter. “It gives it a lot longer life,” he said.
