Why would an Ottawa contractor suggest MMA over epoxy?

A contractor may raise MMA (methyl methacrylate) when a facility cannot stay closed long enough for epoxy to cure, or when the job has to go ahead in the cold. One MMA brochure (2010) lists cure to service in about one hour, and the same source says it cures down to approximately -29 degrees C. One epoxy data sheet lists foot traffic at 24 hours, light vehicles at 72 hours, and heavy traffic at 7 days, and sets a minimum application temperature of about 10 degrees C.

Those two differences are why it comes up. It comes up for facilities that cannot close long enough for a full cure. The cure window from the data sheet governs; the contractor must confirm the actual schedule against the specific product they plan to use, because figures vary by product and by conditions on the day.

There are other things to weigh. The Ontario Fire Code (O. Reg. 213/07, s.4.1.5.2) says open flames, sparks or heat shall not be permitted in an area where flammable or combustible liquids are stored, handled or used, unless controlled in a manner that will not create a fire or explosion hazard. Whether a specific MMA product is a flammable liquid depends on its Safety Data Sheet, Section 9. Under the Occupational Health and Safety Act, s.38(1.1), an employer whose staff remain on site during the work shall make a copy of the SDS readily available to workers who may be exposed; ask the contractor for the SDS before work begins.

We found no independent Canadian published prices for MMA to give a range. For comparison, published 2025-2026 contractor ranges put commercial epoxy at about $8 to $15 per square foot installed. A contractor recommending MMA should be able to show you the product data sheet and SDS, explain the surface profile they will prepare (ICRI concrete surface profiles are the reference), confirm the moisture test method they will use, and tell you exactly what the data sheet says about return to service for your traffic type.

Before you commit to any system, ask the contractor to show you the specific data sheet cure times for the traffic your floor will carry, so you can plan your closure around the product rather than around an estimate.