Going Solo

SPRING 2019 – Mike Lopez, owner of AZ Foam Masters LLC, comes from a family of roofers with his father, uncle, and brother all having numerous years of experience in the industry. Lopez has worked in the trade for over a decade, and has recently made the jump to starting up his own company. Spray Foam Magazine sat down with him to discuss his first few months of going solo and working with SPF in roofing.

Lopez is someone with big dreams, ambitions, and has a lot of pride in his job. After gaining all of his experience working for other people, he decided it was time to launch his own company. “When I first began to work in roofing, the thought of starting my own company was always at the back of my mind,” he explains. “After working ten years for roofing contractors as a spray foam applicator, I felt the need to be challenged, so I began to search for equipment. I finally found a used spray foam rig for sale and used all my savings to purchase it.” »

“It has been the best investment I have made so far,” he continues. “I kept working for other roofing contractors, but during my free time, I would go out to new construction projects and get in contact with the general contractors to offer my SPF roofing and insulation services. It was very hard to start with because there are many competitors in Arizona, but this only motivated me more. Finally, there were a few contractors who believed in me, and they gave me the opportunity to show the type of quality work that I can do. After that first project, they were very impressed, so they began to work with me and also refer me to their close friends. I soon began to get more clients and had to choose between staying with the company I was working with or enter the entrepreneurial world. I decided to get my contractor’s license, and started to work for myself full-time.”

Lopez goes onto explain one of the first solo jobs he has recently undertaken under his new company name, AZ Foam Masters LLC, and how there is no stopping his growth within the industry he loves.

The Cielo Villa Apartments are nestled amongst the scenic landscaping of Phoenix, Arizona. The grounds have all the conveniences one demands from modern apartments—sparkling swimming pools, a spa, 24-hour fitness center, and even a bark-park. To top off these picturesque apartments are roofs that have incorporated spray foam.

Lopez has been in the roofing business for twelve years, and he has noticed things really heating up in the spray foam industry. “More and more people are recognizing the benefits and cost savings by using spray foam.”

As a certified, professional SPF installer, Lopez emphasizes how important that qualification is. “I make sure that everyone who works with me at AZ Foam Masters is certified, so we know how to select the perfect SPF roof system, as well as communicate the necessary safety precautions when SPF roofing materials are applied. Clients should always ask about a company’s training and certification credentials so that they make a more informed decision.”

The main objective of this particular job was sealing the building envelope. Lopez explains, “The customer understood the great benefits of SPF, especially living in Arizona, where there is an extreme heat during the summer.” Spray foam roofing not only works as a waterproofing system, but it’s also a great, light weight insulator. Added advantages include easy maintenance, long durability, and low cost. “When the roof is re-coated, a new roof warranty can be issued to the owner and the roof lifecycle can be extended by 40-50 years. No other roofing system can offer this benefit.”

Like with many contracts, the elements and unexpected occurrences may result, with these effects often having a say on project length, or if additional safety measures have to be taken into account. Lopez recalls, “There were many windy days on this project and I would have to take extra precautions like covering the cars parked near the site with plastic so they wouldn’t get showered with overspray, tying down the ladders, and making sure the perimeter of the building was secure, especially when the hose was being pulled up to the roof.”

SPF roofing has a great versatility, from use on new constructions like Cielo Villa to replacing older roofs. The spray foam can be applied to flat, pitch, saw-toothed, domed and roofs that have unusual slopes or configurations. Roofs that have SPF are flexible, with the ability to withstand normal expansion and contraction, without affecting the capability of keeping the structure protected by the outside elements.

The first step in any roofing project is to prep the site, making sure to power blow and pick up any loose debris, covering drain pipes and T-top Vents, which install the scuppers for water drainage.

“Because it was a new construction project, the prep work was minimal,” Lopez notes. “I had to make sure there was proper drainage though by installing crickets, a scupper, and an overflow. I also made sure there was no existing moisture on the roof deck and the deck was securely fastened to the building structure.”

Lopez used all the safety gear necessary, including a full body suit, half mask respirator, hard hat, head socks, safety glasses, globes, and a harness. Working solo, especially on a roofing project, equipment should be double-checked to ensure safety at all times.

In total, this particular job installing foam and base coat was completed over the course of seven days. Lopez says, “After the stucco crew had completed their tasks, I returned to install the top coat.”

This job utilized a Gama Evolution G-125, a polyurethane foam proportioning machine with a total spray area of 20,600 square feet. One inch of Icynene-Lapolla’s

FOAM-LOK 2800 4G closed-cell spray foam was applied to the plywood. After the foam had been installed, 24 to 30 dry mils of Lapolla Thermo-Flex 750 was applied over the foam.

The lifespan of a spray foam insulated roof can exceed 30 years. The unique application process and adhesion properties help deliver long-term, high-performance results. Lopez is enthusiastic about the benefits of using SPF on roofing projects, saying, “It reduces ponding on unique roof designs by varying the application thickness to create a positive slope to improve drainage. It also reduces leakage due to robust coverage around seams, penetrations, parapet walls, HVAC curves, vents, and skylights. Plus, it’s cost effective compared to older roofing methods.”

He goes on to say, “I also like the fact that the roofs with spray foam have long term quality, reduce resource expenditure, and minimize the use of landfill capacity. These are literally ‘Cool Roofs’ helping reflect the sun’s energy, which mitigates urban heat island effects. Building temperatures are reduced, decreasing the heat trapped in the atmosphere by reflecting more sunlight back into space, which is a big plus in the heat of Arizona. Because of SPF roof energy efficiency and customers seeing savings year after year, more are choosing SPF, resulting in more business, which has made my intial investment to start my own company a great decision. I am also looking into tax credits and other incentives that are available for projects like this, making SPF even more attractive.”

The job was specified by Jake Cotan, Manager of Alamo Developments who says, “We carried out research on foam insulation and determined that even though the initial price is higher than laying traditional insulation, the fact that it comprehensively covers every corner and crevice, blocking seeping cold air and heat for years to come makes it worth the investment.”

Mike Lopez’s enthusiasm for his job is contagious. He enthusiastically declares, “The truth is—the critical factors for success are work hard for your clients, care about their needs, be honest and forthright, do what you say you are going to do, and always provide the best quality. The ultimate dream for me would be to successfully grow AZ Foam Masters and to create a reputation of excellence. I want to generate long-term relationships with our customers. We do that by making sure that each client receives the highest standard of service! Relationships that are built on mutual respect and trust always win.”