The $50 Savings That Cost $5,000
Every contractor faces the same temptation: save money on materials to win the bid. A customer asks for quotes, and you see competitors offering "similar" coatings for $50-100 less per job. The pressure to match their price is real.
But here's what 15 years in the coating business has taught me: cheap coatings aren't cheap - they're expensive.
The Hidden Costs of Budget Coatings
When you choose budget materials to save upfront costs, you're actually gambling with much bigger money:
Labor Multiplication Effect
- Cheap coating fails: You lose your $3,000 labor investment
- Premium coating lasts: Your labor investment pays off for years
- The math: Saving $100 on materials can cost you $3,000+ in wasted labor
The Callback Nightmare
- Material cost to redo: $1,500-2,500
- Labor to strip and reapply: $4,000-6,000
- Lost time on other profitable jobs: $2,000+
- Damage to reputation: Priceless (and expensive)
Customer Lifetime Value
- Happy customer with quality coating: 3-5 referrals worth $15,000+
- Unhappy customer with failed coating: Negative reviews and lost referrals
- The difference: One quality job can generate more profit than 10 cheap ones
What Makes Coatings "Cheap"
Budget coatings cut costs somewhere, and it's never where you want them to:
Lower Solids Content
- More water/solvent, less actual coating
- Thinner film build = faster wear
- Poor coverage = more material needed
Inferior Raw Materials
- Lower-grade resins that yellow and chalk
- Cheap pigments that fade quickly
- Fillers that reduce performance
No Technical Support
- When problems arise, you're on your own
- No application guidance
- No warranty backing
The WRAP Resins Difference
This is exactly why I carry WRAP Resins at Great Lakes Resin Supply. After years of seeing contractors get burned by cheap materials, I only stock products that deliver real value:
EpoWRAP - $165
- 100% solids epoxy - no fillers, no shortcuts
- Proven performance in thousands of installations
- Color packs available for custom looks
- Real value: Costs $15-20 more than cheap alternatives, delivers 3x the performance
VaporWRAP MVB - $195
- ASTM F3010 compliant moisture mitigation
- Handles 25 lbs vapor transmission vs. 3-5 lbs for standard coatings
- Prevents the #1 cause of coating failure
- Real value: $30-50 more upfront prevents $10,000+ callbacks
NeoFlex - $163 MSRP
- 100% solids aliphatic polyol urea membrane - no mixing, no waste
- Zero odor, zero VOC - work in occupied spaces
- Flexible membrane - won't crack under impact
- UV stable - maintains color and performance outdoors
- Discounted contractor pricing available - call for rates
- Real value: Professional-grade performance that opens up more job opportunities
The Smart Contractor's Approach
Successful contractors know this secret: charge for quality and deliver it.
Position Premium Products as Value:
- "I use professional-grade materials that last"
- "My coatings come with real warranty backing"
- "You get what you pay for - I make sure you get the best"
The Numbers Work:
- Cheap coating job: $5,000 revenue, potential $10,000 callback cost = -$5,000
- Quality coating job: $5,200 revenue, happy customer, referrals = $20,000+ lifetime value
Why Great Lakes Resin Supply?
I started GLRS because I understand what contractors need - products that work, pricing that makes sense, and support when you need it.
What this means for you:
- Quality products that protect your reputation
- Fair contractor pricing that lets you stay competitive
- Local Traverse City service - materials when you need them
- Support from someone who's been in your shoes
Stop Gambling with Your Reputation
Every job is a chance to build your reputation or damage it. Don't let cheap materials turn profitable jobs into expensive disasters.
Call Kevin at 231-631-1007 to discuss how WRAP Resins can protect your jobs and grow your business.
Because the most expensive coating is the one that fails.