The existing waterproofing to the grain silo base had significantly broken down and was allowing water ingress into the silo structure. This failure of the industrial waterproofing system was causing sprouting of the stored grain and preventing effective emptying of the grain storage silo.
Grain Silo Base Waterproofing – Norfolk
THE PROBLEM: Water Ingress at Grain Silo Base
THE SOLUTION: Silo Base Waterproof Coating System
To resolve the issue, we proposed the application of our proven grain silo base waterproofing system in the form of Corrolastic SG, a high-performance industrial waterproof coating system designed for sealing concrete and steel interfaces.
Stage 1: Removal of Failed Waterproofing
The first stage of the waterproofing repair works was to remove the existing failed waterproofing materials.
This was undertaken using a combination of mechanical breakers to remove the existing cove and high-pressure water jetting to remove the coatings from the galvanized steel surfaces, ensuring effective surface preparation for the new waterproof coating system.
Stage 2: Concrete Surface Preparation
The concrete plinth was prepared by method of vacuum controlled diamond grinding, a proven concrete surface preparation technique used to remove ingrained contamination and prepare the substrate for the application of the new concrete waterproofing system.
Stage 3: Cleaning and Environmental Checks
All surfaces were then thoroughly cleaned to remove any remaining debris or contamination.
Prior to the application of any industrial waterproofing materials, the climatic conditions and moisture content of the concrete substrate were tested and recorded to ensure conformance with the technical requirements of the materials being applied.
Stage 4: Corrosion Protection and Steel Priming
Corroded areas of steel were primed using Corroless EPF, a rust stabilising primer that can be applied to steel prepared to ST standard as per ISO8501-1.
This primer contains a mined pigment that converts corrosion present into stable iron oxides, providing effective corrosion protection for steel surfaces and preventing further deterioration prior to the application of the waterproof coating system.
Stage 5: Joint Sealing and Interface Preparation
Gaps between the steel and 90-degree angles were sealed and filleted using a flexible polyurethane jointing compound, applied using mastic guns to ensure proper sealing at the steel to concrete interface, which is a critical area for water ingress in silo structures.
Stage 6: Application of the Waterproof Coating System
Corrolastic SG was then applied in three coats to a total thickness of 3mm, incorporating a reinforcement bandage at the steel/concrete interface to provide additional durability and long-term performance of the grain silo waterproofing system
Result: Proven Waterproofing for Grain Storage
These works followed other industrial waterproofing applications on site, such as the adjacent silo, where the same Corrolastic SG waterproofing system had effectively solved the client’s water ingress problems in grain storage structures.
