A homeowner near Brighton called us with a question that had nothing to do with a quote. She had bought white elastomeric paint for her block foundation and detached garage. At the paint counter, she asked for a deep charcoal. The clerk told her it could only go so dark.
“Why?” she asked us. “Isn’t paint just paint?”
So, can you tint elastomeric paint? Yes. Most wall elastomerics are sold in tint bases and colored at the paint store with the manufacturer’s colorants. There are limits, though. Very dark colors may not be available, heavy tinting can affect performance, and elastomeric roof coatings usually should not be tinted after purchase.
Below we will explain how tint bases work, why deep colors are limited, what color does to heat, and how we handle color on our own ceramic coating.
The Short Answer: Can Elastomeric Paint Be Tinted?
Yes, elastomeric paint can be tinted. Most brands sell it in white or tint bases that the paint store colors with matching colorants. You cannot always get very dark shades, overloading colorant can weaken performance, and elastomeric roof coatings are usually best left in their factory color.
In short:
- Yes: Most wall elastomerics can be tinted at the store
- Limit: The deepest colors may need a base the product does not offer
- Exception: Roof coatings are usually not tinted after purchase
How Elastomeric Paint Is Tinted
What a Tint Base Is
Paint is not made in every color at the factory. Instead, it comes in bases that the store adds colorant to.
Bases usually come in a few types:
- Pastel or white base: Lots of white pigment, little room for colorant. Good for light colors.
- Deep base: Less white pigment, more room for colorant. Good for mid and darker tones.
- Accent or neutral base: Very little white pigment. Needed for the deepest, richest colors.
The darker the color, the more colorant it needs, and the more room the base has to leave for it.
Why Most Elastomeric Starts White or Pastel
White pigment does a lot of work in an elastomeric coating. It reflects light and heat and adds to UV resistance.
That is why many elastomeric products are made mainly in white or pastel bases. It is a performance choice, not just a limited menu.
Store Tinting vs Tinting It Yourself
When a paint store tints your elastomeric, a machine measures the exact amount of the right colorant. That gives you an accurate, repeatable color.
Tinting it yourself with tubes from a craft or hardware aisle is riskier. You may use a colorant that does not suit water based coatings, and it is hard to get the same color twice.
If you do tint at home, only use colorant made for water based coatings, add it in small amounts, and test a sample on the wall before committing.
Limits on Tinting Elastomeric Paint
How Dark Can You Go?
Some deep colors need an accent or neutral base. If the product line does not offer that base, the store simply cannot make the color.
For example, Behr’s Premium Elastomeric masonry paint is offered in about 90 custom tinted colors with computer color matching. That is a good range, but it is a menu, not every color on the fan deck.
That is likely what happened at the counter with the deep charcoal request.
Can Heavy Tinting Weaken the Coating?
It can. Colorant adds color, but it is not the binder that holds the coating together.
When you push far more colorant into a base than it was designed to hold, it can affect how the coating cures, its sheen and its long term durability. Stay within the manufacturer’s limits for each base.
Dark Colors and Heat
Light Reflectance Value (LRV) in Plain English
Every color has a Light Reflectance Value, or LRV. It runs from about 0 for black to about 100 for pure white.
A higher LRV reflects more light and heat. A lower LRV absorbs more. So a deep charcoal wall will get noticeably hotter in the sun than a soft gray one.
Why This Matters on Vinyl Siding
On masonry, extra heat is mostly a comfort and fading issue. On vinyl siding, it can be a structural one. Vinyl softens with heat, and dark coatings can cause buckling or warping on sunny walls.
That is why lighter colors are recommended on vinyl. Our post on whether Rhino Shield can be used on vinyl siding covers this in detail.
Do Dark Elastomeric Colors Fade Faster?
Deep colors tend to show fading and chalking sooner in strong UV. The color itself may not change more, but the shift is easier to see on a dark wall.
In Michigan, south and west walls take the most summer sun. That is where a dark color will show its age first.
Can You Tint Elastomeric Roof Coating?
Usually not after you buy it.
Most elastomeric roof coatings are white on purpose. Their main job is to reflect sunlight and keep the roof cooler. Tinting them reduces that reflectivity.
Some manufacturers sell roof coatings in a few factory colors. If you want a color, buy one of those rather than adding tint yourself.
Wall coatings and roof coatings are designed differently, so the tinting rules for one do not carry over to the other.
How to Get Elastomeric Paint Tinted Correctly
If you want to tint elastomeric paint for a wall project, follow these steps:
- Pick the color with sun exposure in mind. Lighter colors are safer on hot walls.
- Ask the store which base the color needs and confirm the product line offers it.
- Buy all the paint at once and intermix the cans. Pouring them together into a larger bucket, often called boxing, keeps the color consistent across the whole job.
- Use a tinted primer for deep colors when the system calls for a primer. It helps the topcoat cover evenly.
- Test a sample on the actual wall. Look at it dry, in sun and in shade.
- Follow the product’s temperature and weather limits when you apply it.
How Color Works With Rhino Shield
Rhino Shield is a ceramic elastomeric coating, so the same basic ideas apply. Here is how we handle color on our own jobs.
Tinted to Virtually Any Color
Rhino Shield can be tinted to virtually any color using high grade paint tints. We offer more than 1,500 color options and can match your current house color.
Nix Color Matching and the Color Visualizer
We use Nix color matching technology to read an existing color precisely. If you love your current trim or a neighbor’s shade, we can match it.
Our online color visualizer lets you preview colors on a house before you decide. The color selection process page walks through how we help you choose.
Color Rules We Follow on Different Siding
- Thin vinyl: Lighter tones only, to avoid heat warping
- Wood, brick, stucco and fiber cement: A much wider range, including deeper tones
- Every house: Our estimator looks wall by wall, since sun exposure changes the answer
Can You Change Rhino Shield Color Later?
Yes. Rhino Shield can be recoated with the finish coat in a new color. Our post can you paint over Rhino Shield explains how that works.
Our Experience: Helping Michigan Homeowners Pick Colors That Last
Color is one of the most enjoyable parts of our job. It is also where a little guidance saves a lot of regret.
During a color appointment, we always look at samples outside. Colors look very different under kitchen lights than they do on a sunny wall in July. We hold samples on the south wall, because that is where the color will be tested hardest.
In subdivisions around Brighton and Howell, we often start with the HOA’s approved palette. Our HOA approved exterior coating guide helps with that.
Cottage owners near Michigan’s lakes often want deeper, richer tones that fit the woods and water. On sound wood or masonry, that can work well. We just talk through the tradeoffs on the sunniest walls.
Over the years, one pattern is clear. Lighter and mid tones stay crisp longer on sun facing walls. Deep tones can look stunning, but they show their age sooner. Our post on what exterior paint colors fade the least in Michigan goes deeper.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you add universal tint to elastomeric paint?
You can, but it is not ideal. Universal tints vary in quality and compatibility, and hand tinting makes the color hard to repeat. If you do, use a colorant made for water based coatings, add small amounts, and test first. Store tinting with the manufacturer’s system is the safer choice.
Can elastomeric paint be tinted black?
Sometimes, if the product line offers an accent or neutral base made for deep colors. Many elastomerics do not. Even when available, a black wall absorbs a lot of heat and shows fading sooner. On vinyl siding, very dark colors are not recommended.
Does tint affect elastomeric waterproofing?
Normal tinting within the base’s limits should not affect waterproofing. Problems come from overloading a base with more colorant than it was designed for, or using the wrong type of colorant. Stick with the manufacturer’s tinting system and recommended bases.
Why does my elastomeric color look different on the wall?
Several things can cause it. Light changes color, so a sample looks different in sun and shade. Texture and sheen change how color reads. Cans from different batches can vary slightly. Intermixing all cans before you start and testing a sample on the actual wall helps a lot.
Can I tint elastomeric primer?
Many primers can be tinted toward the topcoat color, and it often helps deep colors cover evenly. Check the primer’s label for tinting limits and ask the store which base to use. Do not tint a primer that the maker says should stay white.
How many colors does Rhino Shield come in?
Rhino Shield offers more than 1,500 color options and can be tinted to virtually any color. We can also match an existing house or trim color using Nix color matching technology.
Can Rhino Shield match my current house color?
Yes. We use Nix color matching to read your current color and match it. That is helpful if you love the color you have but want the protection of a ceramic coating, or if you need to match an addition or trim.
Want Help Choosing a Color That Works?
If you are trying to tint elastomeric paint for a project, the steps above will help. If you are thinking about a long lasting ceramic coating for your home, we would be glad to help you choose a color that looks great and holds up.
Every free estimate includes a color consultation with our color visualizer and Nix color matching.
Call (810) 360 6583 or schedule a free estimate. We serve Brighton, Howell and all of Livingston County, along with more than 40 lower Michigan counties.
Written by Marc Mercier, Owner, Rhino Shield of Michigan. Family owned, 2,000+ installations, BBB A+, Rhino Shield Dealer of the Year, MI License #2102200455.