Worth-It Tips and Ideas for Designing Granny Flats

Do you own an old steel water tank whose service life you would like to extend by applying an exterior coating? Read on and discover some of the considerations you should make when selecting a coating product for that tank from the variety offered on the market.

Curing Requirements

Steel water tank coatings usually have different curing requirements once they are applied. For instance, polyurethane coatings cure much faster than epoxy coatings do. This difference is crucial in case you would like to coat the tank when inclement weather is expected. Curing temperature should also be considered when selecting a coating product for your tank. Select a product that won't fail to cure in case temperatures drop or rise rapidly. In this way, you will be saved from the added cost of repeating the project in case the temperature changes unexpectedly and disrupts the curing process.

Impact of Sun Exposure

Different water tank coatings react differently to exposure to sunlight. Some coatings, such as aromatic polyurethane coatings, fade once they are exposed to UV radiation for long. Other coatings, such as aliphatic polyurethane coatings, remain stable despite prolonged exposure to UV radiation. Select an appropriate coating for your tank. Use a stable coating in case the water tank is on your roof, for example.

Presence of Harmful Compounds

You should also pay attention to the ingredients used to make the different water tank coatings from which you would like to select a coating product for your tank. Some coatings have volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in them. Others are free from VOCs. Some coatings have flammable solvents in their formulation. Others are free from flammable solvents. Read the product information provided carefully and select a product that doesn't have any VOC or flammable substance in it. Such a coating will pose no fire or health risk once it is applied on your steel water tank.

Flexibility

Steel water tanks usually change in accordance with their surroundings. For instance, they can expand or contract as the ambient temperature changes. Tank coatings that can't adjust at the same rate as the tank are likely to crack or peel off easily. It is therefore helpful for you to select a coating that will stretch or change as the tank on which it is applied changes. This flexibility will enable that coating to remain intact for a long time.

You may need the help of an expert in case you lack the ability to assess the technical descriptions of the different water tank coating products on the market. That professional will be of invaluable help in enabling you to avoid making a costly mistake.