What Ames Research Laboratories does

Ames Research Laboratories, Inc. is a Salem, Oregon-based manufacturer of elastomeric waterproof coatings, roof sealants, primers, caulks, and related application products sold under the AMES and Blue Max brands. The company develops water-based acrylic and liquid rubber formulations with elongation properties cited at up to 1800%, targeting residential roofing, commercial waterproofing, RV, and tile/floor applications. Its product portfolio is structured as a system approach: primers, base coats, top coats, trowel-grade products, caulks, and reinforcement fabrics are designed for compatibility with one another, encouraging repeat purchase within the same brand ecosystem.

The company operates a multi-channel go-to-market model that includes the three largest U.S. home improvement retailers — Home Depot, Lowe's, and Ace Hardware — plus Amazon, direct e-commerce, and a third-party distribution partnership with Wallace Distribution. Customer segments span roofing contractors, facilities maintenance operations, DIY homeowners, and RV owners. Operational metrics cited include 99.8% order accuracy and 99.7-99.9% on-time delivery. The company holds SBA WOSB (Women-Owned Small Business) certification, is veteran-founded, and has obtained third-party certifications including Air Barrier Association of America membership and IAPMO/UPC certification for its tile/floor product line. No revenue, headcount detail beyond an 11-50 range, or funding history is disclosed in the source material.

Name

Ames Research Laboratories

Legal name

Ames Research Laboratories, Inc.

Website

https://amesresearch.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2002

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Ames Research Laboratories is a Salem, Oregon-based manufacturer of elastomeric waterproof coatings and roof sealants sold under the AMES and Blue Max brands to roofing contractors, facilities maintenance operations, DIY homeowners, and RV owners via Home Depot, Lowe's, Ace Hardware, Amazon, and distributor partners.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Waterproofing Coatings & Sealants

NAICS

Paint and Coating Manufacturing (325510)

SIC

Paints, Varnishes, Lacquers, Enamels & Allied Prods (2851), Adhesives & Sealants (2891)

akta.pro primary industry

Industrial & Protective Coatings (IMAEAGAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Industrial Protective Coatings (IMAEAHAB), Industrial Protective Coatings (IMADAKAB)

Keywords

• Elastomeric roof coatings
• Waterproofing sealants
• Liquid rubber coatings
• Foundation waterproofing
• Deck coating systems

Headquarters

HQ city

Salem

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Operations, Supply Chain, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Product Sales: Direct sales of waterproof coatings, sealants, and related application products to customers. One-time purchase model with products available in multiple sizes (1 gallon, 5 gallon, 55 gallon drum, 250 gallon tote). Revenue generated from individual consumers, contractors, and facilities maintenance professionals purchasing through direct website, retail partners, or Amazon marketplace.
2. Bulk/Commercial Sales: Large volume sales to commercial contractors and facilities with bulk pricing options. Phone sales support for project consultation and large order processing. Includes technical support services as part of the sales process.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels7 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Ames Research Laboratories manufactures and distributes rubberized elastomeric waterproof coatings, roof sealants, deck coatings, primers, reinforcement fabrics, and paint application tools under its AMES, Blue Max, and Linzer brands. Products are engineered with proprietary water-based acrylic and liquid rubber formulations with high elongation (up to 1800%) to resist cracking and peeling, and are sold through major retailers, online marketplaces, direct e-commerce, and regional distributors to DIY homeowners, contractors, and facilities maintenance professionals.

Product overview

Ames Research Laboratories is a manufacturer of rubberized elastomeric waterproof coatings and sealants. The product portfolio is organized into two main brands: the Ames brand covering roof coatings (AMES Premium Roof Armor, Maximum-Stretch, Elasto-Barrier), deck coatings (Safe-T-Deck Granulated and Smooth), primers (Super Primer), and accessory products (Peel & Stick Seam Tape, Contouring Roof Fabric, Poly-Bridge, Poly-300); and the Blue Max brand offering liquid rubber waterproofing products in various formulations (Original Blue with 1200% elongation, White with 900% elongation, Trowel Grade for thick applications, Caulk for crack repair, and Tile & Floor for tile installations). The company also offers a pre-configured RV Roof Coating Kit. Products are engineered for both professional applicators and do-it-yourselfers, serving applications including roofs, basements, foundations, decks, patios, and bathrooms.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• AMES Premium Roof Armor® 100% acrylic, durable, long-lasting elastomeric roof coating providing ultimate roof protection, featuring 42% more solids per gallon, 48% higher elongation for flexibility, 80% less VOC, and 50% stronger than leading competitors.
• Maximum-Stretch® White, elastomeric, acrylic, rubberized roof coating and sealant with 650% elongation to resist cracking and peeling, featuring 88% light reflectivity for energy savings and lowered cooling costs.
• Elasto-Barrier® Water-based, elastomeric, liquid rubber primer designed to seal, protect, maintain, and renew existing roofs, expanding and contracting 1200% with the surface to resist cracking and peeling, suitable for wood, steel, galvanized steel, aluminum, and more.
• Safe-T-Deck® Granulated High-performance granulated deck coating for restoring and protecting outdoor surfaces with durable protection against weather and foot traffic.
• Safe-T-Deck® Smooth Single component watertight urethane/acrylic coating designed to preserve, protect, and renew interior floors. Water-based formula waterproofs and seals out moisture for interior wood, concrete, and masonry surfaces.
• Block & Wall™ Liquid Rubber Adhesive, elastomeric, white liquid rubber designed for waterproofing walls and foundations, expanding and contracting 1800% to resist cracking and peeling. Non-toxic, eco-friendly, and VOC compliant.
• Blue Max® Original Blue Water-based, strong and highly adhesive elastomeric coating and sealant with 1200% elongation that moves with the surface to resist cracking and peeling. Ideal for waterproofing above and below grade foundations, basements, roofs, and floors. Air Barrier Association of America Certified.
• Blue Max® White Strong and highly adhesive elastomeric liquid rubber waterproofer with 900% elongation that moves with the surface to resist cracking and peeling. Ideal for waterproofing above and below grade foundations, basements, roofs, and floors.
• Blue Max® Trowel Grade Thick, blue, elastomeric, waterproofing rubber primarily used as a filler and sealer for joints, holes, valleys, cracks, around vents, low spots, flashings, and seams up to 5/8" wide. Suitable for masonry, cement backer board, ICF, wood, metal, and EPDM.
• Blue Max® Caulk Thick, blue, elastomeric, waterproofing rubber primarily used as a filler and sealer for masonry, cement backer board, ICF, wood, metal, and EPDM. Fills and seals joints, holes, valleys, cracks, around vents, low spots, flashings, and seams up to 5/8" wide.
• Blue Max® Tile & Floor Versatile, ready-to-use, liquid-applied elastomeric waterproofing material designed for commercial and residential tile and stone applications. Certified by IAPMO and compliant with Uniform Plumbing Code (UPC). Cures to form a flexible monolithic membrane with up to 1200% elongation.
• RV Roof Coating Kit Complete DIY kit for protecting RV and mobile home roofs featuring advanced waterproofing technology that reflects 88% of UV rays. Includes 2 Gallons Blue Max Liquid Rubber Basecoat, 2"x50' Seam Tape, Blue Max Caulk, and 3.5 Gallons Maximum-Stretch Top Coat.
• Super Primer™ Multi-surface acrylic primer sealer that creates a powerful membrane to seal against water damage while strengthening the surface. Can be used as a concrete and stucco additive blended with cement at a 25% water-replacement ratio.
• Peel & Stick™ Seam Tape Contouring, self-adhesive, heavy duty seam tape for reinforcement and prevention of water infiltration over seams, cracks, roof vents, and flashings. Must be top-coated for UV exposure.
• Contouring Roof Fabric™ 100% polyester reinforcing fabric that is strong, conforming, and reinforcing to help seal and protect roofs. Adds tensile strength and penetration resistance as part of the Ames Roof Coating System Membrane.
• Poly-Bridge® Strong and conforming polyester reinforcement fabric to help seal areas prone to splitting and leaking such as flashings, cracks, gaps, vents, and seams. 4"x100' roll of 100% polyester.
• Poly-300™ Polyester reinforcement fabric that helps seal and protect roofs and other surfaces. Provides additional tensile strength and elongation to help resist tears and punctures as part of the Ames Roof Coating System Membrane. 36"x100' roll.
• Linzer Paint Application Tools Paint application tools including Linzer Deep Well Metal Paint Tray, Contractor Roller Frame, 5 Gallon Lid Opener, and Paint Trim Cup designed for use alongside Ames coating products.

Quantifiable outcome

• 88% UV light reflectivity results in lowered cooling costs
• +8 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Home DepotcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorNational home improvement retail chain distributing Ames waterproofing products through physical store locations across the United States. Major retail channel for reaching DIY homeowners and small contractors.
• Lowe'scoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorNational home improvement retail chain distributing Ames waterproofing products through physical store locations across the United States.
• Ace HardwarecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorHardware cooperative with independently owned retail locations. Ace Hardware distributes Ames products and participates in trade show events together. Long-standing relationship with positive retailer feedback over 11+ years.
• Wallace DistributionminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorRegional distribution partner for wholesale product distribution. Featured at trade show events (March 28-30, 2023 in Sevierville, TN).
• International Builder ShowminorGTM or Marketing PartnerMajor trade show event (January 31 - February 2, 2023 in Las Vegas, NV) for building industry professionals. Platform for product demonstration and contractor outreach.
• International Roofing ExpominorGTM or Marketing PartnerAnnual roofing industry trade show (March 7-9, 2023 in Dallas, TX) for product demonstration and contractor networking.
• Painting Contractors Association (PCA)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerIndustry association for painting contractors (February 22-24, 2023 in Albuquerque, NM). Trade show participation for product demonstration and professional contractor outreach.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Henry Company: Major manufacturer of elastomeric roof coatings, waterproofing systems, and air barriers. Directly comparable to Ames across commercial and residential roof coating categories, including competing products in the Blue Max / Maximum-Stretch positioning.
• National Coatings Corporation: Manufacturer of acrylic elastomeric roof coatings focused on commercial roof restoration. Comparable technology platform (water-based acrylic elastomerics) and contractor-oriented go-to-market model.
• Karnak Corporation: Specialty manufacturer of roof coatings, sealants, and waterproofing products for commercial and residential applications. Comparable product portfolio and customer base to Ames with a similar focus on liquid-applied elastomeric systems.
• APOC (Gardner): Roofing and waterproofing coatings brand under the Gardner parent, offering asphalt-based and elastomeric roof coatings distributed through retail and contractor channels. Closely comparable product line and go-to-market approach.
• Mule-Hide Products: Manufacturer of low-slope roofing systems including elastomeric roof coatings and waterproofing products. Direct competitor in commercial roof restoration, with overlapping contractor and facilities maintenance customer segments.
• Gardner-Gibson: Specialty manufacturer of roof coatings, sealants, and waterproofing products sold through home improvement retailers. Directly comparable to Ames in product mix, channel strategy, and contractor/DIY end-markets.
• Liquid Rubber: Specialty manufacturer of liquid-applied waterproofing coatings with water-based formulations. Competes head-to-head with Ames' Blue Max line in DIY and contractor waterproofing applications.

Broad incumbents

• GAF: Largest North American roofing manufacturer with a comprehensive portfolio including roof coatings, underlayments, and shingles. Competes with Ames in elastomeric roof coatings and commercial restoration while leveraging far greater scale and contractor relationships.
• Rust-Oleum: Large specialty coatings manufacturer with retail distribution through Home Depot, Lowe's, and other major chains. Competes in adjacent categories (deck coatings, sealants, waterproofers) where Ames also plays.
• Tremco: Division of RPM International producing building envelope solutions including roofing, waterproofing, and sealants. Broad incumbent with overlapping elastomeric coating products serving commercial contractors.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/Ames_Labs

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Ames Research Laboratories