CCS Group, LLC • 855-752-5047 • http://www.ccsgrouponline.com
Reprinted from Grain Journal May/June 2019 Issue
Every year or two, a Midwestern grain elevator with four 36-foot-diameter slipform concrete tanks, part of an annex, was having to reseal its roof, an expensive procedure, after water leakage into the stored grain kept recurring.
To hold down costs, the managers turned to roof coating suppliers who offered single-step coating applications as a means to save expense.
The problem was that each supplier offered a different coating, tar, or foam to seal the roof, and many of these products were incompatible with each other. What ended up being four layers of product sometimes would separate from each other allowing moisture to seep through. Some layers would deteriorate under changing weather conditions. Some products would allow water to pond and become slippery for workers.
The managers were looking for a product application procedure that would fix these problems to keep stored grain safe from moisture. And because they were in a region that sometimes had relatively harsh winters, they wanted a roof coating that would hold up under 6 to 10 inches of snow.
Finally, in 2018, the managers turned to a more involved multistep process offered by CCS Group LLC, a concrete restoration contractor based in Seward, NE (855-752-5047).
According to CCS President and CEO Cheyenne Wohlford, his company offers a liquid membrane roofing that provides a seamless protective coating using a system of primers, reinforcing fabrics, base, and topcoats. These elements work together to extend the life of the existing roof and protect stored products. CCS Group provides a 10-year warranty on its roof system.
Here, step by step, is the procedure CCS used:
• All of the existing coatings and foams were removed and the layers ground down to the original concrete.
• Rust was removed from all metal millwright work down to original white steel.
• All termination points for roof coatings were taped off, including around metal equipment in contact with the roof, similar to a house painting job.
• A clear base sealant was applied to the roof.
• A layer of fabric was spread and stretched over the base. This fabric helps keep roof coatings from splitting open.
• A UV-protectant seal goes on top of the other layers to prevent the coating from deteriorating in sunlight.
• Granules are included in the coating to keep the surface from being slippery, especially when wet.
Wohlford says the entire process takes about two weeks, depending on the size and configuration of the elevator, as opposed to two days for single layer application.
So far, elevator managers report that their new roof seal has been holding up with no problems.
