Comments on: 29) Green Dilemma #4: exterior finish

By: Robert

Robert — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 03:28:13 +0000

to all

Broda is a good product when it comes to colors, easy application and access because close proximity. That said, it is a fade fast (on dark sheen) and will peel well on flat surface… even disappear after 2 years of application (window bottom seal) can show black mildew after only 2 years . This stuff is “guarantied” to let you down if applied on flat surface. But great results so far on siding. Also, read carefully all the can fine prints… they have ad a great lawyer backing their say about “no responsibility” remember, it is always the client fault if something happen. Be careful green does not mean “test over many years product”. Remember also that product can be applied on wet wood, bone dry surface may just satisfied a fast nice result, not lasting.

By: Gail

Gail — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 17:15:54 +0000

Judy, it’s great to know you’re “out there”. I value your opinions, because, with all that creativity, you have solid practical ideas. Feel free to spout them out anytime. Then, when we are living there, I expect a visit or three.

By: Judy Morningstar

Judy Morningstar — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 04:09:39 +0000

Just started to read your progress report! Awesome!!!!
We used Behr semi transparent on our cottage, and the horizontal surfaces need re-doing every year. The vertical surfaces need re-doing, after about only 4 years. This is applied to oak.

By: Broda Worked For Me

Broda Worked For Me — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 00:09:53 +0000

@Brendan……..if you ask the right questions then you get the right answers. Although, I do agree with you for the most part especially with huge companies who could care less about your project. My point was that CBR Products didn’t try and pull one over me and all of the advice about their Broda products has been spot on. Perhaps going to the source for advice and then to a distributor for a second opinion is better. But who do you trust? In this case I was calling bull on Greenworks’ advice because I’d had a great experience with Broda. They are Vancouver local and they are a small company…..if they lied about product performance in order to sell the products then they would soon find their sales declining. Word gets around quickly. Take care.

By: Brendan

Brendan — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 19:03:21 +0000

@Broda Worked for Me:
So you’re saying that for correct, objective info, we should go to the source? I’m calling bull on that, particularly after having worked in restoration as an engineer. Their incentive, especially without third party or widespread testing, is to convince builders that their product is best. Or in this case, lasts longest.

I’d say the local green building specialist should be the best one to know the tradeoffs between products (whether they were actually right or wrong in this one case isn’t the point), without having such a massive vested interest in which one Gail buys.

By: Broda Worked For Me

Broda Worked For Me — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 19:01:47 +0000

Definitely go and see them. They can match colours also which is a bonus. They have a pre-staining facility there too in case you want to have your shingles stained there before they are installed.

I guess the hardest thing for the “experts” is trying to know EVERYTHING about ALL the products they sell which is often difficult to comprehend. They themselves should have referred you to the tech. support of the company in question. I always find that going to the source is the best way to get the info needed. You know? From the horses mouth, as they say. Anyway, they are a good bunch down at CBR Products. I’m sure they will be able to help you out a lot by clarifying a few things. Take care and best of luck with your project!

By: Gail

Gail — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 17:20:34 +0000

Thanks for the benefit of your experience. That is indeed encouraging. I have yet to buy the stain for the sidewall shingles, and will go down to CBR and talk to them about it.
I didn’t go to the source with the other products I mentioned. Rather, I relied on the salespersons’ knowledge of their products (just like I did with the Greenworks salesperson). That’s the first stop, and in most cases, the only stop, in the research to choose any material. When I make thousands of decisions regarding a project, I have to trust the product “experts”, regardless of how well they may be trained.

By: Broda Worked For Me

Broda Worked For Me — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 16:54:30 +0000

Clearly the sales person at Greenworks has no idea what they are talking about. I have used Broda for many years and have not had any issues with it whatsoever. I have a transparent stain on my siding that has been there since 2005 and I am only starting to see very slight fading on the south side of the cabin. The transparent Broda colours state they will last up to 3 years on a south facing building. Meaning, that you may have to recoat the south face every three years. Mine has been there goin on 5 years and still looks awesome. If you were to use a semi-transparent stain then you would not need a maintenance coat for up to around 7 years all dependent on the same things mentioned above. All UV protection is in pigment so the more pigment you have the longer you have protection on your building. What you will find on these cheaper products is that they are more than likely film forming products that will eventually darken, crack and then flake off. What you want is a product that is 100% penetrating and will not crack, flake or blister. Broda is this product. The maintenance is so low. It does not require any sanding before recoating, it can be applied to ‘green’ or unseasoned wood with a moisture content of up to 17%, the product itself cleans up with water. What more do you want? CBR Products, the company who manufactures Broda is a local Vancouver company. Perhaps you should have gone to the source, like you did with the other products you mentioned, before you begin to voice off against them.

By: Gail

Gail — Sun, 31 Jan 2010 18:50:41 +0000

But I didn’t go with the only green product I could find, because it only lasts 2 years. I did, however, do some basic research, in a pretty short time frame, and came up with a not-entirely-green compromise. It seems that many of our choices cannot yet be green, partly because technology has not produced what we need (e.g. the stain) or the product has not been approved for use in Canada (e.g. the Structural Insulated Sheathing.)

By: Liam

Liam — Sun, 31 Jan 2010 18:39:08 +0000

That’s just something I wouldn’t think of. It’d be easy to let stuff like that slip by you and do the easier thing, but I’m glad to see that you aren’t!