Does Your Silo Need a New Roof Coating?

You might not think twice about the state of your silo roofs until you discover a problem with them, like a leak. But waiting until there’s an issue to take care of your silos and tanks can cost you significantly. These vessels, which house tons of valuable commodities, are some of the most important assets for any facility in the food and agriculture industry. And if they become damaged in any way, your valuable products can get contaminated and go to waste.

Simply put, you can’t afford to neglect your silos and storage tanks. One way to ensure the integrity of your silos and the safety of your commodities is to inspect and reinforce their roofs. If you haven’t done this in some time, you might need to invest in some new silo roof coatings.

What Causes Silo Roofs to Wear Down Over Time

Like any other exterior feature, silos must put up with environmental conditions on a regular basis. Over time, rain, wind, snow, extreme temperatures, and more, gradually wear down your silos and their coatings. And thanks to gravity, silo roofs take the brunt of any impact and pressure from above. Additionally, variations in the fullness or emptiness of a given silo will affect the roof. As walls expand or contract, the roof moves with it. If your silo roofs and their industrial coatings lack strength and flexibility, it’s only a matter of time before they fracture and let moisture and other contaminants in.

Benefits of New Silo Roof Coating Technology

For a long time in the food and agriculture industry, tar coatings were the standard for silo roofs. While some facilities still go with this method, tar coatings can become quite brittle over time. Fortunately, industrial tank painting technology has come a long way in recent decades. At Painters USA, we primarily use elastomeric coatings for silo roofs. As their name implies, elastomeric paints boast high elasticity, meaning they’re naturally flexible. This flexibility allows tanks and silos to expand and contract without causing damage to the roof or coatings themselves. Plus, elastomeric coatings are more durable than tar coatings overall, meaning they’ll hold up against the elements much longer, especially when properly maintained.

How We Repair and Coat Silo Roofs

If your silo does indeed need a new roof coating, Painters USA is happy to help. We have decades of experience serving clients in the food and agricultural business, and we deliver custom solutions based on each client’s needs. Here’s a glimpse at how we might approach a silo roof repair and silo painting project:

• Completely remove the current failing roof systems
• Open up the underlying concrete’s pores using a diamond grinder to facilitate proper coating adhesion
• Re-flash protrusions and vents with a three-step process via elastomeric flashing and polyester fabric
• Grind down any cracks, install backer rods, and fill cracks with polyurethane filler to stop leaking
• Create a smooth and even surface optimal for adhesion by filling pitted and spalled areas with a slope building compound
• Broadcast aggregate into the topcoat to create a non-slip surface for safety and increased surface protection

We then back our work with a 10-year warranty (dependent on annual inspections and maintenance work that we provide).

Maintaining your silo roofs is key to maintaining your business’ success. If it’s time for an update, Painters USA delivers custom industrial painting solutions to meet your needs and goals. To learn more about us and our many services, contact us today at 1-800-999-8715.