If you ask a general contractor whether you should paint or roof first, they will almost always say, “Roof first.” Their logic is simple: roofers are messy, and they might scratch your paint.
But Rhino Shield isn’t “paint.” It is a multi-layer ceramic coating system. And because our application process is so much more intensive than a standard paint job, we actually recommend the opposite.
Here is the “Insider Logic” on why you should install your Rhino Shield system before you put on those brand-new shingles.
1. The “Traffic” Factor: We Walk on Your Roof 5-10 Times (Not Once)
A standard house painter might hop on your roof once to spray the dormers and once to trim. It’s quick. Rhino Shield is an industrial process. To install our system correctly, our crew needs access to your roof lines, dormers, and valleys repeatedly. If you install a new roof first, you are subjecting those fresh, soft shingles to 5 to 10 rounds of foot traffic:
- Power Washing: We are up there with high-pressure hoses.
- Carpentry Inspection: We are walking the perimeter to check for rot.
- Caulking & Sealing: We are hand-sealing necessary areas.
- Masking: We have to tape off and cover the roof from overspray.
- Adhesive Primer Application: The first coat goes sprayed on.
- Durable Finish Coat (DFC) Application: A high-performance ceramic-based elastomeric wall coating gets sprayed/brushed/rolled on.
- Masking for a second color: Typically the option of 2 colors is chosen for a single-family house in the Chicagoland area.
- Application of second color
- Touchups
- Unmasking: We go back up to pull all the paper and plastic.
That is a lot of boots on the ground. If your shingles are brand new—especially in the summer heat—they are soft and scuff easily. Why put 5-10 rounds of wear-and-tear on a roof that is only 7 days old?
2. The Ladder Problem
To reach high peaks, gables, and chimneys, we often have to position ladders directly on the roof slope. Even with stabilizers and padding, a ladder puts concentrated pressure on a small area. On an old roof that is about to be torn off, this doesn’t matter. On a new roof, this point-pressure can dislodge granules or mar the asphalt matting before the roof has even cured. By doing the walls first, our ladders are sitting on the “old” roof that you’re planning to throw away anyway.
3. Zero Risk of Overspray on Shingles
The number one fear homeowners have is getting paint on their new shingles. We are meticulous about masking (covering) roofs, but wind is unpredictable. If you do Rhino Shield First:
- We don’t have to stress about a drop of primer landing on a shingle that is destined for the dumpster next week.
- You get 100% peace of mind that your new roof will be pristine because it won’t even be on the house yet!
4. The “Touch-Up” Guarantee
The only valid argument for “Roof First” is that the roofers might ding the siding when they tear off the old shingles. We have solved that problem.
If you install Rhino Shield first, and your roofing crew accidentally scuffs a board or scratches the coating during their tear-off, we will come back. As part of our commitment to our customers, Rhino Shield of Chicagoland will return to touch up those specific areas free of charge.
The Bottom Line
While a watertight roof is essential, your walls are the permanent face of your home and arguably the more significant investment. ‘Roof First’ is standard advice for disposable latex paint, but Rhino Shield is a lifetime capital improvement to your walls.
Don’t let a generic rule dictate the quality of your home’s most visible asset. By prioritizing the walls first, you ensure your primary investment—the Rhino Shield system —is installed without restriction or compromise, leaving the roof to serve as the perfect finishing touch.
Let us do the heavy lifting, the washing, and the spraying on the old roof. Then, let your roofers come in and install the “crown” on your freshly coated home.
