Ace Hardware Fall Convention 2026: The 3 Things We’re Most Excited About

Ames Research Laboratories is headed to Orlando for the Ace Hardware Fall Convention 2026, taking place September 22–24 at the Orange County Convention Center.

For us, this show is about more than putting products on a shelf. It’s an opportunity to meet the people helping homeowners, contractors, property managers, and DIYers solve real problems every single day.

A leaking roof. A worn-out deck. Water getting into a basement. An RV roof that has seen one too many summers.

Those problems need solutions, and that’s what Ames has been developing for decades.

From liquid rubber waterproofing membranes to complete roof coating systems, deck coatings, primers, and DIY-friendly project kits, we’re looking forward to showing Ace retailers just how many projects can be tackled with Ames products.

Drumroll please...here are the three things we’re most excited for at the Ace Hardware Fall Convention 2026.

When people hear “Blue Max” they often think of roof waterproofing first.

But Blue Max® Liquid Rubber Waterproofer is much more versatile than that.

Blue Max® is a liquid-applied rubberized waterproofing membrane designed for a wide variety of properly prepared surfaces and projects. That makes it especially valuable for hardware retailers because one product can help solve several different types of waterproofing problems.

Blue Max® can be used for projects including:

• Basements
• Foundations
• Retaining walls
• Roof systems
• Below-grade waterproofing
• General waterproofing and moisture protection

Blue Max® provides a very different solution than simply covering the problem with paint. It's Air Barrier Association of America Certified and has 1200% elongation that moves with the surface to resist cracking & peeling.

And when Blue Max® is used as part of a roof system, Blue Max® can serve as the rugged waterproofing basecoat underneath reinforcement (like Ames Contouring Roof Fabric) and a UV-stable topcoat (like Maximum-Stretch)

That versatility is one of the reasons we’re excited to put Blue Max® in front of Ace retailers. One product can potentially answer a surprising number of questions customers bring into the store.

A waterproofing membrane does the heavy lifting, but if that membrane is going to sit in direct sunlight, it also needs protection.

That’s where Maximum-Stretch® comes in.

Maximum-Stretch® is a flexible elastomeric acrylic coating designed to serve as a durable, UV-stable topcoat over Ames waterproofing systems.

A complete Ames roof coating system can include:

1. Waterproofing Basecoat
Start with a rugged basecoat such as Blue Max® or Elasto-Barrier®.

2. Reinforcement
Use Ames® Contouring Roof Fabric™ where reinforcement is needed to help strengthen seams, transitions, penetrations, and other critical areas.

3. UV-Stable Topcoat
Finish with Maximum-Stretch® to help protect the waterproofing membrane from sunlight and continued weather exposure.

Instead of treating a roof coating as one bucket doing every job, retailers can help customers understand the value of a complete layered system, with Maximum-Stretch® providing the final protective shield.

Not every coating project is hidden on a foundation wall or sitting high above you on a roof.

Some of the surfaces homeowners notice most are the ones they walk across every day.

Safe-T-Deck® Granulated is designed to renew properly prepared exterior wood and concrete/masonry surfaces while creating a durable, textured, skid and slip resistant finish with improved traction underfoot.

It’s a great solution for projects such as:

• Decks
• Patios
• Walkways
• Stairs
• Ramps
• Balconies
• Breezeways

At Ace Hardware, Safe-T-Deck® is available in White, providing customers with a clean, bright finish that can help refresh worn and weathered outdoor surfaces.

Safe-T-Deck® is easy to apply by brush or roller and features a granulated, barefoot-friendly texture designed for areas where people walk, gather, and spend time outdoors.

Pair it with Ames Super Primer™ on appropriate properly prepared surfaces to help promote strong adhesion and create a more complete coating system.

For Ace retailers, Safe-T-Deck® offers an easy-to-understand solution for customers looking to do more than simply cover an aging deck or patio. It helps renew the appearance of the surface while adding texture, traction, and durable protection for everyday use.

📍 Visit the Ames Waterproof Coatings booth (Booth 25160)
📞 Call 888-345-0809
📧 Email sales@amesresearch.com to schedule a meeting

See you there!