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PROTECTING YOUR WORLD

case study:
MONTREAL BIODOME & OLYMPIC STADIUM RENOVATIONS

Section 1Key TakeawaysMontreal Olympic Park — home to the iconic 1976 Olympic Stadium and Biodome — required critical gutter system restoration due to decades of harsh weather damageArmorThane Montreal applied Highline 310 polyurea coating to repair deteriorating concrete gutters at heights of 53 feet using scissor liftsThe mobile coatings unit kept all power and high-pressure spraying equipment at ground level while workers operated at extreme heightsAdhesion pull tests showed bond strengths up to 723 psi with 100% substrate failure — proving the coating outperformed the concreteThe polyurea barrier withstands temperatures from -80°F to +280°F and won't crack, peel, or corrode
541
Foot Tower Height
723
Max PSI Bond
53
Feet Work Height
5
Days to Complete
Article Excerpt

When Montreal's iconic Olympic Park needed critical gutter repairs on its legendary stadium, ArmorThane Montreal stepped in with Highline 310 polyurea coating technology. Working at heights of 53 feet using scissor lifts and a mobile coatings unit, the team restored the deteriorating concrete gutter system — creating a seamless waterproof barrier that withstands temperatures from -80°F to +280°F, protecting this national landmark for decades to come.

Quick Summary

Montreal Biodome & Olympic Stadium Renovation

From 1976 Olympic glory to modern restoration — discover how ArmorThane's polyurea coatings are preserving one of Canada's most treasured landmarks against harsh weather and decades of wear.

Pro Tip

Polyurea coatings are ideal for exposed concrete structures because they cure in seconds, forming a completely seamless membrane. Unlike traditional coatings that rely on overlapping seams, polyurea eliminates the #1 failure point — making it the gold standard for protecting stadiums, arenas, and other large-scale concrete structures from weather damage.

Did You Know?

The Montreal Olympic Stadium's iconic inclined tower stands 541 feet (165 meters) tall, making it the tallest inclined tower in the world. The stadium was built for the 1976 Summer Olympics and continues to host hundreds of thousands of visitors each year for sporting events, concerts, and other activities.

The ArmorThane coatings will protect this part of the building for years. It's a great one-time investment.

— ArmorThane Project Team

Adhesion Testing

Adhesion Pull Test Results

After completing the coating application, the applicator conducted rigorous adhesion pull tests on the polyurea-applied substrate using 20mm dollies. The results speak for themselves:

Test
PSI
Failure Mode
Rating
Pull 1
619 psi
95% substrate, 5% cohesive
Excellent
Pull 2
714 psi
100% substrate failure
Superior
Pull 3
488 psi
100% substrate failure
Superior
Pull 4
621 psi
40% substrate, 60% adhesive
Good
Pull 5
251 psi
75% substrate, 25% adhesive
Good
Pull 6
723 psi
100% substrate failure
Superior
What does "substrate failure" mean? When the concrete itself breaks before the coating separates, it means the polyurea bond is stronger than the substrate — the ultimate indicator of adhesion quality.
Proven Bond Strength
Seamless Waterproof Barrier
Government-Grade Solution
Decades of Protection
Asset 3

Montreal Olympic Park is a source of national pride, with the Olympic Stadium, a 541-foot observation tower (165 meters), and The Biodome. Built for the 1976 Summer Olympics, the stadium is now used for sporting events, concerts, and other activities. Each year, hundreds of thousands of visitors enter the park.

ArmorThane Montreal has worked on various coating projects throughout the Olympic Park for several years, including the Biodome. The latest project involved coating the stadium’s gutter system to repair it and prevent further concrete deterioration. The domed roof shape and harsh weather have damaged the large gutter troughs that channel the run-off from years of rain erosion and the impact of ice and snow.

Besides the deterioration, the challenge for repairing these fairly narrow eave troughs was the height. A scissor lift was used to raise people and tools to the 53-foot-high sections. With ArmorThane’s mobile coatings unit, all of the power and high-pressure spraying equipment could remain in the trailer below.

GETTING STARTED

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Sitting high above the ground, harnessed workers first scraped off old finish to ensure the ArmorThane coating formed a permanent bond to the concrete.  Once cleaned, sheets of plastic were secured to the outside of the building to prevent overspray given the wind velocity at those heights.

ArmorThane Highline 310 polyurea coating was sprayed onto the surface to form a waterproof barrier that expands and contracts with weather changes.  It doesn’t crack, peel or corrode with rain run-off or snow build up.  Coatings hold up in temperatures from -80°F to +280°F.

FINISHING TOUCHES

Asset 3

The final step is to roll on a UV stable coating to match the white exterior.

The ArmorThane coatings will protect this part of the building for years.  It’s a great one-time investment.

The applicator ended the project by conducting tests on the polyurea applied substrate. This involved affixing 20mm dollies to the surface. After allowing the glue to set for 24 hours, the dollies were then drilled using a 20mm coring hole bit.

The ArmorThane coatings will protect this part of the building for years. It’s a great one-time investment.

Case Details
Client Details

Montreal BIO Dome & Olympic Stadium

Service Provided

Upgraded and renewed multiple 35 year old water basins.

Project Timeline

5 Days spraying application,

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