Armafloor

[peteB]

Hi everybody, I have spent many hours searching this forum for help in deciding what to put on my 24x28 floor. Sometimes I miss the old days before the web, seemed like making decisions was easier. I've decided to hire someone to install epoxy or whatever I go with. This afternoon I came across a guy in my (St. Paul MN) yellow pages who suggested a product called Armafloor (Methyl Methacrylate). He says it will outlast epoxies and won't yellow. Searched the forum but couldn't find anything on it. Even yahoo search turned up only this guy and some company in the U.K. Anyone know anything about it?
Thanks
Pete

 

[peteB]

Surely Mr. Wolverine must be able to shed a little light on this product.

 

[HarashoPuck]

This might help:

http://www.northamerica.stirlingllo...ducts/flooring/armafloor/problem-solution.htm

 

[HarashoPuck]

Another


http://www.iccoatings.com/residential services.htm

 

[peteB]

Yes, those were the two sites I found. ICcoatings is the guy who would do the install and the other is the manufacturer. I was hoping that someone without a vested interest in the product might have some knowledge of how well the stuff performs compared to epoxy. I'm curious because he will install it for cheaper than epoxy.
Pete

 

[HarashoPuck]

Looks interesting.

I will check with some locals here and see what they think.

If I get any feedback, I will share.

 

[peteB]

Thanks,
They did a floor about a mile away from me in 2006. I am going to check it out in about 45 min. I'll post my impressions as well as the property owners'.
Pete

 

[WolverineCoatings]

Most MMA is produced by Degussa (now Evonik). It is NASTY material! The biggest selling point is the quick return to service. It is an acrylic type molecule which everyone knows is NOT as durable physically as an epoxide molecule. We don't make or sell any MMAs... Since we have quick cure products this chemistry would not add any value to our product line. A good MMA based coating can give decent durability. I wouldn't recommend anyone trying a DIY application with it. Also, you might want to evacuate your family for awhile while the fumes clear.

 

[peteB]

Well, "not as durable" is not what I was hoping to hear. I'm still thinking about it though, mainly because his price is the same or less than epoxy. The job would include- shotblasting, primer, 3 coats of the MMA, fully flaked, 36mil thickness. He also says that touch ups if needed, even 3 or 4 years later, can easily be done in 10 minutes.
A dropped beer bottle or hastily dragged barstool, is probably some of the most severe service the floor will see. The garage funds have dwindled to such a point that maybe I'm better off just sealing the floor and putting the 3200 bucks into cabinetry. Thanks for the replies.

Terminally indecisive,
Pete

 

[WolverineCoatings]

? $3200? How big is your floor?

 

[peteB]

The floor is 23'x27' approx

 

[thegarageguy]

MMA is very difficult to work with, stinks real bad but from my experience, done properly, by a professional, will last a very long time. Ive see car dealerships with MMA down and barely show wear after years. $5 per sqft is very reasonable. Jump on it.

I'm an epoxy guy but my one of my main manufacturers of material makes MMA and some freinds in the business only use MMA. Its very industrial and not residential freindly at all. Smells like nail polish remover x 10. Concrete prep has to be perfect. MMA is very unforgiving. It has to be mixed perfectly and concrete has to be tested with a hammer and chisel. If your test spot flys off like a hockey puck, then you have to keep grinding. The preferred method for this system is shotblasting because of its deeper profile. If The test spot comes off with a chunk of concrete, then you can proceed. Again, very difficult to work with unless your a seasoned pro. As far as I know, MMA is very durable. What I don't like is that it doesn't have a high gloss finish, only satin. Believe me, durable as hell!

As far as the chemical, I know it works. Now just make sure the installer isn't half assed and has worked with it for a long time. Check his referrences and see if you can see some finished jobs.

Good Luck

 

[peteB]

Well, I did jump on it. Interstate Coatings is going to install it on Monday. The guy is older than my 46 years, which is a plus I think. He does mainly commercial and industrial work. He did Camp Snoopy at Mall of America, 17 years ago, and that floor still looks good today. I believe he has around 20 years experience with MMA. He ONLY does about 50 garages a year he says, to keep his guys going between bigger jobs. He happens to have a large quantity of a 7 color blend of chips that I really like (it was blended to match some terazzo at a WI school district). He is going to do a full coverage job and he even said he would do the course of block with a complimentary solid color MMA.
Four days ago I didn't even know MMA existed. This is definitely a new personal record for fast decision-making, at least, since Al Gore invented the Internet that is.

Pete

 

[peteB]

The guys showed up Mon morning at 9am to install the MMA coating. As soon as the rental 3 phase generator showed up for their shotblaster they went to work, 4 guys. By 10 they were priming the floor, within 30 minutes or so they were walking on it filling cracks, while 2 of them painted the course of block with a solid color MMA. Then 2 more coats flaked to excess, followed by 2 top coats. At 2:30 I rolled everything back into the garage.
Wolverine and Garageguy were right that this stuff isn't for your average DIYer. They applied about a gallon at a time. They were hustling, 3 guys spread it around while 1 guy mixed. The mixer dumped what looked like powdered sugar into the clear stuff, mixed for ten seconds and handed it immediately to the appliers. The smell (nail polish) was pretty strong outside the garage, I don't know how they handle it every day with no respirators at all. It had to be pretty strong inside the garage.
The finish was a little rougher than I expected, so I asked if they could smooth it out a little bit, which he did the next day with a floor polisher.
My wife likes its looks so much, she said we should have put it on our basement floor instead of the slate I spent a month on.
Now to find some cabinets.

Pete

 

[FFPL]

need some pics

 

[peteB]

Not for lack of trying, I can't make a close up small enough, I'll keep trying

 

[peteB]

Sorry its not real sharp, my photo taking, editing and attaching skills all need work. I try and figure out how to attach full size images.

Pete

 

[Jaguar Fan]

Sorry its not real sharp, my photo taking, editing and attaching skills all need work. I try and figure out how to attach full size images.

Pete

Looks cool!

Try www.photobucket.com or equivalent -- then imbed the direct link in a message inside... then we get a full size image

 

[WolverineCoatings]

Nice... Glad it worked out for you!

 

[thegarageguy]

Hey, I guess I do know what the hell I'm talking about.

Now lets see some pics with your car in it!

 

[mulchros]

Hi....I had ICC do my garage floor last Sept. It is now peeling. After many phone calls and emails, I have yet to hear back from them. Wondering how your garage floor holding up. I am very frustrated. I don't think this should have happened after only a year. Thank you.