When it comes to protecting and beautifying your home's exterior, Rhino Shield has become a noteworthy player in the home improvement industry. Our ceramic elastomeric coating solution offers exceptional durability and longevity, but it comes at a price.
So, this begs the questions, “Is Rhino Shield worth the investment?” and “What exactly comes with the price tag?”
In this article, we'll answer both questions honestly, as Rhino Shield may not be for everyone.
Is Rhino Shield Paint Expensive?
One of the first things that potential Rhino Shield customers should be aware of is the cost. Rhino Shield is typically 2-2.5 times more expensive than a traditional painting application.
To better illustrate what this price difference looks like, here are some average costs for a 3-bedroom home:
- A Rhino Shield installation will run you anywhere between $13,000 and $18,000.
- A traditional water-based paint job will range from $5,000 to $9,000.
The higher cost is one of the primary factors that give pause to many homeowners. However, before dismissing Rhino Shield solely based on its price, it's essential to understand what you're getting for that investment:
- Unparalleled longevity – Our product is built to last in any environment. We back this claim up by offering a 25-year warranty that is both 100% transferrable and non-prorated. This means you won’t lose coverage with the paint’s age and the warranty carries over from owner to owner.
- Grade-A fire retardant – Keeps your home safer from the threat of outdoor fires.
- UV reflectivity – Keeps your home’s exterior from absorbing too much heat, which will naturally keep your home cooler. This will save you energy costs.
- Water repellence – Aids in the prevention of water-related damage. This is especially beneficial for wood homes, which are susceptible to rotting from water getting in them.
- Soundproofing – Rhino Shield is unique in that it has a solid content of 79% and is 8 – 10x thicker than most other paints. Because of this, it helps shield you from some of the outdoor noise.
- Abrasion resistance – Rhino Shield is comprised of ceramic microspheres. These solids pack together tightly, which gives the coating a strong base with very low breakage rates. This lowers the chance of your paint cracking, reducing the need for maintenance.
- Exceptional breathability - Helps prevent mildew, fungi, and algae. This will reduce the amount you need to clean the outside of your home.
- An eco-friendly choice – No VOC’s (Volatile Organic Compounds)
Learn more about Rhino Shield's pricing here.
Dealer Training and Certification
Another significant advantage of Rhino Shield is the rigorous training and certification process that our dealers go through. Rhino Shield doesn't allow just anyone to become a dealer.
Our dealers are a part of a national network, some of which have been with us for more than 2 decades. The length of time many of our dealers have stayed loyal is a testament to our product’s quality.
We have a very strict application process, ensuring that only well-trained and qualified professionals who have been working in the painting business for a while represent our brand. This emphasis on dealer certification sets a high standard for the service provided to our customers.
How Protective is Rhino Shield?
We strive to maintain transparent sources where we can validate our claims. Rhino Shield invests heavily in third-party lab testing. In many of these tests, we take our product and compare it against similar paints. Many paint companies either won’t release their test findings or don’t bother to invest in it at all.
Below are our results from the ASTM test. This page explains how to read an ASTM standard.
- Fire rating - ASTM E-84 21a
- Elongation - ASTM D 2370
- Tensile strength - ASTM D 2370
- Adhesion - ASTM D 4541
- Water Swelling - ASTM D 471
- Permeance - ASTM D 1653
- Wind Driven Rain Resistance - ASTM D 6904 03(22)
- Salt Tolerance - ASTM B 117
Check out a deeper exploration of Rhino Shield's benefits here.
How Rhino Shield Inspects Your Home
Rhino Shield places a strong emphasis on inspections. This is a crucial step in our process because it allows us to identify any issues that might affect the adhesion of the coating. In some cases, customers may experience peeling paint, and we’ve discovered that the cause is not the product itself but larger issues like trapped moisture in the home.
Rhino Shield employs moisture meters to detect such issues and address them effectively. This commitment to thorough inspections helps to ensure a long-lasting finish.
How Rhino Shield Prepares Your Home for Painting
One key aspect that sets Rhino Shield apart from most painting companies is our approach to preparation work. Before painting, we do all of the following:
Thorough Assessment: The installation process commences with a comprehensive evaluation of your property. This involves:
- Gathering crucial data about the substrate type.
- Assessing previous problems.
- Checking for water damage.
- Identify any cracks requiring repair.
- Determine the necessity for wood board replacements.
- Rectifies warped vinyl siding.
- Measure environmental moisture levels.
This meticulous inspection serves as the cornerstone for a successful installation, with the primary goal of preventing complications during or after the procedure.
Power Washing and Preparation: Before applying Rhino Shield, the home undergoes a pressure washing to eliminate dirt, debris, and any loose paint. If any repairs are required, such as replacing siding, they are completed during this phase. This includes sanding, scraping, or removing previous paint.
Caulking and Sealing: Rhino Shield Dealers employ high-quality Elastomeric caulk to seal window edges, cracks, and seams, forming a water-resistant barrier to safeguard your home.
Masking: All areas that shouldn't receive a coating are appropriately masked off, covered, or temporarily removed. This includes items like lighting fixtures, mailboxes, drainpipes, utility boxes, and so on. Special attention is paid to protecting your plants, lawns, decks, windows, and other areas susceptible to overspray.
Trenching: Unlike some contractors, Rhino Shield digs a trench about 4-6 inches below the surface around your house. This unique step ensures that the primer and topcoat are applied beneath the surface, preventing water from seeping into the coating from below.
Primer Application: Rhino Shield offers a variety of primers tailored to different surfaces. Our APS primer stands out as it forms a unique bond with the substrate, ensuring exceptional adhesion. Rhino Shield's adhesion has been verified by an independent third-party laboratory.
Why Can’t I Buy Rhino Shield Paint?
Rhino Shield is not just paint; it's a comprehensive system. This system includes a specific primer tailored to your home's substrate and climate. The correct preparation work and equipment are crucial to ensuring there are no future issues with the topcoat.
Additionally, Rhino Shield follows a strict regimen for the amount of product applied to ensure optimal longevity. This precision in application and the need for specific training are the reasons Rhino Shield only makes our product available exclusively through authorized dealers.
If you are a Do-it-yourselfer and are set on getting the job done on your own to save on costs, we recommend making sure you do thorough research beforehand. If you are an experienced painter, that’s another story.
For the less experienced, there are many resources available online, and even video tutorials showcasing the step-by-step process on how to pain the outside of your home.
If you are going with a DIY product, make sure to read the terms of warranties carefully, as many warranties from other companies are prorated, meaning that the coverage decreases with the product's age. Also ensure you keep your receipt and register online for the warranty, since many times, companies will void them if you don’t do those things.
There’s also some work Rhino Shield simply won’t do, like log homes. This decision is based on the understanding that no coating will last very long on logs due to the presence of numerous chemicals that can disrupt coating systems. We strive to maintain our commitment to providing a solution that not only works best for the specific needs of different homes, but also lasts.
To Wrap Up
Whether Rhino Shield is worth the investment for you depends on several factors, including your budget, the condition of your home, and your expectations. While we undeniably come at a higher cost than traditional painting, we also offer a range of advantages such as:
- A comprehensive home exterior paint system that is ripe with benefits and is built to last 25 years guaranteed.
- Thorough inspections, preparation, and application done by our hand-picked professionals.
- Premium product validated by extensive third-party lab tests.
When weighing the cost against these benefits, many homeowners find Rhino Shield to be a valuable investment in protecting and beautifying their homes. If you are interested in getting Rhino Shield on your home or business, scroll down to get a free, no-obligation quote.
