Complaint Review: Penofin Performance Coatings Inc.

I am a contractor in New Jersey. I build several decks each spring and summer. Two years ago, I built a 600 (approximately) square foot cedar deck on my own house. After researching numerous stain products, I was informed by my local lumber yard that Penofin (red labeled can for cedar) was the "Cadillac" of stains. I wanted to preserve the natural cedar look and thought this stain was transparent as stated on the can.

While applying it, the stain seemed to be more "orangey" than I would have preferred, but was willing to accept the color transformation, UNTIL I started to notice the appearance was starting to dull and look very dirty looking. I then tried to wash it down with a deck brush and water, but it wasn't coming off. As weeks passed, I noticed it was getting darker and darker. By the time fall had arrived. the deck was so dark brown looking, it was almost black.

Spring arrived and I decided (vary warily) to use my pressure washer on it, knowing that if used it, I would then have to resand the cedar to take out the pressure washer marks. The stain was saturated into the deck and rails and was very difficult to remove. I then rented a floor sander and started sanding, but the railings and posts were a nightmare to deal with. I realized that there was no way to get all of it completely off everything, and decided that because of the blochiness, I would have to re-stain it using the same product.

Well, bad move. Spring is here again, and I am stuck doing the same thing all over again. My deck was almost completely black for the second year in a row. MY BEAUTIFUL CEDAR IS COMPLETELY RUINED! I am beside myself in thinking I will once again have to resand the whole deck and all railings. This should ruin at least another three of my weekends! I called Penofin and talked to a man named Brandon in the Technical Support Department, who, by the way, basically told me nothing.

I was told that they had never heard of this problem occuring in the past, and was questioned about the way that I had applied it. I followed the directions on the can to a tee. I decided to look on the internet to see if anyone else had this problem occur, and surprisingly I found MANY complaints about my same problem. I am now totally content with the idea about persuing legal action against this company and would be more than happy to be included in a class action lawsuit.

Jrsymark
Bloomfield, New Jersey
U.S.A.