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"I don't know of any other industry that anyone can earn so much while they learn. If they don't get it right the first time, they can reheat it and do it over again."

But versatility doesn't just apply to repair services. Adding infrared can give contractors a gateway into other market segments as well. (See the sidebar on page 38 for a sample list.)

Infrared equipment is a great tool when creating decorative asphalt. Although decorative asphalt won't appeal to every customer, it offers a contractor a chance to make his business unique in the customer's eye. And he can provide a service that is still fairly unknown to many clients.

"The decorative paving process can be highly profitable. One, because it's unique; not very many people can do it," Burke says. "Because it's very much a craft, if you're good at it, you get to charge appropriately for your craft. And it's in a different market place than a lot of the asphalt repair companies are accustomed to. It's a higher profit segment of the industry."

Another area contractors can pursue with infrared is thermoplastics. Thermoplastics are usually applied using torches as the heat source. To do this, a contractor needs dry pavement and warmer weather - not to mention the time.