How to Start a Spray-On Bedliner and RV Roof Coating Business

Spray-on bedliners and RV roof coatings have a lot in common. Both protect something the customer already owns and cares about. Both are easy to explain with a before and after photo. And both can be done by a small, well-trained crew with the right equipment. That makes them a strong pair for a new coatings business, or a new service line for an existing shop.

Here is how to plan it, from equipment through your first marketing push.

Why bedliners and RV roofs work together

Bedliners give you steady, fast-turn work from truck owners, dealers and fleets. RV roofs are a bigger ticket job with a clear pain point: leaks. ArmorThane's RV roof page describes polyurea as a seamless, waterproof skin that seals joints and penetrations and can go over EPDM, fiberglass, TPO and aluminum roofs. The process is familiar to any bedliner applicator: clean, seal seams, then spray, usually in two layers.

Same customer type, same core skills, and in many cases the same rig.

High pressure vs low pressure equipment

Your biggest decision is the spray system. Here is the honest trade-off:

If you plan to chase large commercial and industrial work later, a high-pressure mobile spray rig is where you will end up. If you want to start with bedliners and RV roofs and keep the investment reasonable, low pressure makes a lot of sense.

ArmorThane's new 1:1 low-pressure system

ArmorThane has released a new 1:1 low-pressure spray system that lets applicators spray both RV roofs and spray-on bedliners. Complete setups start as low as about $20,000, which puts a two-service business within reach for a lot of new applicators and existing shops.

ArmorThane's ArmorLine LP equipment line already shows what low pressure offers day to day: flow rate controlled at the E-Z static mix gun to create the texture you want, smooth or textured finishes, quick color changes with minimal material waste, and easy cleanup. Call ArmorThane to match the new 1:1 system, materials and accessories to the work you plan to do.

Training and certification

Good equipment in untrained hands still makes bad coatings. ArmorThane's two-day, hands-on training covers material chemistry, equipment operation, safety, surface preparation, spray technique and troubleshooting. It is free with an equipment purchase and is offered at ArmorThane headquarters in Springfield, Missouri, on site at your location, or through e-learning. Trained applicators become authorized ArmorThane professionals and get access to ArmorThane's online video library.

ArmorThane also charges no franchise fees and no ongoing royalties. You own the business, the customer list and your pricing.

Safety and insurance

OSHA lists occupational asthma and other lung problems, plus eye, nose, throat and skin irritation, as the main effects of hazardous isocyanate exposure. Treat safety as part of the startup budget, not an add-on:

• Supplied-air respiratory protection and a written respiratory program that follows OSHA 29 CFR 1910.134.
• Chemical-resistant suits, gloves and eye protection from Safety Supplies.
• Ventilation and a controlled spray area for RV and truck work.
• Material SDS and data sheets on hand for every product you spray.

Talk with a licensed insurance agent before your first paid job. Tell them exactly what you do: spraying isocyanate-based coatings, working on customer vehicles and RVs, and whether you have employees. Ask how your policy covers the vehicles in your care, your work after it leaves the shop, and your crew.

Pricing your jobs

New applicators often price by copying the cheapest competitor. Price from your real costs instead:

1. Material: area times target thickness, plus a waste allowance for overspray and texture.
2. Prep and masking: sanding, cleaning, seam sealing and masking often take longer than spraying. Charge for them.
3. Travel and setup for mobile RV work.
4. Overhead: equipment payments, insurance, maintenance parts, safety gear and your time.
5. Warranty and callbacks: set money aside for them.

Then compare against your local market. For RV roofs, ArmorThane positions polyurea as a long-life fix compared with recoating acrylics, so sell on value and longevity, not the lowest price.

Marketing that works

• Photograph every job, before and after, and post them on your Google Business Profile and social pages.
• Visit truck dealers, RV dealers, RV parks, storage lots and fleet managers in person with photos and a sample.
• Ask every happy customer for a review.
• Offer fleet and dealer pricing for repeat volume.

Once you are approved, the ArmorThane Applicator Program shows your account pricing automatically in cart and checkout. Browse Coatings and Chemicals and Spray Equipment, or contact ArmorThane to talk through a startup package.