The arrival of vinyl

In 1961, the first vinyl exterior products came to Hawaii. That was vinyl siding. Since then, vinyl windows and vinyl fencing have become leaders in the maintenance-free home improvement industry for Hawaii. When vinyl siding first appeared on the local market, most homeowners thought vinyl would not last. After all, it was plastic. Most homeowners were familiar with cheaper forms of vinyl in products like toys, plastic trash cans, trash bags and Tupperware.

However, Hawaii homeowners have now learned that similar to lumber, which comes in treated or untreated options, there are different grades of vinyl. Time has proven vinyl a superior product for Hawaii because it won’t corrode in our salty air. Examples of other competing products are:

• Wood: In Hawaii, there is salt rot and wood rot, as well as termites. Plus, regular maintenance is key to preserving wood for any period of time. This will fail.

• Aluminum: Salt air will corrode aluminum, and it needs regular sanding and painting. This will fail.

• Steel: Hawaii’s salt air will rust steel sooner or later. A perfect example is about 30 years back, builders started using steel studs to build homes. Today, as contractors do home repairs, they are finding that though the steel stud was enclosed in the wall, the studs are almost completely rusted. This, of course, is because Hawaii is surrounded by salty air. This will fail.

As fragile and non-maintenance-free as all these products are, many Hawaii homeowners prefer the look compared to the look of vinyl products. Some think vinyl looks cheap and fake. However, there is an option that gives Hawaii homeowners the best of both worlds. The option is vinyl paint. About 30 years ago, Richard, the father of Tropical Wholesale owner Matt Houar, invented vinyl paint. After semi-retiring from the vinyl siding business, Richard had too much extra time on his hands.

During all these extra hours, he tinkered and toyed with the idea of vinyl paint. There are so many areas on a home that need protection that vinyl siding, windows or fencing could not protect from the elements. So, vinyl paint arrived.

Over the next 30 years, vinyl paint was perfected. Vinyl paint can be used on wood, stucco, concrete, steel and aluminum. So, now you know vinyl paint is available in Hawaii with a lifetime warranty.

If you are wondering where Hawaii homeowners can get vinyl paint, call Tropical. Tropical is the oldest vinyl siding and vinyl window company in Hawaii. Tropical is the only Hawaii-authorized distributor of vinyl paint.

So, if you prefer not to have vinyl siding, use vinyl paint for your home. For the best vinyl products, call Tropical, where “‘Vinyl is now final’-er.”

And remember, buy local!