owners not only to stay put, but to hammer out ways to save money on their current home. Instead of selling and moving
in today’s housing downturn, many are
doing major remodeling work.
DECK CARE MARKET
CONTINUES TO GROW
Domestically, a slowdown in housing
starts doesn’t necessarily mean a
slowdown in use of deck care products. The demand for new residential
decking materials is not going to come
from new home construction, but from
repairs and improvements, according
to Mike Kozlowski, director of marketing, Thompson’s Water Seal. “The
number of U.S. homes with decks
increased almost 30% from 2002-
2007, with approximately 46% of U.S.
homes currently having a deck. So
there is a strong base of existing
decks that need care. Also, more people will be looking at coatings for use
on wood siding and on fences, which
should translate into additional sales
for retailers.
“Additionally, sales of deck cleaning
products are rising as more consumers
understand the importance of good prep
before applying a waterproofing coating
and as manufacturers offer more choices in deck cleaning products,” he contin-
Photo: PPG Industries
ued. “There’s good opportunity to make
more profitable sales by addressing
both parts of the project – cleaning and
protecting.”
When it comes to deck care, independent research continues to show
that the number one benefit that consumers want in a deck coating is effective waterproofing protection for their
decks. “People clean and protect their
decks first and foremost to help them
last,” Kozlowski said. “Additionally,
the category is reflecting a broader
consumer demand for choice and cus-tomization. More consumers today are
using deck coatings that include some
color, but there is still a significant
percentage—approximately 40%—
who want a clear waterproofer. The
increased use of different types of
coatings is one reason there is a need
for different types of deck cleaners.”
NEW TECHNOLOGIES
For exterior coatings technology formulation the focus is placed on the
issues influencing durability and service life due to the hazards facing wood
in buildings from moisture, sunlight
and biological attack. For interior coatings development, including flooring
and furniture, the need to meet VOC
and other legislation has created the
need to change from traditional to
compliant coatings.
For the deck care market, Thompson’s
has introduced a new color—Red
Cedar—for its Thompson’s Water Seal
No Drip Gel Stain. It is designed to deliver the control and ease-of-application
associated with interior gel stains in a
formula designed to stand up to outdoor
elements. “The coating delivers beautiful
fade-resistant color, superior waterproofing protection equal to the waterproofing
power of Thompson’s Water Seal Deck &
House stains, and it resists mildew,” said
Kozlowski. “Because it is a latex (
water-based) formula, it also offers soap and
water clean-up, low odor and air-quality,
and is VOC compliant nationwide.”
Available in one-quart cans, Thompson’s
Water Seal No Drip Gel Stain is touted
as a new option for people with smaller,
more intricate surfaces, or surfaces
where the “no drip” feature is a real plus.
It’s ideal for outdoor furniture, deck railings and spindles, staining areas that
are over your head.
PPG has been aggressively pursuing
new technology to increase the overall
durability and performance of its exterior coatings. This pursuit has led to the
launch in recent years of several new
exterior topcoats including Pittsburgh
Paints Manor Hall Timeless and Porter
Paints Permanizer. “These self priming,
high build products bridge cracks and
Photo: Thompson’s Water Seal
