Guest Joe Buechler is an equipment consultant with CJ Spray. With over 10 years in the equipment industry, Joe shares his expertise in the fluid-applied equipment arena.
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CJ Spray is a fluid applied equipment company. Any type of fluid applied system, including spray foam and spray coatings, as well as non-roofing related applications. Started in 1995, CJ Spray started finding a high demand in the “architectural protective coatings” or, as it is called in the roofing industry, waterproof coatings. That has grown into their second largest division, just behind the spray foam division.
Joe says though not terribly complicated, customization of the equipment to meet the commercial roofer needs, is one of the most important things we can do. It is important to understand the equipment and what your roofing company needs are to be effective with your equipment provider. It is a separate relationship than with your coating manufacturer. It is important to keep those relationships separate, allowing you to manage your business more efficiently.
Speaking personally, his concerns are focused with finding the most efficient manner to get your selected materials from their vessel and onto the appropriate surface.
Overview of the Fluid-Applied Market
Seamless, fluid-applied systems are currently in a growth phase, particularly over the last 5 years. More contractors are utilizing this option and more businesses are making that choice. With the pre-Covid labor shortage, labor intensive projects were having a lot of challenges. Fluid applied systems requires a smaller crew for installation than TPO, for example. 3-5 people are sufficient for an average-sized project
Additionally, post-Covid, there are a lot of material shortages. Though coatings also have a longer lead team than the past, it is still significantly quicker than most single-ply membranes with their associated material needs.
Pumps
With a new contractor just entering the industry, the first question is the scope of the work being done. What is the average sized roof you have been doing? Though there may be jobs that fall outside the norm, knowing the average size determines the overall scope. Next, is how frequently does the contractor anticipate working with spray-applied systems. Goal is to find the equipment that is most profitable, most productive and fits the contractor’s budget.
There are a lot of pump options out there and CJ Spray represents a lot of different manufacturers. So, we know there is no such thing as a one-size-fits-all pump. It is more appropriate to determine the contractor’s needs, both now and in the near-term future.
When considering used equipment on eBay, for example, it can be helpful to contact a 3rd party and get a consultation to ensure you are getting what you expect and to identify the issues you may want to consider. This is an area Joe works in frequently.
Hoses
Things a new contractor needs to understand is the longer you want to pump the material, the bigger the diameter the hose needs to be. For simplicity, that is a basic concept. The viscosity of the product within the hose creates friction, which creates pressure loss. In a small diameter hose, the pressure loss is a lot higher.
Unlike shingle roofers, which run air through long, low-diameter hoses, fluid materials require larger hoses, tips and so on.
Pressure loss concerns include the amount of pressure to get the fluid from your pump to whatever apparatus is being used for application and how much fluid is actually coming out of that apparatus. The higher the flow, the more pressure that is needed as viscosity increases.
Guns
From a gun standpoint, we need to look at something ergonomic, and comfortable to use. It needs to match what the roofer is doing daily. It also has to be reliable and robust. No one wants an equipment failure in the middle of their project.
One example is the Forefinger Heavy-Duty Texture Gun – originally designed for drywallers using level 5. Highly abrasive and thick, it is one of the hardest items to spray. This particular gun has a larger orifice than any other in the market. The fluid path actually acts as a door and decreases clogging issues.
Extensions
Primarily this is personal preference, with 40” extensions most popular. Allows for surgical application and 180 degree swivel to maintain a parallel application with substrate. Reduces overspray and “kick out” issues. Personally, Joe prefers an extension that is heavy duty with an outer wall due to its larger diameter and easier to handle design.
Pattern consistency will depend on angle of spray, this allows for the risk of an inconsistent material application. If the spray material is not hitting the substrate directly, it will “bounce off”. The tip needs to remain level to maximize application consistency.
In ultra-high pressure applications, such as 7000 psi and higher, the number of accessories become limited. With lower pressures, we have more extension options. This limitation is primarily related to consumer demand, more than anything else. We generally spec urethane and silicone applications for the ultra-high pressure systems.
Tips
Material manufacturers frequently recommend specific tip sizes to be utilized with their product. CJ Spray works with those manufacturers, conducting testing to help make those determinations. We also assess data sheets to determine manufacturer recommendations and help the contractor find the best option.
Manufacturers generally provide a range, such as 6.35 to 6.45 tip size recommendation for their product. Each of the number mean something specific
The first number determines the fan size 10” away from the roofing surface. You take the first number, multiple x2 to determine fan diameter. For example, a 6.35 breaks down as the 6 doubled is 12, which is the distance, in inches of the fan from the substrate. So, a 6.35 provides a 12” fan when applied from a 10” distance.
The second 2 digits (.35) is size of the orifice itself, in thousandths, As the size gets bigger, the amount of material through the tip increases.
When a tip wears out, which it will do over time, the orifice gets larger. This allows the fan to shrink while the material volume increases and results in overapplication and decreased profitability. A test spray pattern less than 70% of the goal fan size indicates a worn out tip.
The Future
Anticipate more robotic and automation to address labor shortages. Also, better integration to allow for easier movement within the jobsite. From a coating standpoint, there is a movement to a fast-set product to reduce the amount of time between applications. Rather than “new” technology, Joe anticipates a move to improving the current technology on the market and retaining the current employees. Anticipates large growth in the coating industry over the next decade as it allows for fewer employees to manage the projects. An interesting and exciting industry to be a part of right now.
For more information, you can find Joe on his cell phone at 952-454-1889 or email jbuechler@cjspray.com. Toll-free 888-257-7729 or visit their website at https://www.cjspray.com/.
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