Deck Rejuvenations

Service Provider Response

The only hiccup with [Member Name Removed]'s job was the circuit breaker tripped. Rather than remain idle and delay downstream customers the crew worked on downstream work until [Member Name Removed] could return home to give access to the breaker panel. The crew was able to return that same day and finish by 7pm. I applauded their efforts but [Member Name Removed] wished for seamless work flow which was not achieved.

Service Provider Response

These photos are of new flat grained wood on a railing cap. 1 YEAR LATER. This is the area most vulneable to wear. When contacted about the maintenance issue I asked how many feet were affected and I would give her a price. This is relatively minor charge of $3/ft for redoing the railing cap. I only received threats of posting negative reviews if I didn't fix these rail caps for free. There was no $1000 quote I'm not sure what or where this invention came from or why it was posted. It's sad the review is not complete or fair as there is no mention of the $17,500 worth of repair and refinish work on her giant decks and fence that were done flawlessly. There is no magic product that works perfectly on every deck in every area for years on end. We apply the best products available and even those can fail after 1 season in certain situations. After speaking with the Sansin rep he informed me when end grains of lumber are not exposed the stain can peel as the water can't escape and pushes off the finish.. This is exactly what has happened at the miter joint in the rail cap. Unfortunately this kind of retaliatory behavior is expected after working with this customer she has little regard for anyone but herself. The job scope was tripled in size and she complained we were taking too long. A $7,000 check for work complete was stopped because the customer wanted even more work done and was afraid we would not come back. We did come back and complete all the customer requested. Unfortunately there is no warranty. With the limitations of the products available we do the very best we can do. If I were to run around and fix everyone's deck back to perfection a year later I would quickly be out of business.

Service Provider Response

It is certainly true that we had some problems sanding this deck. It's an IPA deck exposed to full sun. My workforce last spring on this job did not do what was required. There were isolated employee issues including divorce and then a second replacement employee going through a complicated pregnancy of their first born. Unfortunately life happens and luckily for me my returning experienced employees were able to finish the job successfully the third time. No one wins with delays but finding a company who sticks it through to the end is hard to find. Of course during a rainy Oregon spring delays are inevitable so although it took a few more days of work than expected the claimed 8 weeks from start to completion is due to the weather delaying our ability to work. At the bid I told [Member Name Removed] that this would be my first time using the Sansin product. I had heard good things about it. She contacted the company and they recommended using only 1 coat of SDF. At the bid I had told [Member Name Removed] that two coats lasted 3-5 years. She has humanly translated my initial knowledge of the product in 2 coat form to her 1 coat job. The 3-5 year longevity is what I was told by the Miller Paint store manager before I started to offer the product. Our posted email conversation above about the product being Sikkens or Sansin took place while Deck Rejuvenations was closed and I was serving in another country in another capacity. I was trying to remember the information as I didn't have access to the records but still wanted to remain in contact. Upon returning to the country, moving my household/business in March, and starting up the business again, I had a personal meeting with the Miller Paint store manager and the product rep for Sansin. I shared the photos to them from [Member Name Removed]'s deck. I spoke to them for over 2 hours explaining that I was told it would not peel and last longer than it was. It was there that the Sansin rep realligned my expectations and admitted that it could peel in surface checks on the lumber, knots, and any place where the end grain of the lumber is not open to vent. The longevity expectations of two coats was also dialed down to just 2 years! He also recommend that I switch to the DEC product instead of the SDF product. This product has less solids and is more likely to stick to a horizontal surface. As any deck owner knows knots and tight grains are incredibly hard to maintain. An IPA deck is equivalent to having ALL tight grains and knots. [Member Name Removed] was very happy at the completion of our work. She acknowledged this via email. It was not until after the worst winter in recent years and nearly a year later that this review gets posted because the stain has given up. All readers note that fully exposed IPA wood will need refinishing EVERY year. There is no product out there that can last more than that and this is compounded when 3ft of snow are sitting on the deck for weeks on end. With the now realistic expectations given to me by the product rep one would have to have a very special deck built from top quality CLEAR Wester Red Cedar or a softer type of mahogany to even consider using the Sansin product. It is in my experience not compatible with Port Orford (a harder less quality cedar) nor is it compatible with knots, flat grains or IPA. At nearly double the price per gallon I had higher hopes. I contacted her after this review was posted months ago via email explaining that I didn't appreciate it and that I was working with the product reps on trying to attain some solution even if it is a credit back on the product itself. She gave no response. Now 2 months later the husband is asking my help again. I told them unfairly berating a man's lively hood online is a sure fire way to end a business relationship and that they are on their own. Any help I give the following year is out of courtesy. I have and never will give a warranty. Many deck companies before have tried and failed because they made claims that didn't come true. Decks by nature have so many variables that is is impossible to accurately forecast how long the finish will last based on the product alone. Since I have done over 2000 decks I do have a very accurate longevity range with products I'm familiar with over ALL types of wood. These will continue to be my go to products and I will continue to have happy customers in the future.

Service Provider Response

[Member Name Removed] requested a quote in the last days of May. Typical wait time is 6-8 weeks at that point in the year. This is because bids are performed and completed as early as February some years. Work is not able to be completed until weather allows. During the wet season we can clean the deck as it is a wet step. In no way were we asking them to stay off the deck between the clean and the stain. The cleaning kills growth and removes debris. Just prior to actually staining we will do what is required. Sometimes only a vacuum other times more. In the two months of waiting I responded to 17 emails and numerous phone calls. Most of these were impatient emails. With at times 60+ customers waiting I fully explain we take jobs in number order. If you think pestering the company with email and phone calls will help, it won't. Re-application of stain in shaded areas can remain sticky up to 3 weeks. This is true especially under the eves of the home where the previous coating has not worn out as much. Although inconvenient for a few days to in rare occasions weeks it signifies an full thick coating of stain that will survive much longer than the initial coat that mostly soaks in the wood.

Service Provider Response

We certainly missed this opportunity. My secretary this year is fantastic and our appt scheduling has been flawless. This person later crank called me on a Sunday late night and stated "how do you like being inconvinienced" . I blocked her number and later thought maybe there was a reason her appt was missed and I dodged a bullet.

Service Provider Response

The quote was for cleaning specific areas by the hour. The owner pointed out the areas they wanted cleaned and the crew focused their attention there. The owner then left and came home after the crew had gone. He mentioned that there were missed areas and I stated I would get the crew back to his home as the wet weather returned (when we do cleans) and sent him an invoice. I've been in business for 12 years and unfortunately I have learned there are people in this world who just complain and fein poor or missed work only to delay or never make payment. This seemed to be the case for me so I wrote off the $358 as a loss and moved on. I finally did receive payment and a note stating no further service was required.

Service Provider Response

I'm not sure what happened here. I think in general people over estimate the size and employee base of a contracting company. Keep in mind it is just me the owner visiting every home for the quote. I perform approximately 400 quotes per year. We all have those days and this seems to have been one of them.