In an effort to differentiate themselves from other spray foam material manufacturers, new applications for existing materials (like slabjacking) and entirely new materials (like the new equipment offerings which monitor chemical ratio) are created.

“When the economic environment is driving everyone to be more selective, I see a host of new material providers popping up and most are off-shore,” says Harris. “Consumers, both contractors and the DIY crowd need to be careful when purchasing these products as most off-shore products have not been tested and approved for use in the U.S.”

Sales in a Slow Economy

In this episode of If Walls Could Talk, W&C Editor John Wyatt talks with Tom Harris of Tom Harris PUR Consulting on the importance of verified products.

So, how is that possible?

“Easy, bring the product into a warehouse, set up a website, sell direct to the consumer from the website or through Amazon,” Harris says. “The consumer doesn’t realize the products are not tested, they assume that if its for sale, it must be approved. The two consumer protection groups acting on behalf of the U.S. consumer are swamped and their numbers are getting smaller, not greater. It looks like its up to the buyer to check out the material their buying – which isn’t correct in my opinion – but that’s what the internet and electronic commerce has given us.”

For contractors, Harris thinks they all need a purchasing process, some material evaluation or checklist they can go through for everything they buy.