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Protect your wood with the finest wood stain available!

Protect your wood with the finest wood stain available!

FREQUENTLY ASKED PENOFIN WOOD FINISH QUESTIONS


Penofin Wood Finish Products FAQs

PENOFIN makes a complete line of interior and exterior wood finishes. PENOFIN also manufactures WEATHERBLASTER® and the PENOFIN-Chapin Sprayer. The PENOFIN products were all designed with quality in mind and contain the finest ingredients.

We are often asked what makes PENOFIN different from or better than other products, so we have compiled a list of the most common questions about PENOFIN products.

Q. Can PENOFIN wood finish be applied over another wood stain?

A. No, not without proper surface preparation. Recommendation is to clean surface and remove previous finish, usually by use of a pressure washer or sanding.

Q. I want to put a clear wood finish on my deck/home. What do I use?
A. Our only clear finish is for interior use only. We would suggest the transparent finish designed for the type of wood you want to coat. (Examples: Cedar/Marine for cedar or teak; Transparent Redwood for redwood.)

Q. After applying PENOFIN wood finish, I have areas that are shiny and areas that are not. What is wrong and what do I do to fix it?
A. This indicates overapplication. In most cases, washing the surface with a solution of TSP (Tri-Sodium Phosphate) and water, (with some scrubbing) after seven days drying time, will correct the problem.

Q. How long will PENOFIN wood finishes last on my deck/house?
A. On a horizontal surface, PENOFIN wood finish may be expected to perform for an average of 9-18 months and 3-5 years on a vertical surface. The time will vary depending on the percentage of sunlight, weather etc...

Q. If I apply one color of PENOFIN wood finish (Example: Transparent Redwood) and I want to go with another color of PENOFIN wood finish when reapplication is needed (Example: Sierra), can I do that?
A. Yes. All PENOFIN wood finish colors contain the same ingredients, just different amounts of colored pigments. However, you will not be able to make the surface lighter by applying a lighter shade. As always, you should test a small area before use.

Q. Can I paint or varnish over a PENOFIN finished surface?
A. Yes. Allow 7-10 days drying time for surface to be completely dry and cured. Both water- and oil- based products can be used.

Q. Can I use PENOFIN wood finish on furniture?
A. Yes. PENOFIN has a gold-line of interior finishes.

Q. Can I use PENOFIN wood finish on a cutting board or wooden bowl?
A. No. PENOFIN is not a food-grade product.

Q. Is it necessary or advisable to back-prime siding?
A. Yes. With PENOFIN.

Q. How long does PENOFIN wood finish take to completely dry and cure into the wood?
A. Approximately seven to ten days, depending on the weather.

Q. Do you have anything to cover pressure-treated wood?
A. All PENOFIN wood finish colors can be used on any type of wood. However, Chestnut and Sable blend out the green the best in pressure treated lumber and give it a natural wood tone.

Q. How can I tell if the wood is too hot to apply PENOFIN wood finish?
A. If the surface is hot to the touch it is probably too hot to apply PENOFIN wood finish. Do not apply PENOFIN wood finish in direct sunlight. Product can flash and dry on the surface without penetrating.

Q. How does it compare to other stains on the market?
A. Look at PENOFIN's blotter tests. PENOFIN wood finish penetrates better than anything on the market. It is the only product with Brazilian Rosewood oil. PENOFIN wood finish is one of the few wood finish products on the market containing transoxide pigments, the colorant developed to give automobiles their tough finish.

Q. What do I do if my wood has mildew growing on it?
A. Clean with a solution of 50% bleach and 50% water with a small amount of detergent added to remove and kill the mildew spores.

Q. Does PENOFIN wood finish bead water?
A. Water beading is accomplished in most stains by adding wax (paraffin). As soon as you get one hot day your finish will no longer bead water because the wax melts. Penofin wood finish does not need to bead to protect wood.

Q. What about my deck getting wet?
A. There is nothing wrong with your wood getting wet (it was a tree). However, standing water can lead to rot.

Q. How long should I let my deck weather before I apply PENOFIN wood finish?
A. 30 to 60 days depending on weather, humidity, etc.

Q. Will WEATHERBLASTER® harm my vegetation?
A. WEATHERBLASTER contains ingredients common to fertilizer and can burn your plants. Just rinse with plenty of water and it will be fine.

Q. Does WEATHERBLASTER strip old finishes?
A. WEATHERBLASTER will not remove old finishes. WEATHERBLASTER removes the gray tannin from wood bringing back the mill-bright beauty.

Q. Which application tip do I use when applying PENOFIN wood finish with the Penofin-Chapin Sprayer?
A. Use the red tip (1/4 GPM) for transparent PENOFIN wood finish and WEATHERBLASTER, the blue tip (1/3 GPM) for PENOFIN mist tones and the yellow (1/2 GPM) for heavier applications.


Penofin® VOCII Formula FAQs

Q. What is the difference between the old VOC product and the VOCII formula?
A. The new product has a different type of solvent and no longer contains 1,1,1 trichloroethane, otherwise, the products are identical. They contain the same colorant, mildew, and ultraviolet protection and Brazilian Rosewood Oil.

Q. Why did PENOFIN wood finish change formulas?
A. PENOFIN needed to change the drying agent in its VOC formula in order to comply with new VOC regulations.

Q. Does the new VOCII formula come in the same colors and sizes?
A. Yes and more. The new dryer in the VOCII formula enables PENOFIN to offer an interior line in the VOC compliant products. So, you can also obtain Natural, Medium Walnut, Dark Walnut, and Appalachian Oak interior PENOFIN.

Q. Is the old VOC product compatible with the new VOCII formula?
A. Absolutely. The two VOC products are completely compatible and can be used side-by-side. The two formulas can even be mixed together.

Q. Does the VOCII formula apply the same way as the old VOC formula?
A. Yes, you can apply the VOCII formula with brush, sprayer, or stain pad. It has a little more viscosity and takes slightly longer to dry.

Q. What about cleanup?
A. The VOCII PENOFIN formula cleans up with mineral spirits or paint thinner.

Q. Is the VOCII formula a one- coat product?
A. Yes.

Q. What about odor?
A. The new VOCII PENOFIN is better smelling than the old VOC formula and doesn't linger as long after application.

Q. What about penetration?
A. The new VOCII Penofin still outperforms the competition.

Q. Does the VOCII label contain the same cautions and warnings?
A. Yes, this product is an oil-based product and care should be taken during application. See the Material Safety Data Sheet and the label for specific instructions.

Q. Does the new VOCII formula work as well as the old formula?
A. The VOCII formula performs just as well as the old VOC formula.

Q. Has the VOCII product been tested?
A. Lab testing and field testing was performed and test results showed that the new VOCII PENOFIN formula actually outperforms the old VOC product in some applications.

Q. Will the VOCII formula cost more?
A. There are no price increases scheduled in the near future.


Interior Penofin FAQs

PENOFIN® makes a complete line of interior wood finishes. The gold-line PENOFIN interior wood finish products have the same great qualities and characteristics as the exterior products. In fact, PENOFIN penetrating oil finishes were originally designed as a furniture finish to enhance the natural beauty of fresh, untreated wood.

These are answers to some of the more frequently asked questions we get about Penofin's interior products.

Q. What colors does PENOFIN Interior wood finish come in?

A. Interior PENOFIN comes in Natural (no pigment), Medium Walnut, Dark Walnut and Appalachian Oak.

Q. How do you distinguish interior PENOFIN from exterior PENOFIN on the shelf?
A. Interior PENOFIN has a gold label, while exterior PENOFIN has a silver label.

Q. How do interior gold-line PENOFIN finishes compare with Watco?
A. Watco is sold as a penetrating Danish oil finish, PENOFIN is a penetrating oil finish using Brazilian Rosewood Oil in blotter tests against Watco, PENOFIN clearly shows better penetration.

Q. What kind of finish does Interior PENOFIN provide?
A. The interior PENOFIN products, when applied with a rag or brush, give a flat finish. However, by wet-sanding, a high-gloss furniture finish can be obtained.

Q. Can I mix the PENOFIN colors for my own finish?
A. The PENOFIN colors can be mixed to obtain the desired shade; of course, Performance Coatings Inc. cannot warrant color consistency when the color has been altered.

Q. How long will PENOFIN last on interior projects?
A. Depending on use, PENOFIN will last for years on interior projects.

Q. How do you reapply?
A. Simply clean the surface and PENOFIN can be reapplied directly over the old PENOFIN surface.

Q. Can I paint or varnish over a PENOFIN surface?
A. Yes. Allow seven to ten days drying time for surface to be completely dry and cured. Both water- and oil-based products can be used.

Q. Can I use PENOFIN on a cutting board or wooden bowl that will contain food?
A. No. PENOFIN is not a food-grade product.

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