Wolman Wood Care Products - Protecting America's Wood For Over 80 Years!

Over 80 years ago, Dr. Karl Wolman invented the process for pressure-treating lumber, which later became the standard for protecting and preserving wood exposed to outdoor weather. Following the Wolman method, lumber worldwide has been treated to prevent damage caused by water absorption, fungal growth and insect attack above and below ground. It is from this great legacy that the family of Wolman Wood Care Products was born. In 1986, a new business unit, Wolman Wood Care Products, was created to develop and sell premium performing exterior wood care products for homeowner and professional contractor use. Products include surface preparation cleaners and strippers, protective water repellents, stains and preservatives, and application tools (Wolman no longer manufactures or sells pressure-treating chemicals or products). Today, Wolman Wood Care Products is a division of Zinsser Co., Inc. , the leading national manufacturer of primer-sealers, shellac, wallcovering removal and specialty decorating products. Zinsser is best known for primers such as Bulls Eye 1-2-3®, Cover Stain® and B-I-N®, the original white-pigmented, shellac-based primer-sealer. Our parent company, RPM International Inc. is a worldwide leader in specialty coatings for industrial, commercial and consumer use. Early Product History - Technological Innovation In the mid 1980's, after decades of producing and selling industrial-grade water repellents and preservatives to lumber mills and wood window and door manufacturers, Wolman embarked upon developing a core group of like products for retail distribution. The new product line was designed to protect all types of exterior wood, including pressure-treated lumber, which was coming into increased popularity for deck building and other residential use. Additionally, the product line was strategically created to provide a complete wood protection "system" for the homeowner, including technically-superior wood cleaners, water repellents and UV-protective finishes. One of the first products developed was RainCoat® Water Repellent, a premium quality, clear water repellent made for immediate application to all wood, even brand new, "green" or "brown" pressure-treated lumber. RainCoat was labeled a "water repellent" rather than a water "sealer", because it was specifically designed to prevent water absorption while allowing trapped moisture to escape. Its water repellency effectiveness exceeded U.S. Federal specifications, compared to other sealers for sale at that time. RainCoat® with Natural Wood Toner was launched soon after, providing homeowners with a choice of natural wood colors which added UV protection and a transparent, pleasing tone to all types of wood. Introduced in 1988, the Wolman "system" included yet another distinctive product: Deck Stain With RainCoat® Water Repellent.. Made for use on decks, rather than siding alone, as were many competitors' stains, Deck Stain featured traffic-tough durability, breathability for immediate application, and colors that would hide previously applied coatings. Special drying oils were added to help penetrate older, weathered stains, so that Deck Stain would properly bind and last for many years. Plus, its water repellency was unmistakable; it beaded so profusely. More than a decade later, it is still a standard by which other stains are measured - in June. 2001, WOLMAN Deck Stain was ranked #1 by a leading consumer products magazine for semi-transparent stain performance!

Early Product History Current Products and Distribution WOLMAN Certified Contractor Program Merger with Zinsser Co., Inc.

Current Products and Distribution Today, the WOLMAN product line contains these and other products in high demand: liquid concentrate cleaners and ready-to-use strippers, multi-purpose sealers, 100% acrylic stains and F&P® Premium Wood Finish and Preservative, an oil-base, complete "all-in-one" finish (water repellent-stain-preservative). F&P is the best-known and most popular WOLMAN product with both contractors and homeowners. In 2000, WOODLIFE wood preservatives were added to the Wolman product family, and today consists of three core products: Classic II, COPPERCOATTM and CREOCOAT®. WOLMAN and WOODLIFE products are distributed in the USA, Canada, Central and South America, and sold through leading paint, hardware and home center chains, as well as independent dealers. WOLMAN Certified Contractor Program WOLMAN products are particularly well liked and sought after by professional contractors, many who use them exclusively in their wood care businesses. In fact, Wolman has certified thousands of contractors in the use of our products through the Wolman Certified Contractor Program, the industry's first and most comprehensive training program for exterior wood care professionals. Created in 1994, this program provides numerous business-enhancing benefits, including a dedicated support staff, FREE full-color instruction materials and video, and a toll-free number for technical assistance, making it highly appealing to contractors seeking a premium quality brand and reliable supplier. Merger with Zinsser Co., Inc., Division of RPM International Inc. In January 2000, Wolman Wood Care Products officially merged with Zinsser Co., Inc., At the same time, RPM acquired and transferred to Zinsser the WOODLIFE wood preservative product line from DAP Inc. Manufacturing and marketing of WOODLIFE exterior wood preservatives and WOLMAN wood care products are now combined, and both product lines are sold by Zinsser Co., Inc's. international and domestic sales force, providing distributors and retailers a complete lineup of products for solving any outdoor wood care need.