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What do stain warranties really cover?
People tend to buy products with warranties because they are expected to last longer. We have more confidence in a product manufacturer if they are willing to stand behind their work, and make it right if there is a problem.
Too often, consumers misunderstand what a warranty actually says. In the case of factory finished cedar, many customers think the stain manufacturer's warranty covers not only the stain, but also the cedar material and labor to apply the stain. It doesn't.
Our stain manufacturers, Cabot and Olympic/PPG, both provide a 5-year warranty on a 1-coat oil finish, and a 15-year warranty on a 2-coat finish (one of oil stain and one of latex stain) applied to the substrate by the factory finisher.
Each of these warranties state that the finish: 1) will not crack, peel or flake; 2) is washable, meaning dirt can be removed without damage to the finish; 3) is non-yellowing, meaning whites and colors will not yellow due to age; and 4) will not create chalk washdown, causing chalk stains on other surfaces.
If any of these problems occur during the warranty period, the stain manufacturer reserves the right to refund the purchase price of the stain or give the homeowner replacement stain to fix the affected area. Both warranties state they will pay for no labor or the costs of labor to apply the finish. Since the labor for finishing the boards is performed by the factory finisher, not the stain manufacturer, the cost of labor is not included in their warranty.
"But we bought the factory finished boards so we wouldn't have to pay someone else to do it," the homeowner might say. Cabot and Olympic/PPG look at it from theperspective that the customer only paid them for the stain at the time of original purchase, not to have the boards factory finished. So why should they pay the labor now to fix the affected area? They won't.
Fortunately, it is extremely rare for a good coating to fail with regular maintenance and upkeep. That's why we only buy our stain from Cabot and Olympic/PPG. But in some situations, the factory finish reacts differently due to the location, weather exposure and even the style of home or commercial building. That's why it is so important that your customers take the time to read the warranty provided by the manufacturer, understand what is and is not covered, and send back the warranty card in a timely manner to document their purchase.
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