thanks a lot for posting this. I am one of those "statistics" of another trade guy (Carpentry and Plumbing) looking at blown in and SPF ...there is a huge need where I am at...but NOT a biz to get into when yer operating on a shoestring!! you have put out the most complete and candid info I have come across...thanks again.
Looking at getting my own rig. very much appreciated. I've always taken pride in everything I do. I know this Is going to be challenging but I'm willing to try. anyone watching this video, just remember you will always fail if you never try. give it your all.
My dad’s been in the Insulation business for 20 years and to Spray Foam for the last 10 years After seeing this video, I understand why he wanted me to do a minimum one year apprenticeship Thanks Spray Jones
Everything he said just summed my last three years- no joke. Going into my fourth winter- owner/operator- small family owned business. Learn, learn, and learn. Get support from techs and distributors and get your hands on all aspects of your own rig. Commitment to doing in ratio period then maybe yield, then look for butter. Somedays it all goes great and others not a chance. Know customer service is directly to a good name! Leave the job site better than they expect it to be. Do follow ups with customer and get references with reviews for your website that are current. Mastering installing spray foam is not impossible- but the learning curve is really large. This channel has been a life savor more than one time! Thank you Spray Jones- it should Dr Jones!
GREAT VID!!! in nearly 40+ yrs of being self-employed, I've owned and operated a Media Blasting Company, Swimming Pool construction, including excavation, Gunite, and plaster. Then Carpet Cleaning. All of these trades required learning all of the material, and equipment specifics to keep things running efficiently. So listening to you about all the different little quirks of the chemistry and equipment temperamentals is deeply understood and appreciated.
Been spraying since 2008 here on Cape Cod, MA. My supplier is a critical component for a successful business. Reliable product, training, tech support, parts and service, equipment, etc. Your looking at a $100,000 investment. We just acquired a second spray rig due to an ambitious entrepreneur who did not grasp the full scope of what this industry entails, as you mentioned. Our second spray installer will take months to spray independently and confidently, and I’ll still be rebuilding the guns for him. It takes a crew to operate efficiently, knowledge and experience is a must for success. Your spot on with this video, if you’re watching this and thinking about getting into this industry, pay attention to what is being said here.
Most profound video on the foam world I’ve seen, thank you. I’m 9 months on of a business arrangement gone sour, I inherited the equipment, and man the trials and obstacles I’ve been hitting is unreal. I still have my W2 job , mechanical engineer by trade, and working every spare hour to make the foam business work, really have no choice. Like you said, equipment resale is garbage. I know it’s a profitable industry to be in, my market in West TN is on fire. Just continuing to persevere and burn cash.
That's right! No one can teach you more about spraying then the foam itself and learning everything that comes with the business! Got to be passionate about this industry and treat spraying like an art! Have love for it!
This is next level education ... You do an incredible job with all the vids and packed with teaching the ins and outs of the services you provide. Your passion shows and your high standards show too . Wednesday July 6, 2022. 18.7 k subs. Watching it blast off. Hope you are having a gorgeous summer. Thanks for all these vids
When I foam a building I just use cans of window foam from the Depot. Last job only cost me 12,000 cans x $5.99 = $71,880. The house didn't end up even needing HVAC when I got done because it was so thermally efficient. Then I scrapped the metal cans for $40.00 at the local recycling center. I'm a Jack-of-all-homes, a Master at foam. I don't even charge labor. That way they're not "customers" and therefore cannot sue me later when the yellow foam igloo I turned their house into suffocates the pet geckos. I love your video, and the knowledge contained therein. There is definitely more to the spray foam business than many may think. I love your brutal honesty. You are most definitely saving many people from a lot of problems and I think your advice can apply to a very wide range of different businesses. I subscribed and it's nice to meet you.
I had foam sprayed in a new pole barn, ended up buying the company from the guy. (Retirment age guy). 6 years in I finally feel like I'm getting a handle on things. 2 years of loosing money before I understood the equipment even though I have a background in mechanics, welding & fab, electrical, etc. I feel like I have an advantage over a lot of ppl but still struggled for so long. I'm working to be an elite company in my area, not another uneducated hack. Thanks to people like you online and a few locals I've gotten some good support and information.
Thank you so much for this video! Your very thurough clean an accurate. Tons of great insight on what to expect. I’m brand new to foaming an watching this vid has me madly in love lol ..!!
I like your videos alot. I came from guadalajara jal. To california usa. It took for me 7 years to learn how to spray foam. Learning the hard way . I whis a have a mentor like you
Alrededor de 5 años te recomiendo que empieses en una compañia para que te aleones y entiendas de lo que se trata pues se mira muy facil pero asta que agarras la pistola y comiensas a tener problemas ya sea el quimico o la maquinaria es cuando te vas a dar cuenta si tiras la toalla o descubres que tu naciste para esto..no gastes en un equipo mejor trata en una compañia primero ,conosco a muchos que los enredan les financean las maquinas en $80,000 o mas y luego terminan demandados por que no pudieron pagarlas y asta tristes por que fue la peor inversion de su vida,,pero si aprendes en 5 años te garantizo que vas a hacer mas billetes en tu vida que cualquier otro oficio.
I have been an automotive master service tech for 3 decades. Not only a welder but working on the Isuzu 3 cylinder diesel, gen-sets, compressor and hydraulics. Most people don’t understand that air needs a dryer system and there is a lot of maintenance & cleaning. Plus you have trailer maintenance, brakes, wheel bearing need repacked, lights need to work, etc. Then, you need a coffin hoist that swings to lift 50 gallon barrels of materials into the trailer from storage. How about keeping equipment from freezing? Now you need to lease a building and polish you “Backing Skills”. If you have ever seen the ball knob on a steering wheel located at the 6:00 O’Clock position? What is that for? It’s for backing up. Your turn your head to use the mirrors and what you can see and if the trailer needs to go left, turn the ball handle left. Turn right, rotate the ball handle right! Easy if you grew up on a farm as tractors use these. A tyvek suit is cheap but a full helmet breathing pack runs $3,000-$5,000 for your time around the toxins you would normally just breathe in. There is a lot plus, how to bid the job and sell the entire package. It takes an hour to get to a location, an hour to setup equipment and heat materials depending on temps, run hose, gain access to the attic of walls to spray. Then time to get your equipment out, not make a mess, clean up equipment because it won’t clean itself and won’t work if plugged and how to collect for the job. Part up front and full payment when done. How about photo of current drivers license to see if they live there, names match, recovery of payment if they leave while you are spraying. Depending where you spray, should the people leave, pets, elderly family or folks with compromised breathing problems. Yes! A lot to do. Don’t forget quarterly taxes. Earnings reports to a bank, keeping track of income, pay your self first and reinvest into the company. You can’t spray and earn money if you don’t have product or enough product at the job site. Yep, a couple of things….
Can these spray foam rigs depending on the g*n (pew pew) deploy the same type of material (foam) which is used for setting post in the ground? The same stuff that is in the bag, the alternative to using concrete. 👊
Not business related but I have a question.... I'm building my new house all on my own. So far it is progressing very well. I did 4000sq ft concrete slab, I did all framing including complicated roof. Now it's coming to insulation, I really want spray foam as I'm building high efficiency, close to passive house standard, but it's out of my budget. I have an idea to buy spray equipment out of China, source chemicals locally and spray entire house by myself. Is it bed idea? I'm a mechanical engineer and very handy... Can it be done? What is the price of chemicals in Canada? Thanks
It will cost you 30k or more to pay these guys to insulate that house. You can get the gear from China (heated spray unit and 32cfm air comp.) for 7k and the goop from a USA source for $2,300 per two 55 gallon kit (you'll probably need three, one kit covers 4,500 board ft. 12"by12"by1" thick) each inch is r 6-7. It's not that hard, I did it. I have a background in auto refinishing but basically pick a room you don't care about too much about and practice, do it in 1" layers and play with it. It's mostly about staying in the temp range for everything, keep moving and getting used to the gun. Then you can spray for your friends (you will be very popular) and sell the unit when you're done, they go for about $4,000-$6,000, sure maybe not as good as a 30K Graco, but it'll get the job done for you and a few others, it pays for itself just for your own house. Not only that, when and if it fails (and it probably won't) you can blame yourself, because the time will have passed for any liability for the spray company...they don't offer a lifetime warranty. Good luck. EDIT sorry, reread your post, your cost will be higher for the goop, you are going super insulated, go 1" at a time and you should be good. Get a good sq ft of the coverage area and remember 1 set of barrels covers 4500 board ft. I went 2" on my walls and 3" on the arches took 2 sets 4400 board Ft. (steel arch buildings), in the SE USA.
I removed asbestos when I was in my 20’s. I loved it and if I wasn’t so old now I know I would love spraying foam! Don’t think my old body could stand up to the grind, but Spray Jones if one of your guys needs a few months off give me a call, I’m retired so I can afford to work for free!!!
If you get into the business, stay loyal to a supplier! We’ve sprayed the same foam for 5 years now and we have been taken care of during this supply crisis. Between our direct supply and our old distributor, we’ve had foam throughout this. It’s not always about finding the cheapest foam!
Always try to stick with one brand, my favorite was JM corbond, the rig to me ran better and less downtime, always had someone to get a cheaper foam and we paid for it later. Was a few hundred more for a set. Was accepted on more commercial jobs than any other foam.
Beautiful work Mike 👍 always have spare gun have plenty of spares o rings etc have a maintenance routine and stick to it always use manufacturer parts clean filters regularly and y strainers stay within recommended parameters for hose and chemical heat zones don’t yank the heated hose connections may come loose and throw up an error code costing time to find fault regularly service compressor and a25 stick to this you’ll have minimal problems steer out of it and it will bite guys ( closed cell sprayer from uk )
Honestly it depends on the person. I worked with a company that did two coat epoxy in food manufacturing plants. We could only actually work on the weekends. First week was cleaning, and understanding all the parts, getting fitted and learning how to sandblast. Friday came and off to Georgia. The plant only shuts down a section at a time, but this section is at least 20,000 sqft. There was 20 of us, so 10 of us doing 12 hour shifts that alternate. First step was prepping the walls, which was sanding metal to create a profile, then it was wrapping all the electrical, pipping and scaffolding. When it was time to spray, i stayed with the pump guy to help with whatever the sprayers needed and to help with equipment. Got cool with him and helped him with the barrels and watching the gauges. He taught me a lot of shit in that first shift. 2nd shift came in to rotate and I noticed the guy was staying put. Where we keep the drums and pumps is always sealed off with thick plastic so you cant really see and you also cant enter unless you’re fitted(full face mask/suit), so i stayed with him, didn’t really care about getting in trouble. In those 24 hours i asked that man almost every question i could think of. The next weekend, i was spraying. Went from 15$/hr to 37$/hr and i had all the sprayers respect
How do you feel about investing in someone’s start-up Spray foam company? My uncle spent 20 years as a sprayer but stopped to focus on his painting business which is decently successful. He says the cost of the equipment is prohibitive to starting a spray foam business. Thinking about maybe entering a partnership. I’ve done a little research and there is demand in my area for spray foam companies.
I was told once the spray foam equipment gets used for first time that the equipment must stay working everyday and that the equipment can’t sit for more than 2 days before you start having issues with the equipment.
Yes I did, I worked in SPF from 2000 - late 2004 before I started Jones. In fact the firm I worked at built rigs and trained contractors including on site oversight and set ups.
I own a concrete construction business,. 7 years ago branched out to provide mud jacking and poly foam lifting. Although not the same profession , poly uses same equipment,. Jones is 110% nail on with this video,. School of hard knocks is a brutal school and the tuition fees can, and will be the make or break of your dreams........ you have to have the passion and drive to make it
I'm a personal builder and have four warehouse type buildings I plan to erect that are about 16,000 sq ft each (footprint). I'm considering buying my own rig. Any schools you or anyone else can recommend? I see them listed on the internet, but don't know which ones are trying to sell a product or equipment, and which ones are truly helping people to learn the trade.
Don't do this.... you are not ready and this is a trade that takes years to get to understand. Would you buy a lathe to do your own machining because you have 1600 parts to make?
@@Thegastankproductions You are going to have to borrow from someone or something. Really know whether you have the market in your area to be successful and not just poaching jobs from your ex-boss.
Mike, you were talking about the amounts of competitors “in your area”. Would you be able to give a rough mile radius that I should be looking at? And what’s a high or low number? Like is 5 in a 50 mile radius Saturated? (Just round numbers as an example)
Thank you for the video Mike, it was very informative. Quick question, what do you think of blown in insulation business? I am 20 years old and live in South FL and I want to start my own blown in business. I have about 2 years of apprenticeship and have a good feel for the business but afraid to take a risk and pull the trigger to start it. Any advice? Thank you
@@SprayJones thanks for responding sir! I understand what you’re saying. The guy I worked for moved up north last year and told me that I can take over south FL and he would take over north FL but tried charging me %60 of the profits which for me was a no go. I got my A&P license and turned into an aircraft mechanic but the thought of starting my own insulation business is still in the back of my head. But I’ll take your advice and wait for the right time. Again, thank you
Hey spray foam Jones. I'm a homeowner & learned so much from you. I have a question, can spray foam be installed in my crawl space & under my roof deck in a furnished house
Haha I was just about to ask you for your number haha I'm relatively new to the trade only 3 years, I went into it green as grass but I had some good tutors. The guy we bought the rig from and my foam supplier he's been in the buissness for over 20 years. O and I cant forget sprayjones!! Uve taught me alot. And there's really nobody around here except 1 company and they don't have a good reputation.
@@SprayJones Sure I do. I had 2 companies come over to give me an estimate on a building, a 4500-board ft. empty building. They came in at $20,000 and told me the materials alone would be $15,000. Are you telling me that the 4-55 gallon drums in actual chemicals are 15k?(which I know are really $4,600 for 4 maybe less since you buy in bulk) The one day to spray my empty building was worth $500 per hour? (if it even takes more than 10 hrs.. probably only 5) So, tell me again that I don't know much about life and business and keep scamming people until another company comes in and undercuts you. Your company is failing so much that you need to have a TH-cam channel to try and make ends meet.
Yea ok, thank you for the advice, im getting it for the purpose of investment NOT WORKING it. but thankx for the advice, Drywall guy here, Basement renovation & Water proofing guy here,
That'll never fly. You and your partner will be fighting over money and risks within 2 years or less. There is no way margin can be shared with partners in SPF, I have seen this over and over again, just like franchises.
Honesty, few know what they are getting into. We have plenty of salesman ready to blow sunshine up your butt just to get the sale. Yes I offer the different perspective. Not sorry if it melted your heart.
I had to go against a home owner once over a 900$ difference in price for roughly 1500sq ft roof deck between me and some competition. If I didn't have my ducks in a row and wasn't able to show the difference in technical knowledge about how his roof functions with or without the foam he would have thought just about price. IF you don't have the time to bother with building science and can teach and inform customers about it you're going to be fighting for lowest bidder every time.
@@SprayJones Got a question for you though. I've been asked about a job concerning making closed cell flush with a 3 5/8th metal stud. Do you have any experience cutting closed cell flush in the PNW? I'm in the southeast and architects have just started drawing it like this. Is there a machine you could reccommend or have heard about?
@@akselwagner All cutting of open cell is done using a 36" long blade used for cutting cardboard. You can buy an air operated vibrating cutter that uses this long blade. Most SPF equipment suppliers sell them.
I’m a industrial painter,I have sprayed everything at one time or another,Timberjack,John Deere,Skyjack,gas regulators,military.When I started spraying foam I quickly realized that these damn guns are heavy 😂It took me at least two weeks before I could spray without stopping to rest.
The problem with you doing these videos is it makes it hard to find a competent Spray Foam company in my area 😆. When I ask if they caulk all the seams and then give me that deer starring into headlights look, my questions get even more technical 😂. Maybe there’s so many startups with people with no experience, because they got frustrated with all the companies in their area that they couldn’t trust. I can’t lie I’ve thought about buying the DAP HVAC machine to practice😜🤪. I had one representative have the nerve to say I would have to find out from the building inspector if 3” on the roof deck would pass inspection (umm you don’t have the inspector on predial let alone not know the code). Asked another rep if he could quote spraying all vent pipes and water lines in the lower level (house is up on pilings) as well as the deck. He couldn’t understand why I wanted the vents, water, and sewer pipes sprayed and when he sent the quote it wasn’t included. Another would only quote me 2” in the wall cavity; even though I wanted 3”😂. The struggle is real when you watch Spray Jones!
And that is why I do what I do. Those morons out here give the industry a bad rep. So better that you be educated and weed them out rather than hire them and get taken advantage of. If the SPF installers won't learn I aim to educate their customers so they can't hide.
And u r dealing with seriously toxic chemicals ! Letting an inexperienced operators without lots of liability insurance cover your house with spray seems like the answer to all your home built problems but far too many end up On the road to perdition living in. A sick house and selling it at a loss.
I call BS. My cousin just bought an $80k rig from Grayco. They trained two of his guys to use the machine and maintenance-for free. It’s not rocket science.
it's spray foam... you're acting like this shit is more difficult than painting a car. drug addicts and crackheads do this job, my guy. you're not a machinist. spray foam is not on the same level as welding. I can't even believe you said that shit@@SprayJones
Well if you wanted to discourage people from owning their own spray foam business, you've successfully made that youtube video do the trick. Brutally honest I suppose
Sounds like is easy as hell to run a spray foam company… and 10,000$ for an engine rebuild on a generator? A works kit for a max force dt is 3,500 bucks… what kind of generator are you running? You can rebuild an isx for 5 grand… cool background of someone spraying purple foam but come on…
A John Deere turbo 3 cylinder is $5000 Canadian in just the parts to rebuild without any major head work. The shop rates around here for diesel start at $145 per hour. Book time on full R&R is 38 hours. Do the math...
So you want to get into the Spray Foam business huh, Don't! Seen huge companies go under because they didnt understand the science behind it, and the business dynamics. People get confused with this product and they think its a paint that anyone can apply. I've been in the business 10 years and had a lot of help from other people mistakes and failures. This isn't something that anyone can just do and it takes a long time to get a grasp on what you can do and what you cant. First year anyone doing this with no experience you better have a few veterans to help from sales to installing to payment. Having people knowing how to store material and rotate stocks, keeping preventive maintenance on schedule. I think spray jones touches on some subjects of fixing things when shit hits the fan. Knowing how to switch out a powerplant helps, knowing how to hook up to 240 3 phase in a building also helps. Things break all the time. how to handle a minor problem which could lead into something major. Much to list.
I mean... Ok... but... not what I was expecting in this video... thanks anyway? Kind of seems like Why idiots shouldn't start businesses. I was more interested in the equipment, costs, buying methods, suppliers.. etc... Everything you said is true, but it's true about every industry and every type of work... Most people who have been in any leadership role at work knows this stuff.
SPF veterans, leave some advice in the comments
thanks a lot for posting this. I am one of those "statistics" of another trade guy (Carpentry and Plumbing) looking at blown in and SPF ...there is a huge need where I am at...but NOT a biz to get into when yer operating on a shoestring!! you have put out the most complete and candid info I have come across...thanks again.
Glad it was helpful!
You don’t want competition we gotchu bud
I think he wants some more cheap apprentices to grow his business 😂
Looking at getting my own rig. very much appreciated. I've always taken pride in everything I do. I know this Is going to be challenging but I'm willing to try. anyone watching this video, just remember you will always fail if you never try. give it your all.
did you ever get your rig?
My dad’s been in the Insulation business for 20 years and to Spray Foam for the last 10 years
After seeing this video, I understand why he wanted me to do a minimum one year apprenticeship
Thanks Spray Jones
Everything he said just summed my last three years- no joke. Going into my fourth winter- owner/operator- small family owned business. Learn, learn, and learn. Get support from techs and distributors and get your hands on all aspects of your own rig. Commitment to doing in ratio period then maybe yield, then look for butter. Somedays it all goes great and others not a chance. Know customer service is directly to a good name! Leave the job site better than they expect it to be. Do follow ups with customer and get references with reviews for your website that are current. Mastering installing spray foam is not impossible- but the learning curve is really large. This channel has been a life savor more than one time! Thank you Spray Jones- it should Dr Jones!
Thanks Darrell, glad to know we have helped make you and the industry better.
GREAT VID!!! in nearly 40+ yrs of being self-employed, I've owned and operated a Media Blasting Company, Swimming Pool construction, including excavation, Gunite, and plaster. Then Carpet Cleaning. All of these trades required learning all of the material, and equipment specifics to keep things running efficiently. So listening to you about all the different little quirks of the chemistry and equipment temperamentals is deeply understood and appreciated.
Thanks for sharing!
Been spraying since 2008 here on Cape Cod, MA. My supplier is a critical component for a successful business. Reliable product, training, tech support, parts and service, equipment, etc. Your looking at a $100,000 investment. We just acquired a second spray rig due to an ambitious entrepreneur who did not grasp the full scope of what this industry entails, as you mentioned. Our second spray installer will take months to spray independently and confidently, and I’ll still be rebuilding the guns for him. It takes a crew to operate efficiently, knowledge and experience is a must for success. Your spot on with this video, if you’re watching this and thinking about getting into this industry, pay attention to what is being said here.
Thanks Tim.
Second rigs are great, then add the people to run them.
What kind of licenses do I need? COntractor?
@@AquilesBaezaCabeza Application and training certification
@@AquilesBaezaCabeza MA home improvement license
Very fair assessment, thank you! Some will say this is discouraging, others will just ask how to over come the challenges.
This is one of the best instructional videos I've watched on spray foam. Thank you for being so thorough. This video was very helpful.
Glad it was helpful!
Most profound video on the foam world I’ve seen, thank you. I’m 9 months on of a business arrangement gone sour, I inherited the equipment, and man the trials and obstacles I’ve been hitting is unreal. I still have my W2 job , mechanical engineer by trade, and working every spare hour to make the foam business work, really have no choice. Like you said, equipment resale is garbage. I know it’s a profitable industry to be in, my market in West TN is on fire. Just continuing to persevere and burn cash.
Be careful - lawsuits for work are even worse. get out if you don't have the backing to safely do it. Better a fire sale than a statement of claim.
That's right! No one can teach you more about spraying then the foam itself and learning everything that comes with the business! Got to be passionate about this industry and treat spraying like an art! Have love for it!
Exactly!
This is next level education ... You do an incredible job with all the vids and packed with teaching the ins and outs of the services you provide. Your passion shows and your high standards show too . Wednesday July 6, 2022. 18.7 k subs. Watching it blast off. Hope you are having a gorgeous summer. Thanks for all these vids
When I foam a building I just use cans of window foam from the Depot. Last job only cost me 12,000 cans x $5.99 = $71,880. The house didn't end up even needing HVAC when I got done because it was so thermally efficient. Then I scrapped the metal cans for $40.00 at the local recycling center. I'm a Jack-of-all-homes, a Master at foam. I don't even charge labor. That way they're not "customers" and therefore cannot sue me later when the yellow foam igloo I turned their house into suffocates the pet geckos. I love your video, and the knowledge contained therein. There is definitely more to the spray foam business than many may think. I love your brutal honesty. You are most definitely saving many people from a lot of problems and I think your advice can apply to a very wide range of different businesses. I subscribed and it's nice to meet you.
Omg I am dead 😂
I had foam sprayed in a new pole barn, ended up buying the company from the guy. (Retirment age guy). 6 years in I finally feel like I'm getting a handle on things. 2 years of loosing money before I understood the equipment even though I have a background in mechanics, welding & fab, electrical, etc. I feel like I have an advantage over a lot of ppl but still struggled for so long. I'm working to be an elite company in my area, not another uneducated hack. Thanks to people like you online and a few locals I've gotten some good support and information.
Excellent. It is a specialty trade and needs to be treated as such.
@@SprayJones here in the US there's almost no regulation. It's coming and we need it! I think it will help weed out the hacks.
@@cattlehaulerkw Some. It allows for a higher grade of idiots...
What kind of licenses do you need? Or just the insurance to operate this business? Thanks!
Thank you so much for this video! Your very thurough clean an accurate. Tons of great insight on what to expect. I’m brand new to foaming an watching this vid has me madly in love lol ..!!
I like your videos alot. I came from guadalajara jal. To california usa. It took for me 7 years to learn how to spray foam. Learning the hard way . I whis a have a mentor like you
Thanks for sharing
Cuanto toma aprender el oficio para insulacion
Alrededor de 5 años te recomiendo que empieses en una compañia para que te aleones y entiendas de lo que se trata pues se mira muy facil pero asta que agarras la pistola y comiensas a tener problemas ya sea el quimico o la maquinaria es cuando te vas a dar cuenta si tiras la toalla o descubres que tu naciste para esto..no gastes en un equipo mejor trata en una compañia primero ,conosco a muchos que los enredan les financean las maquinas en $80,000 o mas y luego terminan demandados por que no pudieron pagarlas y asta tristes por que fue la peor inversion de su vida,,pero si aprendes en 5 años te garantizo que vas a hacer mas billetes en tu vida que cualquier otro oficio.
I have been an automotive master service tech for 3 decades. Not only a welder but working on the Isuzu 3 cylinder diesel, gen-sets, compressor and hydraulics. Most people don’t understand that air needs a dryer system and there is a lot of maintenance & cleaning.
Plus you have trailer maintenance, brakes, wheel bearing need repacked, lights need to work, etc. Then, you need a coffin hoist that swings to lift 50 gallon barrels of materials into the trailer from storage. How about keeping equipment from freezing? Now you need to lease a building and polish you “Backing Skills”. If you have ever seen the ball knob on a steering wheel located at the 6:00 O’Clock position? What is that for? It’s for backing up. Your turn your head to use the mirrors and what you can see and if the trailer needs to go left, turn the ball handle left. Turn right, rotate the ball handle right! Easy if you grew up on a farm as tractors use these. A tyvek suit is cheap but a full helmet breathing pack runs $3,000-$5,000 for your time around the toxins you would normally just breathe in. There is a lot plus, how to bid the job and sell the entire package. It takes an hour to get to a location, an hour to setup equipment and heat materials depending on temps, run hose, gain access to the attic of walls to spray. Then time to get your equipment out, not make a mess, clean up equipment because it won’t clean itself and won’t work if plugged and how to collect for the job. Part up front and full payment when done. How about photo of current drivers license to see if they live there, names match, recovery of payment if they leave while you are spraying. Depending where you spray, should the people leave, pets, elderly family or folks with compromised breathing problems. Yes! A lot to do. Don’t forget quarterly taxes. Earnings reports to a bank, keeping track of income, pay your self first and reinvest into the company. You can’t spray and earn money if you don’t have product or enough product at the job site. Yep, a couple of things….
I use a ramp built into my trailer and my muscles with a hand truck lol.
Can these spray foam rigs depending on the g*n (pew pew) deploy the same type of material (foam) which is used for setting post in the ground?
The same stuff that is in the bag, the alternative to using concrete. 👊
Yes they could. Posts are just using pour foam.
Love the way the purple foam looks and great video.
Thank you! Cheers!
Well said, and your foam guys work in the video is top notch. 👍🏻
That hand-eye coordination and the muscle memory are also important to a consistent application.
Not business related but I have a question.... I'm building my new house all on my own. So far it is progressing very well. I did 4000sq ft concrete slab, I did all framing including complicated roof. Now it's coming to insulation, I really want spray foam as I'm building high efficiency, close to passive house standard, but it's out of my budget. I have an idea to buy spray equipment out of China, source chemicals locally and spray entire house by myself. Is it bed idea? I'm a mechanical engineer and very handy... Can it be done? What is the price of chemicals in Canada? Thanks
It will cost you 30k or more to pay these guys to insulate that house. You can get the gear from China (heated spray unit and 32cfm air comp.) for 7k and the goop from a USA source for $2,300 per two 55 gallon kit (you'll probably need three, one kit covers 4,500 board ft. 12"by12"by1" thick) each inch is r 6-7. It's not that hard, I did it. I have a background in auto refinishing but basically pick a room you don't care about too much about and practice, do it in 1" layers and play with it. It's mostly about staying in the temp range for everything, keep moving and getting used to the gun. Then you can spray for your friends (you will be very popular) and sell the unit when you're done, they go for about $4,000-$6,000, sure maybe not as good as a 30K Graco, but it'll get the job done for you and a few others, it pays for itself just for your own house. Not only that, when and if it fails (and it probably won't) you can blame yourself, because the time will have passed for any liability for the spray company...they don't offer a lifetime warranty. Good luck. EDIT sorry, reread your post, your cost will be higher for the goop, you are going super insulated, go 1" at a time and you should be good. Get a good sq ft of the coverage area and remember 1 set of barrels covers 4500 board ft. I went 2" on my walls and 3" on the arches took 2 sets 4400 board Ft. (steel arch buildings), in the SE USA.
I removed asbestos when I was in my 20’s. I loved it and if I wasn’t so old now I know I would love spraying foam! Don’t think my old body could stand up to the grind, but Spray Jones if one of your guys needs a few months off give me a call, I’m retired so I can afford to work for free!!!
How do you determine what you should charge? What are the costs vs potential profit percentages?
Do I need a contractor license or just insurance? Thanks!
What would be a good training resource if you were on your own?
Watch all you can on the web. I will help with that in the future...
I’m just getting into doing foam my dad has a graco machine we use to spray poly. Any ideas on how to learn more about spray foam
If you get into the business, stay loyal to a supplier! We’ve sprayed the same foam for 5 years now and we have been taken care of during this supply crisis. Between our direct supply and our old distributor, we’ve had foam throughout this. It’s not always about finding the cheapest foam!
Amen, bottom feeders get punted.
Always try to stick with one brand, my favorite was JM corbond, the rig to me ran better and less downtime, always had someone to get a cheaper foam and we paid for it later. Was a few hundred more for a set. Was accepted on more commercial jobs than any other foam.
Beautiful work Mike 👍 always have spare gun have plenty of spares o rings etc have a maintenance routine and stick to it always use manufacturer parts clean filters regularly and y strainers stay within recommended parameters for hose and chemical heat zones don’t yank the heated hose connections may come loose and throw up an error code costing time to find fault regularly service compressor and a25 stick to this you’ll have minimal problems steer out of it and it will bite guys ( closed cell sprayer from uk )
Amen brother.
Honestly it depends on the person. I worked with a company that did two coat epoxy in food manufacturing plants. We could only actually work on the weekends. First week was cleaning, and understanding all the parts, getting fitted and learning how to sandblast. Friday came and off to Georgia. The plant only shuts down a section at a time, but this section is at least 20,000 sqft. There was 20 of us, so 10 of us doing 12 hour shifts that alternate. First step was prepping the walls, which was sanding metal to create a profile, then it was wrapping all the electrical, pipping and scaffolding. When it was time to spray, i stayed with the pump guy to help with whatever the sprayers needed and to help with equipment. Got cool with him and helped him with the barrels and watching the gauges. He taught me a lot of shit in that first shift. 2nd shift came in to rotate and I noticed the guy was staying put. Where we keep the drums and pumps is always sealed off with thick plastic so you cant really see and you also cant enter unless you’re fitted(full face mask/suit), so i stayed with him, didn’t really care about getting in trouble. In those 24 hours i asked that man almost every question i could think of. The next weekend, i was spraying. Went from 15$/hr to 37$/hr and i had all the sprayers respect
How do you feel about investing in someone’s start-up Spray foam company? My uncle spent 20 years as a sprayer but stopped to focus on his painting business which is decently successful. He says the cost of the equipment is prohibitive to starting a spray foam business. Thinking about maybe entering a partnership. I’ve done a little research and there is demand in my area for spray foam companies.
Don't.
Partnerships never work out.
20 years spray foam and don't anything missing, Well done 👏
I was told once the spray foam equipment gets used for first time that the equipment must stay working everyday and that the equipment can’t sit for more than 2 days before you start having issues with the equipment.
A little extreme, but on the right track.
Quick question Mr.Jones did u apprentice before u started your spray foam business ?😊 .
Yes I did, I worked in SPF from 2000 - late 2004 before I started Jones. In fact the firm I worked at built rigs and trained contractors including on site oversight and set ups.
I own a concrete construction business,. 7 years ago branched out to provide mud jacking and poly foam lifting. Although not the same profession , poly uses same equipment,. Jones is 110% nail on with this video,. School of hard knocks is a brutal school and the tuition fees can, and will be the make or break of your dreams........ you have to have the passion and drive to make it
Any supplier for the equipment and foam ?
I'm a personal builder and have four warehouse type buildings I plan to erect that are about 16,000 sq ft each (footprint). I'm considering buying my own rig. Any schools you or anyone else can recommend? I see them listed on the internet, but don't know which ones are trying to sell a product or equipment, and which ones are truly helping people to learn the trade.
Don't do this.... you are not ready and this is a trade that takes years to get to understand.
Would you buy a lathe to do your own machining because you have 1600 parts to make?
@@SprayJones Yes I would and did, now I have a machine shop behind my house. So, not the best analogy.
I too wish you were working in Nevada in my case, Bob
Hello Bob
I’m an installer what’s the best way to get my own rig
Should you have your own rig?
You need money.
@@SprayJones indeed
@@SprayJones I meant financing vs cash purchasing options
@@Thegastankproductions You are going to have to borrow from someone or something. Really know whether you have the market in your area to be successful and not just poaching jobs from your ex-boss.
@@SprayJones no poaching necessary plenty of work in Texas….
Excellent analysis.
Mike, you were talking about the amounts of competitors “in your area”. Would you be able to give a rough mile radius that I should be looking at? And what’s a high or low number? Like is 5 in a 50 mile radius Saturated? (Just round numbers as an example)
No
Thank you for the video Mike, it was very informative. Quick question, what do you think of blown in insulation business? I am 20 years old and live in South FL and I want to start my own blown in business. I have about 2 years of apprenticeship and have a good feel for the business but afraid to take a risk and pull the trigger to start it. Any advice? Thank you
Ah.... get more experience. 20 is young, you ready to deal with narcistic a-holes that want to sue you because you missed a spot?
@@SprayJones thanks for responding sir!
I understand what you’re saying. The guy I worked for moved up north last year and told me that I can take over south FL and he would take over north FL but tried charging me %60 of the profits which for me was a no go. I got my A&P license and turned into an aircraft mechanic but the thought of starting my own insulation business is still in the back of my head. But I’ll take your advice and wait for the right time. Again, thank you
Hey spray foam Jones. I'm a homeowner & learned so much from you. I have a question, can spray foam be installed in my crawl space & under my roof deck in a furnished house
yes and yes
is it that hard bro im just scare to go on my own i know everything about foam
That pump/spray system is exactly the same looking as the Rhino liner system thats in the factory i work in. Same brand even.
It is Graco equip...
Thank you !!! You are an excellent teacher. Because you are good !! And know this business from the inside out.
Thank you! 😃
That is some good looking foam
We just need 100-200 Spray Jones clones, to get full coverage across the country... 🤣
Haha I was just about to ask you for your number haha I'm relatively new to the trade only 3 years, I went into it green as grass but I had some good tutors. The guy we bought the rig from and my foam supplier he's been in the buissness for over 20 years. O and I cant forget sprayjones!! Uve taught me alot. And there's really nobody around here except 1 company and they don't have a good reputation.
Join my new platform when it launches soon. Your education has just begun!
I wish you had a branch in my area because there is NO ONE here that I would even consider hiring.
Thanks
Same
How are you only making 20k a year when you charge 20k to spray one building??
You don't know much about life and business..
@@SprayJones Sure I do. I had 2 companies come over to give me an estimate on a building, a 4500-board ft. empty building. They came in at $20,000 and told me the materials alone would be $15,000. Are you telling me that the 4-55 gallon drums in actual chemicals are 15k?(which I know are really $4,600 for 4 maybe less since you buy in bulk) The one day to spray my empty building was worth $500 per hour? (if it even takes more than 10 hrs.. probably only 5) So, tell me again that I don't know much about life and business and keep scamming people until another company comes in and undercuts you. Your company is failing so much that you need to have a TH-cam channel to try and make ends meet.
What made you go with the e 30?
In 2002 - 2008 they were the best machine for the price, weight, footprint.
Many purists will state they still are, and I agree.
Good info! 👍
Glad you think so!
LOVED THE VIDEO!
Just subscribed! Newbie
Best place to get certified?
Best training school/Class?
Thanks in advance!
Very informative and professional advice
Glad it was helpful!
Thanks for bringing this out
You bet
@@SprayJones : thanks. how much will a used rig cost?
@@squeekhobby4571 $5000 - $100,000.
@@SprayJones : thanks.
i've watched like 3 vids and there's no comparison to the way these jobs look compared to whatever the other ones i've watched were doing.
I wish that I would had listened to peeps that said ,don't do it..it was the hardest thing(business)that I have ever done..Thank God ,that I got out!!
It is NOT for everyone and it is very complicated to do correctly consistently.
Yea ok, thank you for the advice, im getting it for the purpose of investment NOT WORKING it. but thankx for the advice, Drywall guy here, Basement renovation & Water proofing guy here,
That'll never fly. You and your partner will be fighting over money and risks within 2 years or less. There is no way margin can be shared with partners in SPF, I have seen this over and over again, just like franchises.
@@SprayJones I dont have partners i have workers. I exp partner behaviour. I know.
Thankx for the advice, Should be a ball in the park. @@SprayJones
4 years I know Amish people in Lancaster County purchase the equipment and start it right away
Very informative
You seem to be trying to discourage people from trying, rather than putting out content that helps newcomers in the industry.
Honesty, few know what they are getting into.
We have plenty of salesman ready to blow sunshine up your butt just to get the sale.
Yes I offer the different perspective.
Not sorry if it melted your heart.
I had to go against a home owner once over a 900$ difference in price for roughly 1500sq ft roof deck between me and some competition. If I didn't have my ducks in a row and wasn't able to show the difference in technical knowledge about how his roof functions with or without the foam he would have thought just about price. IF you don't have the time to bother with building science and can teach and inform customers about it you're going to be fighting for lowest bidder every time.
Agreed. Lesser knowledge has to be lower, they are getting what they are worth.
@@SprayJones Got a question for you though. I've been asked about a job concerning making closed cell flush with a 3 5/8th metal stud. Do you have any experience cutting closed cell flush in the PNW? I'm in the southeast and architects have just started drawing it like this. Is there a machine you could reccommend or have heard about?
@@akselwagner All cutting of open cell is done using a 36" long blade used for cutting cardboard.
You can buy an air operated vibrating cutter that uses this long blade.
Most SPF equipment suppliers sell them.
I’m a industrial painter,I have sprayed everything at one time or another,Timberjack,John Deere,Skyjack,gas regulators,military.When I started spraying foam I quickly realized that these damn guns are heavy 😂It took me at least two weeks before I could spray without stopping to rest.
Yes it kicks your butt. It is a plural component gun.
Great advice!!!
Glad it was helpful!
Great vid thanks much!
Glad you liked it!
not much info just bunch of discoragment here
Lol... be glad you are not 150K invested when you find that out.
I'm with you .
I was looking for more information
My boss just bought a foam rig
Totally agree with every word
4 year's to learn, u mean 4 days the job and 4 weeks to be a pre. Am that fast.
The problem with you doing these videos is it makes it hard to find a competent Spray Foam company in my area 😆. When I ask if they caulk all the seams and then give me that deer starring into headlights look, my questions get even more technical 😂. Maybe there’s so many startups with people with no experience, because they got frustrated with all the companies in their area that they couldn’t trust. I can’t lie I’ve thought about buying the DAP HVAC machine to practice😜🤪. I had one representative have the nerve to say I would have to find out from the building inspector if 3” on the roof deck would pass inspection (umm you don’t have the inspector on predial let alone not know the code). Asked another rep if he could quote spraying all vent pipes and water lines in the lower level (house is up on pilings) as well as the deck. He couldn’t understand why I wanted the vents, water, and sewer pipes sprayed and when he sent the quote it wasn’t included. Another would only quote me 2” in the wall cavity; even though I wanted 3”😂. The struggle is real when you watch Spray Jones!
And that is why I do what I do. Those morons out here give the industry a bad rep. So better that you be educated and weed them out rather than hire them and get taken advantage of.
If the SPF installers won't learn I aim to educate their customers so they can't hide.
And u r dealing with seriously toxic chemicals ! Letting an inexperienced operators without lots of liability insurance cover your house with spray seems like the answer to all your home built problems but far too many end up
On the road to perdition living in. A sick house and selling it at a loss.
Best Motivational Video LMAO 😂
It is what many who take a rye and coke plan to the marketplace need to hear.
Lets get educated!
👍
I call BS. My cousin just bought an $80k rig from Grayco. They trained two of his guys to use the machine and maintenance-for free. It’s not rocket science.
Lol - always the people who don't know what they don't know.
"I watched a few videos now I can do what you do in less time"
Bugger off.
it's spray foam... you're acting like this shit is more difficult than painting a car. drug addicts and crackheads do this job, my guy. you're not a machinist. spray foam is not on the same level as welding. I can't even believe you said that shit@@SprayJones
proper vid
Well if you wanted to discourage people from owning their own spray foam business, you've successfully made that youtube video do the trick. Brutally honest I suppose
Discourage or realistic. Know what you are getting into.
Sounds like is easy as hell to run a spray foam company… and 10,000$ for an engine rebuild on a generator? A works kit for a max force dt is 3,500 bucks… what kind of generator are you running? You can rebuild an isx for 5 grand… cool background of someone spraying purple foam but come on…
A John Deere turbo 3 cylinder is $5000 Canadian in just the parts to rebuild without any major head work. The shop rates around here for diesel start at $145 per hour. Book time on full R&R is 38 hours. Do the math...
You are dead on your information.
Thank you
Damn, so pessimistic and negative sounding lol
So you want to get into the Spray Foam business huh, Don't! Seen huge companies go under because they didnt understand the science behind it, and the business dynamics.
People get confused with this product and they think its a paint that anyone can apply. I've been in the business 10 years and had a lot of help from other people mistakes and failures. This isn't something that anyone can just do and it takes a long time to get a grasp on what you can do and what you cant. First year anyone doing this with no experience you better have a few veterans to help from sales to installing to payment. Having people knowing how to store material and rotate stocks, keeping preventive maintenance on schedule. I think spray jones touches on some subjects of fixing things when shit hits the fan. Knowing how to switch out a powerplant helps, knowing how to hook up to 240 3 phase in a building also helps. Things break all the time. how to handle a minor problem which could lead into something major. Much to list.
You said right.
✌🤔👍🏼🙋🏼♂️🇪🇪
I’ll sum up this video. Don’t start a spray foam business.
Spares guns be nice unfortunately i have to stop n rebuild..almost have 2 complete. as for guys wanting start out .. hope u like spiders.. rofl
I mean... Ok... but... not what I was expecting in this video... thanks anyway? Kind of seems like Why idiots shouldn't start businesses.
I was more interested in the equipment, costs, buying methods, suppliers.. etc... Everything you said is true, but it's true about every industry and every type of work... Most people who have been in any leadership role at work knows this stuff.
SPF attracts a lot of idiots...
@@SprayJones Really? Wonder what the attraction is... huffing the solvents?