Special care instructions for steel tanks and silos

Expertise in coatings for steel

Whether your bulk storage facilities are steel or concrete, Painters USA has years of experience working safely and effectively with both. Our crews are well-trained and equipped to work in any industrial setting with steel storage containers and other metal structures.

Steel is a popular bulk storage tank option. Steel tanks commonly have bolted seams, which are sealed to reduce leaks, and the steel surface is typically finished in the factory with a powder coating.

Because concrete and steel have unique attributes and their own pros and cons, you can rely on our expertise and experience to protect your tank and silo investments and the stored products they contain. Painters USA can help you keep that new, factory-finish appeal and long-lasting performance, and we have been known to work miracles in the restoration of steel tanks that are old or have been neglected.

Rust control and prevention experience

Steel has one major flaw—it rusts. The best way to control rust is early detection and mitigation, including coatings and linings of the proper type and thickness, professionally applied for specific environmental and operational conditions.

• Various types of chemical involvement.
• Weather and atmospheric conditions.
• Operational and physical wear and tear.

Yet when downtime is limited or nonexistent and competing priorities must be juggled, keeping up with preventive maintenance can be a challenge. Deferred maintenance is a good tactic when used wisely, yet too many deferrals and delays often lead to bigger, more costly and time-consuming repairs and fixes in the future.

With no “one size fits all” solution, Painters USA will identify and recommend solutions based on the steel tank itself, the contents, the operational setting, downtime and budget constraints, and other considerations.

Main types of metal tanks and silos

Painters USA is accustomed to working on all the major construction styles of steel tanks and silos.

Flat-Bottom Metal Silos

Metal silos with flat bottoms are used to store materials for extended periods of time. Used most often to store grain, they can be found at feed mills, breweries, and similar facilities. Flat-bottom metal silos are usually made of carbon steel body sheets that are bolted onto a steel frame. Large metal silos include wind rings for structural stability and spiral stairs and caged ladders for access.

Conical-Bottom Metal Silos

Cone bottom metal silos typically store a wide variety of materials like grain, sand, and powders. They're generally used for temporary storage and can be raised for easy access and loading. Conical-bottom metal silos can be fabricated using sheets bolted to structural steel frames, but they are often welded for longer-lasting performance.

Horizontal Metal Silos

Horizontal metal silos are best suited for short-term storage, used often to aggregate metal chips, cement, lime, ash, and other materials. Horizontal metal silos are almost always made with welded construction. They can be installed inside a plant, preserving floor space by lifting them off the ground on structural steel platforms, which also enables gravity to do the work of pulling stored material out of the silo via a chute or hopper.

Metal tank and silo roofs

Tank and silo roofs require special consideration and attention, as everything that applies to the walls is amplified on the roof. They bear the brunt of the sun's UV rays, rain, and other climate and weather factors. Flat or low-slope roofs create the perfect place for water to pool and puddle. That’s why Painters USA begins every storage container project with a roof inspection, to give us a thorough understanding of what we’re dealing with. We do what we can to eliminate or mitigate any weak points in the roof that could damage the bulk storage structure itself and its contents.

Silo and tank painting

Protect storage tanks, silos, and bins from the elements and safeguard normal operations with proper maintenance and coating services.

Logo painting

Company logos & slogans on interior walls or exterior silos & tanks are a great way to enhance your message and brand.

Confined space painting

Confined space painting for tanks, storage bins, silos, pipelines, and more

Linings for superior protection of stored contents

At Painters USA, we know it’s as important to protect the contents of steel storage bins as it is to maintain the structure itself. Every product or material being stored has its own unique properties and issues that must be considered.

• Food safety must be addressed for food and agriculture facilities.
• Chemicals are highly corrosive to tank linings and also present hazards like flammability and explosions.

We can recommend products without hazardous VOC emissions, and we can offer the important additional benefit of fast return to service, not only for your operational deadlines, but the faster the work can get done, the less we have to worry about the weather cooperating! And our crews are certified to work in confined spaces, and they have extensive experience and other safety training for working on tanks and silos, like fall prevention.

Specific industry needs and regulatory compliance

Painters USA will follow all of your business and industry specifications for safety, compliance, and performance. Our certified coating experts can offer advice for all concrete tank surfaces, inside and out.