8 Essential Elements to Consider When Planning a Water Tank Painting Project

While appearances have become important to every home and business owner, that isn’t the only reason to keep surfaces painted. By keeping surfaces covered with an adequate coat of paint on the exterior of structures, it protects them. It can keep dust, dirt, and rust at bay and ensure a longer lifespan for those exterior surfaces. Well, the same can be said for water storage tanks. They are fully exposed to harsh conditions of weather changes and other environmental factors. Storage tank painting is a necessity for many jurisdictions to maintain the safety of their drinking water and the integrity of their water tanks.

Essential Elements to Consider When Painting Water Tanks

Water tank painting projects involve a number of factors which should be considered. Between water safety regulations to environmental stress, water tanks require regular maintenance to ensure compliance and a long lifespan.

Biggest factors impacting painting projects are listed below:

Safety First
Tank Condition
Surface Preparation
Suitable Coatings
Coating Application
Finishing Work
Waste Management
Timing and Season

Safety First

It should be noted that tank cleaning and painting projects are not do it yourself in nature. They can be risky and require a high level of technical skill. Water tanks are typically held aloft at considerable heights which make them a dangerous proposition.

Tank Condition

It is important to evaluate the condition of the tank prior to painting. It needs to be properly treated and cleaned before paint can be applied. It won’t adhere properly if there is rust or dirt on the surface of the metal.

Surface Preparation

Tanks that are exposed to wind, ice, snow, blowing dirt and debris need to be cleaned and all contaminants removed before they can be painted. Blast cleaning may be required to ensure proper surface preparation.

Suitable Coatings

Tanks storing potable water have to abide by specific government regulations. They need to have a protective barrier to ensure the water remains safe to drink. They require a moisture-cured, surface-tolerant coating.

Coating Application

Most water tanks require a triple coat of zinc-epoxy-polyurethane system to ensure a minimum dry film thickness. Interior surfaces of the tank are coated with a triple coat zinc-epoxy-epoxy coating system. Epoxy coating for concrete water tanks is difficult and involved.

Finishing Work

Sealant and finishing coats are the final stages of water tank painting. This will ensure that both the color brightness and the integrity of the tank’s surface remain intact.

Waste Management

It is very important to properly clean and coat water tanks. The problem is it does create quite a bit of waste. All debris and contaminants should be contained so they can be properly disposed of.