Rhino Shield Coating in Demand as Option for Replacing Metal, Vinyl Siding

As homes with metal and vinyl siding age, homeowners are often faced with costly decisions — replace the siding or continue to paint every three to five years. To achieve a long-lasting finish, preparation must be perfect and the primer and top coat must be engineered to last.

AmCoat’s Mike Moore, director of products and applications, said more and more homeowners are looking to have their siding coated.

“We’re seeing an increase in coating aluminum and vinyl siding,” said Moore. “Normally the substrate is sound, it just fades and gets chalky. Homeowners are finding it’s much more cost effective to apply a long-lasting coating than to replace it. And if it’s done correctly, it can last for decades.”

An integral part of the Rhino Shield system, Adhesive Primer Sealer, or APS, has years of proven performance with all types of siding. The key, says Moore, is its adhesion and elastomeric properties.

“APS is unmatched for top coat adhesion and helps eliminate issues with peeling,” said Moore. “And installers love the recoat window of only two hours. And when followed with a Rhino Shield top coat, metal siding can look just like wood. It’s really hard to tell the difference.”

Moore says the key to a beautiful finish on aluminum siding is careful cleaning and pressure washing and to only apply the coating when the siding is cool to the touch.

“With careful application, the homeowner will reap many benefits,” said Moore. “For starters, APS and Rhino Shield Keep the home cooler and save on AC costs in the south because of reduced surface temperatures. Plus, our formula has built-in, long lasting bio growth inhibitors, so it stays cleaner year-round.”

Moore says coating vinyl can be tricky but that training is the key. AmCoat provides robust training for their dealers and lots of support throughout the process. Another must — match the color of the siding or go lighter to ensure correct application and durability.

“AmCoat has made it a focus to make sure we have the best possible adhesion over metal, vinyl and other sidings,” said Moore. “But we always recommend a test section and a follow up with Rhino Shield ceramic elastomeric top coating.”

ASTM D4541 testing for APS shows superior adhesion on most building surfaces — it basically fuses with the substrate. A very cost-effective solution, it’s less than 15 cents a square foot.

Like the Rhino Shield finish coat, APS has been updated to improve performance over the years. APS is appropriate for wood, stucco, hardy, metal, vinyl and many other substrates. It’s easy to work with, has low VOCs and cleanup is quick since it’s water-based. APS can be sprayed on or rolled on depending on what works best for the particular substrate.