Duckback

What Duckback does

Duckback is a Cleveland, Ohio-based brand of water-based exterior wood stains and sealers, founded in 1987 and wholly owned by The Sherwin-Williams Company (NYSE: SHW). The brand's product portfolio consists of four opacity-tiered offerings — Clear Wood Sealer, Transparent Exterior Stain+Sealer, Semi-Transparent Exterior Stain+Sealer, and Solid Color Exterior Stain+Sealer — all built on a shared 100% acrylic water-based formulation marketed under the Duckback/SuperDeck identity (superdeck.com). Technical differentiation centers on one-coat coverage, low-temperature application down to 35°F, 4-hour water-shedding cure time, UV and mold/mildew resistance, and tiered warranty durations ranging from 3 years (Clear) to 25 years (Solid Color on fences/siding); the brand name itself encodes the core hydrophobic benefit.

The business model is straightforward consumer-goods distribution: Duckback sells through retail storefronts (Sherwin-Williams stores and other home improvement retailers) in 1-gallon and 5-gallon containers in both the U.S. (DBWB UPC prefix) and Canada (BCWB prefix), with 60 colors available through retailer colorant systems. End customers are primarily DIY homeowners and professional contractors/painters protecting exterior wood surfaces (decks, fences, siding, railings, outdoor furniture). Revenue mechanics are unit-pricing through retail, with prices set by individual retailers rather than published by Duckback. Marketing is lean, relying on the brand website, a YouTube channel (@DuckbackTV), and in-store presence — there is no disclosed direct-to-consumer e-commerce or subscription model.

As a brand rather than an independent company, Duckback has a small standalone employee base (11-50) and operates within Sherwin-Williams' broader consumer coatings portfolio. The brand does not disclose revenue, has no independent fundraising history, and has no AI or software product surface. Strategic positioning is centered on defending and extending its share of the exterior wood stain category through chemistry durability, broad retailer colorant-system compatibility, and the inherited Sherwin-Williams retail footprint across North America.

Name

Duckback

Legal name

The Sherwin-Williams Company

Website

https://superdeck.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1987

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Duckback is a Sherwin-Williams-owned brand that makes water-based exterior wood stains and sealers in four opacity tiers, sold through retail stores in the U.S. and Canada for DIY homeowners and contractors protecting decks, fences, and siding.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Cleveland

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Personnel, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Exterior Wood Stain and Sealer Products: Duckback generates revenue through the sale of water-based exterior wood stain and sealer products. Products are sold in various sizes (1 gallon and 5 gallon containers) through retail distribution channels. The company offers four product lines: Clear Wood Sealer, Transparent Exterior Stain+Sealer, Semi-Transparent Exterior Stain+Sealer, and Solid Color Exterior Stain+Sealer.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Duckback manufactures and sells 100% acrylic water-based exterior wood stains and sealers designed to protect and beautify outdoor wood surfaces such as decks, fences, porches, railings, siding, and outdoor furniture. Its product lineup spans four opacity tiers — Clear, Transparent, Semi-Transparent, and Solid Color — offering one-coat coverage, low-temperature application down to 35°F, quick water-shedding within 4 hours, and UV, mold, and mildew resistance across 60 colors.

Product overview

Duckback is a brand of water-based exterior wood stains and sealers under The Sherwin-Williams Company. The product portfolio consists of four distinct products forming a complete lineup differentiated by opacity: Clear Wood Sealer (transparent protection with natural amber hue, 3-year deck guarantee), Transparent Exterior Stain + Sealer (lightest color finish for natural wood beauty, 4-year deck guarantee), Semi-Transparent Exterior Stain + Sealer (reveals wood grain while providing rich color, 6-year deck guarantee), and Solid Color Exterior Stain + Sealer (paint-like finish with maximum weather protection, 10-year deck guarantee). All products feature 100% acrylic water-based formula, UV protection, mold-and mildew-resistant finish, low temperature application (35°F), and one-coat coverage. Available in 60 colors across the product line through retailer colorant systems.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Clear Wood Sealer Water-based clear exterior wood sealer that enhances natural wood beauty while providing extended water beading protection. Ideal for new, bare wood surfaces in excellent condition, adding a natural amber hue for all-weather resistance.
• Transparent Exterior Stain + Sealer Water-based transparent exterior stain and sealer that penetrates wood surfaces to highlight natural texture with a light tint of color; intended for new or reconditioned wood surfaces in excellent condition.
• Semi-Transparent Exterior Stain + Sealer Water-based semi-transparent stain and sealer that balances beauty and durability by revealing some wood grain while providing rich, long-lasting color and all-weather protection.
• Solid Color Exterior Stain + Sealer Water-based solid color exterior stain and sealer providing maximum weather protection with a paint-like finish that beautifies and protects with complete, long-lasting color for all exterior wood projects.

Quantifiable outcome

• Sheds water after just 4 hours
• +7 more outcomes

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration12 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Sherwin-Williamsparent_companyOthersDuckback is a brand under Sherwin-Williams Company. The CA Supply Chains Act disclosure states 'The Sherwin-Williams Company recognizes the importance of making efforts to ensure that our supply chain is free of any products of forced labor, child labor, human trafficking and slavery.'

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@DuckbackTV
• Facebookfacebook.com/duckbackproducts
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/duckback-products

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Duckback