Waterproofing a tank is a necessary ordeal. If you are using steel tanks, then your tank is automatically waterproof, but only for a time. The metal is going to corrode over a long period of time, and you will one day see a leak, which will eventually burst under pressure. If your tank is made of concrete, the most common solution is to use waterproof concrete slurry in the tank lining. But this is just temporary. After a while, the tank is going to have leaks. Today, we at ATM Tanks will discuss why tank waterproofing is important, what options you have to protect your asset.

Why do you need tank waterproofing? 

People often think that tank waterproofing’s purpose is to prevent flooding and avoid water waste. This reason is merely superficial. You need to waterproof your tank because if it has a leak, the fungus is going to grow. This especially happens in concrete tanks that are underground. Nevertheless, bacteria and other microbes will seep into your tank if there is a leak. As you know, water is a carrier of a pathogen. If your tank is above ground, the water leak is still enough to transport bacteria from the outside to the inside of the tank.

Suppose the tank leaks, algae and fungus grow. After some time, these microbes will also weaken the overall structure of your tank. It can lead to a collapse. The worst thing that can happen is that you get diseases that are water-borne.

What methods are available to waterproof a tank? 

There are many materials that you can choose from as far a tank waterproofing is concerned. Some use a bladder or tank liner, and some may also use a specific lining welded into the tank’s inside panel. Here are some of the most common tank waterproofing systems:

• Liquid membranes – these are chemicals that are typically applied with spray. They are like paint, but they product an impermeable substance when they get dry. Some versions of this can be applied with rollers and trowels. Once they are dry, they have a rubbery feeling like liquid rubber.
• Rubberised – this is made of rubber, as the name implies. However, they are not made of pure rubber. Instead, they are a cross between rubber and asphalt. Most of the time, this material is used at the bottom of the tank. The good thing about this material is that it is self-adhering. You only need to prepare your substrate, and you can apply it yourself.
• Cementitious – these are concrete products. You have to mix them in water to activate their chemical compounds. Once you have created a slurry, you apply them to your tank’s linings like you would with cement. There are also various additives that you can use to make it more durable and long-lasting.
• Built-up – this is a different kind of waterproofing where the contractor uses different types of asphalt. Once the first layer is dry, a new layer is applied, usually with perforated felt.
• Clay – the technical term for this is sodium bentonite. It is applied to the outside of the tank instead of inside. The clay hardens and protects the tank steel or concrete from elements. They absorb water, and then they harden. As the tank leaks, the clay absorbs the leak, expands, and then hardens.

As you can see, there are many types of waterproofing to choose from. The right material depends on how you will use the tank. Just because it is called waterproofing does not mean the tank should only hold water.

Why choose ATM Tanks for waterproofing your tank? 

At ATM Tank Group, we can solve your water woes no matter what it is. We have been in the tank industry for more than 15 years. We have also provided our service with a warranty to hundreds of clients right across Australia.

We service every major city across Australia; some of these are:

• Sydney
• Brisbane
• Hobart
• Perth
• Melbourne
• Gold Coast
• Adelaide

Apart from waterproofing, we do the following things:

• Tank repairs
• Tank building
• Tank installation
• Tank bladders/liners and installation

We also pride ourselves for using remotely controlled vehicles or ROV’s. We have robots that do the inspection of tanks. These robots do not just take videos and images of your tank, but they can also take samples of the tank contents and analyse them.

Summary: tank waterproofing by ATM Tanks

ATM Tanks is a renowned service provider for tank services in Australia. Our employees have over 100 years of cumulative experience. We have engineers who specialise in various tank fabrication and chemical analysis. Give us a call on 1800 422 444 so we can schedule an ocular visit. We will check your tank, make an assessment, and then give you a free quote. Depending on the job needed, we can repair a tank in as short as seven days. We also offer a warranty as an assurance that the service and materials you get are of the highest quality.