Guarding Against Waterfront Environmental Impacts
Image courtesy of AmCoat.
Everyone loves the waterfront – the ocean, sunshine, and sweet salty breeze can soothe the soul. But, these elements can mean high maintenance to a building’s exterior and a painting cycle that’s on repeat every three to five years.
On the coast, painted walls tend to fade faster, are pummeled with wind-driven rain, are exposed to salt around the clock, and are breeding grounds for bio-growth like algae and fungus. One seven-story Destin, Florida, resort nestled between Choctawhatchee Bay and the Gulf of Mexico was looking for a fresh update but wanted more longevity for its money.
Mike Moore, AmCoat’s Director of Products and Applications, said Destin West Beach and Bay Resort opted for Rhino Shield coatings to protect its structure with a beautiful tropical color scheme.
“Destin West wanted to extend their maintenance cycle for coating their exterior walls,” said Moore. “They sought out Rhino Shield because they knew that they could go longer between coatings and that our product has built-in protection against mildew, algae, and fungus, which all go with being on the coast. Less painting and less cleaning add up to more savings for the facility.”
Rhino Shield’s bio-package is a four-part cocktail that’s EPA approved and very effective.
“Bio-protection is very important in the southeast,” said Moore. “It’s warm and humid, and keeping growth off the paint is a priority for less maintenance and a cleaner look. These walls will stay better looking longer because Destin West invested in Rhino Shield.”
The savings go beyond extending the painting cycle – there are many other expenses other than paint and labor to consider when coating high rises.
“One major expense for these high rises is getting to the heights they need to for application,” said Moore. “Bringing out lifts, scaffolding, and swing stages can be as much as the paint itself. So, with longer-lasting coatings, there is a longer interval between expensive maintenance procedures.”
One standout feature for Rhino Shield is its salt tolerance. AmCoat updated its salt tolerance testing for Rhino Coat just last year.
“The salt tolerance test for Rhino Shield shows the ceramic elastomeric coating has excellent performance numbers,” said Moore. “And no blistering was present. It performs so well in these coastal applications, and that’s why so many condo associations and hoteliers and restaurants along the coast are applying Rhino Shield.”
Another feature of Rhino Shield that makes it a high performer on the coast is that it’s designed to lock out wind-driven rain.
“Rhino Shield is engineered with high water resistance, which helps keep out rain,” said Moore. “Water intrusion from driven rain can cause water swelling and lead to a whole host of other issues. It’s like having a protective membrane surrounding your building. It’s very effective.”
Rhino Shield application is preceded by AmCoat’s APS, a quick-drying primer sealer that lets the contractor apply the finish coat sooner, saving time and money. A nationwide network of dealers means there is availability across the United States for expert commercial installation with contractors who are trained to keep business disruption to a minimum. Veteran-owned and made in the United States, AmCoat products are designed for long-term protection against the elements.
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