A zoo used KBS RustSeal to stop rust and urine damage inside the tiger enclosure's indoor night-quarters, the space the cats sleep in when outdoor temperatures drop to zero. Here's what they saw, and what to know before using RustSeal on a similar job outdoors.
The Project: Tiger Night-Quarters
The zoo's crew painted the tiger enclosure's indoor night-quarters, the metal-lined space where the cats sleep overnight in freezing temperatures. In their words:
"Here are some pics of our tiger enclosure we started to paint. These are the enclosures the cats sleeps in overnight when the temp drops down to zero degrees. The paint works really well and seems to do a great job with keeping the urine off and preventing the rust that the urine causes." – Scott G, Zoo Staff
Why RustSeal Resists Urine and Rust
RustSeal stops urine-driven rust because it seals the metal instead of just covering it. RustSeal is a single-component, moisture-cured coating that locks out water and air, so the oxidation that causes rust never gets started underneath the film. It's rated resistant to a wide range of chemicals, including human and animal urine, which is exactly the kind of repeated acidic exposure that eats through unprotected paint in kennels, barns, and animal enclosures.
RustSeal bonds directly to bare or lightly rusted metal and cures to a hard, non-porous, chemical-resistant film. That film is what held up against the tiger enclosure's daily urine exposure without blistering or letting rust return underneath.
Indoor Use vs. Outdoor, UV-Exposed Surfaces
This project was indoors, and that matters for anyone reading this to solve a similar problem outside. The tiger night-quarters are a sheltered, indoor space with no direct sunlight, which is exactly the kind of environment where RustSeal works well as a stand-alone final finish. Outdoor metal that sits in direct sun, like fencing, lamp posts, railings, or livestock equipment left outside, is a different situation.
RustSeal's rust protection does not degrade under UV exposure, but RustSeal is not intended as a final finish where it gets repeated or prolonged direct sunlight, because UV light will cosmetically fade and dull its color and sheen over time. A clear coat will not fix this: UV light passes straight through a clear film, so it still reaches and fades the RustSeal underneath. For an outdoor, UV-exposed job, apply RustSeal first for the rust barrier, then topcoat it with an opaque, UV-stable color coat such as KBS BlackTop, which carries permanent UV stability and is tested to 2,000 hours of salt spray resistance over two coats of RustSeal. That combination keeps both the rust protection and the finish intact outdoors.
Stuck or unsure? Search the KBS Support Desk for instant answers
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there paint that is resistant to urine?
Yes. RustSeal is a moisture-cured rust encapsulating coating that resists chemicals including human and animal urine, so it holds up in kennels, barns, animal enclosures, and other spaces where urine contact is constant.
What is the best paint for preventing rust?
RustSeal is built specifically to prevent rust. It locks out water and air so oxidation cannot take hold, and it cures to a non-porous, chemical-resistant film rated to 600°F, so metal underneath stays sealed instead of just cosmetically covered.
Does dog pee corrode metal?
Yes. Animal urine is acidic and speeds up corrosion on bare or painted metal that isn't sealed against it. A coating rated for chemical resistance, like RustSeal, blocks that contact instead of letting urine reach the metal.
Was this zoo enclosure painted indoors or outdoors, and does RustSeal work outside?
This project was the indoor night-quarters where the zoo's tigers sleep, not an outdoor enclosure. RustSeal's rust protection works in either setting, but RustSeal is not intended as a final finish in areas with repeated or prolonged direct UV exposure, since sunlight will cosmetically alter its color and sheen over time (the rust protection itself does not degrade under UV). For outdoor metal in direct sun, such as lamp posts, railings, or fencing, apply RustSeal for rust protection first, then topcoat it with an opaque, UV-stable color coat like KBS BlackTop. A clear coat will not do this job: UV light passes straight through a clear film to the RustSeal underneath, so only an opaque topcoat actually blocks it. RustSeal plus BlackTop is tested to 2,000 hours of salt spray resistance and carries permanent UV stability.
Still have questions? Search the KBS Support Desk for instant answers
Conclusion
RustSeal sealed the metal against moisture and chemical attack, which is why it held up to daily urine exposure in this indoor enclosure. Take one thing from this project to an outdoor job: RustSeal's rust protection works outside too, but its color and gloss need an opaque, UV-stable topcoat like KBS BlackTop to hold up in direct sunlight. A clear coat will not do this, since UV passes through it to the RustSeal underneath.
Tagged Products
