Ames Research Laboratories' product failure destroyed my roof in less than a year. To make matters worse, product services technician Wayne Kukaska gave incorrect installation instructions and then refused to honor Ames warranty when things went bad. I am writing to share my disturbing experience with Ames Research and product services technician Wayne Kukaska in hopes that builders, contractors and home owners who are considering using Ames Research Laboratories for waterproofing new roofs and walls or for patching and repairing leaking roof systems or walls do not suffer a similar fate. Following is my story: October, 2010: My contractor under my direct supervision completed a 582 square foot roof supported by Douglas fir beams and custom fabricated brackets. The materials used to cover the roof were provided by Ames Research Laboratories and include: - Contouring Roof Fabric - Super Elasto Barrier (30 gallons) - Maximum Stretch (15 gallons) The roof was installed correctly based on specific instructions from Wayne Kukaska and passed final county inspection. It is important to note that Wayne Kukaska specifically instructed my contractor that the contouring roof fabric would take the place of any seam sealer or seam tape. More specifically, Wayne Kukaska said Blue Max Liquid Rubber or Seam Tape were not required if contouring roof fabric was applied. As a result and based on Wayne Kukaska's specific instructions, my contractor placed the order with Kukaska for contouring roof fabric, Super Elasto Barrier and Maximum Stretch. Seam tape and seam sealer were not included in the order overseen by Wayne Kukaska. The materials were applied during clear weather and within the guidelines specified by Ames. The contouring roof fabric was installed with the appropriate overlap and a total of 5 coats were applied for maximum protection (10 years). August, 2011: Despite my contractor's best efforts, the roof failed completely less than 10 months after it was completed. Pinhole leaks first appeared at the seams throughout the roof allowing water to penetrate each of the seams that separate the plywood roofing. With 100% of the seams having failed and with Ames failure to act quickly to remediate, water then penetrated the roof coating, causing staining and the accumulation of mold throughout the ceiling. While Ames Research Laboratories' warranty clearly calls for replacement of the materials in such a situation, Ames' Wayne Kukaska has refused to honor the warranty. My contractor and I spoke to Wayne Kukaska directly regarding our desperate need for Ames to honor its warranty and to help us stop the damage to our roof. Wayne Kukaska continued to claim that his installation instructions were correct, but refused to provide replacement materials, which is clearly called for in Ames' warranty. Wayne said, "If properly installed our mesh never fails...our warranty only covers factory defects." This is actually inconsistent with the warranty, which calls for replacement in every instance except when the materials were installed incorrectly. Despite my contractor providing a detailed description of the installation process as well as multiple photos documenting the installation and the damage, Ames's Kukaska has refused to honor the warranty. Rather than send a local representative to see the damage first hand and to confirm that installation was done properly, Ames' Kukaska has refused to act. By delaying the remediation process and allowing several weeks of hard rain to further damage my roof, Wayne Kukaska has effectively destroyed my roof. Sadly, the request made to Ames was fair and reasonable and wholly within the purview of Ames warranty. Ames was not asked Ames to pay for the labor--my contractor agreed to cover that. Ames was not asked to pay for water stain repair or mold remediation required to fix the ceiling beneath the failed roof. Ames Research Laboratories was simply asked to honor its warranty in a timely fashion by replacing the materials originally ordered so that we could fix the roof. After weeks of delay, Kukaska reluctantly agreed to provide approximately $500 worth of materials but only if my contractor signed an onerous legal document releasing Ames from any liability. Essentially, in return for replacing less than 35% of the materials at a total cost to Ames of $500; and after delaying for several weeks, Ames had the nerve to ask to be released from liability on a $15,000 roof. Based on this experience, I strongly warn anyone who is considering using any Ames Research Laboratories products or advice given by Wayne Kukaska. read more

I have been very impreesed by the products we have purcahsed by this company at our local Ace Hardware store. We purchased Safe-T-Deck this summer to refinish our decks. It filled in a lot of blemishes, made it waterproof and best of all skid resistant - which is a must with our kids. Later, we used Liquid Granite for our concrete porch and loved the way it created a granite-like look. It is also filled in cracks and it supposed to waterproof our porch for the winter. I have receommended it to many neigbors who have stopped and commented! read more

Ames Research Laboratories - Paint Stores Near Me - Salem, Oregon

I am drafting this review for my father after a disastrous experience with Liquid Granite & an even worse experience with the CEO of the company. After a 100% product failure (product peeled off the surface after a very short time), my father had to speak with the Owner / CEO in order to reach a resolution. The owner was extremely condescending & treated my father like he was a dumbass. He even stated that the first amendment was drafted by his ancestors.... Uhm, okay. Who cares? What did that have to do with anything. In the end, the company would only replace a certain amount of the product & we had to pay to have the replacement material shipped. Please don't do business with this firm. They have several different product lines, so make sure you are aware of the selection so you don't make the same mistake my family made. read more

Excellent products. I was sealing a below grade block wall on an addition. I researched numerous ways that the wall could be water sealed. I used the Block and Wall Acrylic first per Ames recommendations. I used a thick roller and applied 4 thick coats, then I applied three coats of Blue Max, Rubber Coating, three very thick coats with a thick nap roller. The products worked better than expected and I was able to do it myself saving calling in a Contractor. I worked as a builder for 18 years before retiring so I have a good knowledge of construction. My block wall is waterproof ! I have used another product to seal the roof of my Travel Trailer from Ames and it as well worked to my satisfaction. I used their customer support and they are GREAT! read more

Excellent product. I've been dealing with a leaky flat roof for ten years. I've used elastomeric paint with a emulsified asphalt and it works for about a year before it starts leaking again. I spent the extra money to try Blue Max and I can say that it was money well spent. We installed a roof fabric over one coat of blue max, then applied two more coats of blue max with a finish coat of elastomeric roof paint. Not one leak, and it is solid. The roof paint is adhering to the blue max without blistering. I'm a happy camper. read more

While sad to hear of another reviewers discouraging experience, I have been quite pleased with mine. I installed mine a couple years ago and it's going strong. I don't trust flat roofs and will apply a refresher later every couple years to be safe. Having purchased multiple five gallon buckets, I noticed that in one the consistency was chunky it tended to peel more once down, also being a slightly different shade like it was a poor batch. I covered this later with another as I didn't trust it. read more

Had an opportunity to try Ames' all-in-one paint/primer this past weekend on a DIY room makeover project. What an amazing product! It was easily matched to desired wall color, rolled on easily and covered, even the black paint, on the very first coat. I will use this product over and over again. read more

The Elasto Barrier and Safe-T-Deck products have destroyed my brand new deck surface. Before using this product, I called and talked to Wayne, and he assured me that these products were designed for my exact application. I wanted to make sure it was designed for my application. I have a deck in which the surface is 3/4 in. plywood. We installed the entire deck during the summer, a minimum of 80 degree temps each day with no rain. I used all new untreated plywood. Wayne told me that it was designed for this exact type application. I ordered two 5 gallon buckets of each product. I followed his instructions and those on the container EXACTLY. I even applied an extra coat of the primer (Elasto-barrier). I let each coat cure for longer than time stated before the next coat. After three coats of the primer I applied 3 coats of the Safe-T-Deck and it looked absolutely beautiful. The first winter here (Washington state) the coating bubbled up and eventually started lifting and flaking off. So now, three years later, all the plywood is soft and squishy, not at all how it was after installation. When I called Wayne after the first winter, I explained to him exactly what my process was, how many coats, which products etc., he asked me to send him pictures. I sent him pictures the following day and he called me back and stated that I must not have followed the directions correctly because that wasn't supposed to happen. He then said the wood must have been wet or damp when I applied the product. I asked if he had a representative in my area that could come out and assess the damage and make a judgement based on what they saw. He said they didn't. I explained to him that I followed the directions to the "T", and even applied more coats than they suggested. My dog just stepped a hole in one spot yesterday where he was standing because the new 3/4 plywood is already that destroyed. Now that I have used this product, it is not recommended that I use some other product over the top of it. Besides that, I have a "new" deck that is falling apart simply because this product failed. Last time I talked to him he was not willing to help me resolve the problem, or refund any of my money. I would not recommend use of these two products at this point. I am very disappointed that I will now have to start all over on my deck. Truly maddening. read more