EverGrain Deck materials from TAMKO
I planned to do my deck using the “Evergrain” line of products from a company called “TAMKO”. I have been extremely frustrated with their product delivery and customer service to date.
I placed my order with their registered retailer on 07/09/2010. When placing the order, the representative from the retailer contacted their distributor about when the order will be delivered. I was told, and the retailer was told that the materials will arrive by 07/15/2010. Just to let you all know that the base of the deck is already done with the Evergrain product, and it is the deck krailings that was ordered.
07/15/2010 passed and the order did not arrive. I called the retailer and they said that the orders will arrive on 07/28/2010.
07/28/2010 passed and I was told that the orders will arrive on 08/12/2010. This is now planned to be delivered more than a month after the order is placed. I had my contractor lined up several times to put the railings on the deck, who by the way did the base of the deck as well. Now, I can’t tell my contractor a date when he can come and do the railings.
I then contacted the distributor that deals with the retailer. Guess what, the distributor tells me that they don;t have a definite date when they can deliver the products. After probing further, they said they will try to deliver them 09/02/2010 – which is now about 8 weeks after the order the placed. Even so, they are not sure about the 09/02 date as well. After further probing, I learned that it was TAMKO that is delaying the orders.
I called TAMKO, and I received the most rude customer service from TAMKO. All they said that they don;t want to hear anything and I should speak to the distributor only. I said I would like to lodge a complaint with your distributor and they said “I need to speak to the distributor”. They did not want to listen to my problems, at all.
My advise to anyone that plans to use the “EverGrain” products for their decking materials, do not use their product. If you decide to use their product, you will never get ypur deck done on time. I spent the entire summer getting my deck done, and it is still not done. They don’t take any accountability as to delivering products on time or near the time. I amnot sure what their manufacturing process is – but it is insane if someone have to wait this long to get their products. They also have a “Contact Us” in their web site – if you fill out their form – good luck !!! You will never hear from them – it is a total waste of time. I contacted the distributor and the distributor said they ordered the material on the same day my order was placed with the retailer. But the manufacturer does not want to commit a date on the delivery. By the way, these products are made from re-engineered woods – so there is really no dependency on the natural wood either. The whole process seem to be broken and they do not want to correct it – nor listen to their end users who are actually users of their product.
In short – AVOID using evergrain products for your decking materials. USe other reliable manufacturers that will stand by you !!! There are many brands of similar products available in the market.
Disclaimer
This article was submitted by one of our readers. Penciltrick cannot make any claims as to its authenticity but the article was accepted on a good faith belief that it is an accurate and truthful account of the events listed.
February 25th, 2011 at 12:50 pm
We too are very unhappy with Tamko. We purchased a home that had installed Tamko during a “flip” remodel construction. The deck began to deteriorate a year later. We thought it was Trex at first and began pursuing. Trex was very helpful and more than willing to include us in their settlement claims, but turned out it was not their product. Tamko has a warranty that says it will only assist original owners, or ONE transferred owner only, and that transfer has to occur at the time of sale. Give me a break!! How would we know what the decking product was at the time of purchase? The original owners did not register their product, how would we know that? Why do all building materials honor their materials based on the year and the quality of installation that might affect the warranty. Instead, these guys use a policy that I am sure keeps them from EVER having to honor a warranty when a home has changed hands. Let’s see, since 2006 (the faulty product year), how many of those homes still have the original owners do you think?
Unbelievable.
March 9th, 2011 at 4:03 pm
I used Evergrain on my deck around my pool. After 4 years the covers for the 4X4 deck posts started looking grainy. They have eventually fallen off a couple of them. The boards are also beginning to take on a grainy look. I contacted evergrain concerning the problem and was told I had to have the receipt for the purchase. I contacted the lumber yard I purchased them from and they told me they didn’t keep a record, and no one told me I should have kept mine. Well, I would just say don’t buy Evergrain if you are planning on a 25 year run. If I had it to do over, I would go back to the cedar I had before.
March 31st, 2011 at 1:50 pm
My contractor used Evergrain on my deck in 2005. It has deteriorated badly over the years. TAMKO offered to provide new material, but it will cost $2,700 to replace the decking. I have never heard of these problems with Trex. I would recommend that all consumers stay away from TAMKO
July 20th, 2011 at 6:26 pm
DO NOT BUY EVERGRAIN decking!!!!!! Our deck was installed over one year ago and the deck skirting has warped. We cannot get a rep to make a decision on the warranty after a number of contacts. This is quite frustrating as this material is quite expensive!!!!
October 2nd, 2011 at 12:10 am
I’ve been having problems with TAMKO EverGrain from day one.
Spent almost $40k on a deck that wraps all the way around the house and the stuff is completely worthless. It looks like wet cardboard, the grain pattern is all gone and the boards are starting to give, some type of fungus is growing out of the cracks on the ballisters, pieces of the skirt are breaking off and falling.
Lots of lies, promises, and excuses from TAMKO.
If anyone would like to see pictures just let me know.
August 11th, 2012 at 2:51 pm
THE POST ON MY DECK ARE DECOMPOSING GETTING BRITTLE WE HAVE PROBLEMS .AFTER READING THE WARRANTY OF THIS PRODUCT THE ONLY THING GOOD ABOUT THERE PRODUCT IS THE LAWYERS THAT THEY USED TO WRITE THERE WARRANTY.WE HAVE TO SPEND ALOT OF MONEY ON PICTURES 4 FOR EACH PROBLEM SEND IT IN WAIT 6 TO 8 WEEKS FOR ANSWER AND THEY WILL ONLY PAY FOR THE PRODUCT ONLY IF SOME REASON THAT THEY CANT FIND A LOOPHOLE TO NOT PAY YOU .IF THERE PRODUCT IS SO GOOD THEY SHOULD STAND BEHIND THERE PRODUCT NOT BEHIND PAPERWORK .
March 18th, 2013 at 1:38 pm
We purchased our Tamko decking in 2007 and it begain to decompose and fade with in a year. We had the post replace and now the decking has deterated. We have been working with our Tamko rep. and he has been giving us a run-around. Thinking of a class action law suit if anyone is interested. This porduct was to be warrented for 20 years and it hasn’t lasted five years. I wouldn’t recommend Tamko to anyone.
Email [email protected]
August 1st, 2013 at 1:20 pm
I had an Evergrain deck installed in 6/2006 and I have boards that have split, skirting that pulled away from the faseners, warped and broke. I will be contacting Tamko shortly.
September 10th, 2013 at 9:51 am
Evergrain Decking installed 5 years ago.Post sleeves are falling apart,2 x 2 balusters are falling apart,
5/4 x 6 decking is falling apart.
WOW!!!!!!
$25000 DOWN THE DRAIN