Complaints

This profile includes complaints for UC Coatings's headquarters and its corporate-owned locations. To view all corporate locations, see Find Local Branches.

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  UC Coatings

  2250 Fillmore Ave Buffalo, NY 14214-2119

  
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  UC Coatings

  6600 Ursula Place Seattle, WA 98108

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  UC Coatings

  5501 95th Ave Kenosha, WI 53144

  
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  UC Coatings

  10761 N Lombard St Portland, OR 97203

The complaint text that is displayed might not represent all complaints filed with BBB. Some consumers may elect to not publish the details of their complaints, some complaints may not meet BBB's standards for publication, or BBB may display a portion of complaints when a high volume is received for a particular business.

• Initial Complaint

  Date:12/17/2024

  Type:Product Issues
  Status:

  ResolvedMore info

  Complaint statuses

  Resolved:

  The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.

  Unresolved:

  The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.

  Answered:

  The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.

  Unanswered:

  The business failed to respond to the dispute.

  Unpursuable:

  BBB is unable to locate the business.

  On Sept. 2, 2024, I started communicating with ********* representative about the concerns & complaints I have about their ********* Nano + Poly wood sealer product. In short, after following their instructions in applying their product, the wood on my deck is now in real bad shape with molds, black spots, and in some areas, rainwater is clearly penetrating the wood... I was advised to: A.) Fill out a form which I did; B.) Submit pictures of my deck; C.) To indicate where & when I purchased their product which required me to go thru receipts, paperwork, go online, etc. to search for the info... I was informed they have remediation plan(s) to get my deck in "tip top shape." I have submitted everything they've asked for and I have made 3 follow ups already but haven't heard anything back from them. I believe their ********* product ruined the wood on my deck. Please help bring about resolution. Thank you.

  

  Business Response

  Date: 01/15/2025

  In September 2024, the ************* single brand website was deleted and migrated to our parent company website, ************** to better serve our customers.  All our brands under a new website umbrella. Many of our individual E-mail address from our old website were not able to be redirected to our new platform. I have not received any return e-mails from Mr. ********  since my original E-mail to him on 9/3/24. He has been sending all his info to our old and invalid E-mail address.  Our ********* phone number and my company phone number remains the same and has not changed. I will contact Mr. ******** today concerning his product complaint.

  

  Business Response

  Date: 01/29/2025

  To: Mr. ******** ****** am sorry that the ********* Nano + Poly Clear did not meet your expectations. Here are the reasons I believe why: Before application of the ********* Nano + Poly, your wood should have been prepared with ********* All Wood Cleaner, (now called Multi-Surface Cleaner), and rinsed off with a power washer.  ********* All Wood Cleaner will kill seen and un-seen mildew, help remove weathered/grey wood fibers and prepare the wood correctly allowing for optimum product penetration and adhesion, resulting in more consistent and longer lasting water proofing performance. You used a mild detergent,(as you stated in your Email dated 1/21/25).  From my extensive research, mild detergents do nothing to prepare the wood surface correctly for penetration, does not kill seen and unseen mildew/mold, does not thoroughly clean off dirt/pollen, and will not help remove 8 months of weathered/grey wood fibers. Unfortunately,  you did not follow our recommended preparation procedure. Before sanding, you should have cleaned your rails and stairs using ********* All Wood Cleaner, (now called Multi-Surface Cleaner). Sanding, pushed 8 months of dirt, dust, pollen,  seen and unseen mildew deeper into the wood, inhibiting ********* penetration, causing premature coatings failure.You applied the ********* Nano + Poly too thin which caused premature coatings failure. You supplied us with 2 completely different square foot numbers for the same area coated with ********* Nano + Poly ClearA. Info submitted from the Evaluation Form: You applied 1 gallon to an area that required 2.3 gallons for the required 2 coats,(350 sq ft). You applied less than half the required amount of product. The thin application created half the water proofing protection and half the amount of mildewcide needed for long term protection. Your thin application caused premature coatings failure as seen in all your photos.B.  Info submitted from your E-mail dated 1-21-25: You applied 1 gallon and “some” from another gallon to an area that required 5.3 gallons for the required 2 coats, (800 sq ft.). This incredibly thin application will wear off within weeks causing premature coatings failure, as seen in all your photos.********* must be applied to raw bare wood. All previous coatings must be completely stripped off. ********* Nano + Poly will not penetrate previous coatings causing it to will wear off within months. You applied ********* Nano + Poly directly over a colored varnish system present on the round pole hand rail (see attachment picture 5 and 3 ).  You can see the worn off varnish color on top of the round pole hand rail in picture 3. It shows the color difference between the varnish system still intact and where it has worn off. Picture 3 proves it was not raw wood when ********* was applied.This type of hand rail is normally used for interior purposes. If exposed to exterior elements the interior colored varnish system may wear off and peel within months.To Fix: The round pole hand rail can be painted with a system compatible with the varnish or replace the hand rail with maintenance free building materials.Tack cloths are notorious for leaving residue behind. The residue impedes penetration and can cause premature failure of any exterior penetrating water proofer/sealer, including*********.  Unfortunately, you used a tack cloth.********* has the highest amount of mildewcides, and still be considered non-toxic.  Safe for you to use and safe for the environment. If the mildew infestation is higher than the amount of mildewcide, mildew can accumulate.  When the conditions are right, mildew will grow on all stain and paint products, including *********.  I suspect you coated over unseen mildew/mold that were not killed/removed properly. You will need to clean more aggressively to ensure the next deck product you use is applied over a clean and sanitized surface or your deck coating will fail prematurely.********* Nano + Poly is a penetrating non-film forming water proofer. No film and little to no sheen. When the surface is prepared properly and applied correctly ********* products will repel water longer than any product in its class. ********* will bead water and then it will show sheeting- water repelling from a surface without beading (hydrophobic sheeting)-  Larger pools of water. Both can be seen in Picture 1. Both protect your rails and stairs.********* Nano + Poly Clear will not stop the wood’s natural greying process. Clear will allow the wood to grey naturally, as stated on the product label. Your photos show normal greying/weathering.Your inadequate preparation and incorrect thin application caused ********* Nano + Poly to fail prematurely.In my original E-mail to you I stated: “I will evaluate the info and give you a plan to get your deck into tip top shape”.  You misled the BBB stating: ********* representative emailed me back in Sept. indicating they will bring my deck back in "Tip Top Shape."  ********* promised a plan. ********* never offered to work on your deck.Expectations for Stairs: Typically, exterior wood stairs will need to be cleaned and re-coated annually. (Including ********* products)The extra PSI from walking up and down will wear off any product quickly. Dirt, dust, and sand on the bottom of your shoes will act like sandpaper and grind off any product within months.If the product you choose makes it to winter,  the salt or di-icer chemicals you use on the steps will completely take off any coating , especially when you walk over it and grind in the chemicals with your shoes. Future Concerns:Photos show a rustic environment around your home that will be conducive to mildew growth in the future. I suspect there is dust, pollen, mildew spores floating around in the air at all times.  ********* will slow down the mildew/mold growth but not stop it.Future applications: I am all about having the correct expectations for deck products. Give some thought to this approach: Think about using clear again.  I like applying clear, (clears allow the wood to grey naturally), and allowing decks to turn silvery grey.  If you just let it go grey, Seal Once will repel water for years. Only clean and recoat when it no longer repels water.  It takes a lot more time and work to keep your wood looking new or to keep a stain color looking new. If you use semi-transparent stains, (including ********* colors),  your wood will look like it needs to be cleaned and re-coated every 1-2 years because of pigment fade and wear patterns. This is normal for all semi-transparent stains, (including ********* colors), when applied to horizontal surfaces, (decks, stairs, rails). How to fix , (these instructions are for your current situation):Clean the stairs and the tops of your flat rails using ********* All Wood Cleaner, (now called Multi-Surface Cleaner).  Apply the cleaner as directed.   Let it sit on the surface for 15- 20 minutes.  During this time, agitate it with a scrub brush.  The scrub brush will help immensely. Do not allow the cleaner to dry on the surface. Keep it wet. Rinse off the cleaner with a power washer.  Keep the wand about a foot away from the surface.  You don’t want to scar the wood.  Your goal is to remove the old ********* Nano + Poly, kill the mildew/mold and remove the woods silver patina, without allowing the power washer to damage your wood.  After using the All Wood Cleaner, apply ********* All Wood Brightener the same way and the same day.  It will remove stubborn stains that the All Wood Cleaner did not remove.  After cleaning, wait 2 dry days.  Sand the stairs and flat rail top with 36-40 grit sandpaper and “finish” sand with 80 grit, nothing finer. Use a hand held random orbital sander. Sanding will remove any remaining ********* Nano + Poly,  and smooth out the scars that you may have made from power washing. You should be able to sand the tops of the flat rails and stairs in a day.  (You will need to spend a few hours counter sinking your screws or nails, so they don’t rip up your sandpaper). How to apply (These instructions are for your current situation if you choose to use ********* again):After it is clean and sanded, you can apply the required 2 coats of ********* Nano + Poly with a brush. If you spray or roll, you must immediately back brush the area.  Brushing is very important. You begin at the end of a board. You will brush to the other end of the same board. Now apply a second coat to the same board.  Apply the second coat within 5-10 minutes of the first coat.  The second coat must be applied while the first coat is still wet.  (Wet on wet application).  Push the product into the wood with the brush. Spread it out evenly. Do not allow it to puddle. Wipe off any excess with a rag. Two things to avoid during application:1.            Waiting too long between the first and second coat.2.            When applying the second coat, if you can't brush the product into the wood because there is too much,  don't leave it on the surface thinking it will magically soak into the wood.  The wood is already saturated.  Wipe the excess off with a rag.  If you don't wipe off the excess, it will leave un-even shiny sticky spots that will attract dirt and mildew.How to test if it is time to clean and re-apply *********:Every Spring, walk out to your rails and stairs with a glass of water. Put your fingers in the water. Take out your wet fingers and flick the water off your fingers and onto the wood. If the water beads up in most areas, ********* Nano + Poly is good for another year.Note:  ********* will bead and then it will show sheeting-  water repelling from a surface without beading (hydrophobic sheeting)-  Larger pools of water. Both protect your wood. We do value you as a customer and would like to offer you, as a good will gesture, a full refund for the 2 gallons you purchased.  We would also like to offer you, as a good will gesture, an additional 2 gallons for re-application, and provide you with a container of our cleaner and a container of our brightener. All at no charge and free freight.You are responsible for any labor costs. (See the ********* product guarantee on the side of the product label). Please let me know if you would like the refund and product sent to you at no charge.

  Customer Answer

  Date: 01/31/2025

  Better Business Bureau: I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to complaint ID ********, and find that this resolution is satisfactory to me. Their offer to resolve this issue = "A full refund for the 2 gallons you purchased.  We would also like to offer you, as a good will gesture, an additional 2 gallons for re-application, and provide you with a container of our cleaner and a container of our brightener. All at no charge and free freight."  I will wait for the delivery of the refund & their offered products. Thank you BBB for your help.  Regards, *** ******** *****