When Marco Reyes got certified through our RV Roof Protection applicator program in early 2024, he had a modest goal: supplement his existing painting contractor income with RV roof coatings during the busy season. Eighteen months later, RV coatings are his primary business — and he’s turned away work three months running because of demand.
Before the Certification
“I’d been painting houses for 11 years,” Marco explains. “Good business, but seasonal. I was always looking for something that could fill the winter months and be more recession-resistant.” A friend in the construction industry mentioned polyurea coatings for trucks and industrial surfaces. Marco started researching and quickly landed on the RV market. “I looked at the numbers — 600,000 new RVs a year, all with roofs that eventually need protection — and I knew there was something there.”
The Certification Process
Marco completed our certification program over two weekends in January 2024. “The chemistry training was intense but fascinating. Understanding why polyurea bonds the way it does made me a better applicator immediately — when you know what’s happening at the molecular level, you respect the prep process in a way you wouldn’t otherwise.” His spray technique certification included live application practice on salvage RV roof sections under instructor supervision.
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Building the Client Base
“My first three clients were from the applicator directory on the RV Roof Protection website,” Marco says. “Someone would find us, read about how the coating works, look at the verified reviews, and then reach out. I didn’t have to do much selling — the education was already done.”
His first month generated $7,400 in revenue from four jobs. By month six, he’d hired an assistant. By month twelve, he had a dedicated sprayer truck, a full equipment setup, and a three-week booking backlog. “The hardest part now is managing the schedule. I’m not marketing at all — it’s all organic from the directory, word of mouth, and the camp community.”
The Economics of Polyurea Coating
Marco walks us through a typical job: a 38-foot Class A with 200 square feet of roof surface. Prep work: 3 hours. Application: 45 minutes. Cleanup and documentation: 30 minutes. Material cost: approximately $380. Labor (Marco + assistant): 4.25 hours total. Charge to client: $2,600. “My net margin on a typical job is around 68%. Painting was never that good.”
What He Tells New Applicants
“Invest in your prep skills. The spray equipment is the easy part — any experienced coatings professional can run a plural-component sprayer. But prep is what separates jobs that come back with callbacks from jobs that don’t. Every surface has to be spotless, bone dry, and properly primed. That’s where your reputation is made or lost.” This philosophy aligns perfectly with what our best coatings guide says about execution quality over product selection.
Join the Network
Marco is one of hundreds of certified applicators building successful businesses in our network. Whether you’re an existing contractor looking to diversify, or an entrepreneur entering the trades for the first time, our program provides the training, certification, and client pipeline you need. Learn more about becoming a certified applicator and reach out to our team with any questions.