Tank roof repairs
A ROOF THAT KEEPS THE WATER CLEAN AND THE WALL TRUE
The roof is structural. When it sags, the wall it braces starts to move, and the repair bill grows.
Short answer
When does a water tank roof need repair?
Repair the roof when sheets are rusted through, purlins have sagged, the hatch no longer seals, or light and debris are getting into the water. A failed roof lets in leaves, birds and sunlight, which turns clean stored water green and lets the tank wall lose its bracing.
The work
What we do, and why
What fails in a tank roof
Tank roofs fail from the inside. The air above stored water is humid all year, so the underside of the sheeting corrodes long before the top surface looks bad.
What we usually find: - Rust through the sheet, worst around the centre vent and the hatch - Sagging or rusted purlins that no longer carry the sheets - Fixings that have backed out or corroded away - A hatch that no longer closes, or has no lid at all - Missing or torn insect mesh on the vent and overflow - Storm damage where sheets have lifted at the edge
How the problem is diagnosed
From the ground you can see a dip in the roof line, rust streaks running down the outside of the wall, and daylight through the sheets when you look in the hatch.
We inspect from a safe position and never walk a roof we do not trust. Sound roofs are checked for fixing condition, purlin corrosion and mesh. Poor roofs are assessed for whether a partial sheet replacement is honest value or whether the whole roof should go. If more than about half the sheets are compromised, replacing the lot is usually cheaper over ten years than two patch visits.
How the repair is done
For a partial repair, the failed sheets and any corroded purlins are removed and replaced with new steel. Fixings are new, sealed and driven to the right depth so they do not become the next leak path.
For a full replacement the roof structure is renewed as a unit: purlins, sheeting, centre cap, hatch and vent. Hatches are fitted with a lid that seals and latches. Vents and overflows get insect mesh, which keeps mosquitoes and vermin out of the stored water.
Where a roof is opened for a liner replacement, we do the roof work on the same visit. It saves you a second mobilisation charge.
What it costs
A patch repair on a few sheets is the cheapest job in this category. A full roof replacement on a large diameter tank is the most expensive, because it is a structure, not a cover.
See the indicative range below. Every job is quoted firm after inspection, and travel is stated separately so you can see it.
How long it takes
Patch repairs are usually done in a day. A full roof replacement on a mid size tank takes one to two days. Weather matters more here than on any other job we do, so roof work gets rescheduled rather than rushed in wind.
The tank does not always have to be empty for roof work, which makes this one of the easier jobs to fit around your water use.
What warranty applies
Workmanship is warranted by us. Sheeting and fixings carry the manufacturer warranty for the product supplied. Both are written on the quote.
Storm damage after the fact is an insurance matter, not a warranty matter, and we are happy to provide a written condition report for a claim.
Specifications
ROOF REPAIR SPECIFICATIONS
Typical figures. Confirmed on inspection.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Tank diameters served | 2 m to 20 m |
| Typical roof life | 20 years plus for a new steel roof |
| Materials | Colorbond or zincalume sheet, steel purlins |
| Included on replacement | Hatch with sealing lid, vent and insect mesh |
| Tank must be empty | Not usually, unless the liner is also being done |
| Time on site | 1 day patch, 1 to 2 days full replacement |
Indicative pricing
ROUGH BUDGET FOR ROOF WORK
Indicative only, to help you budget. Not a quote.
Patch repair
from $2,000a few sheets and fixings
Sensible when the rest of the roof still has years left in it.
Hatch, vent and mesh
from $600per tank
Small job with a big effect on water quality. Often done with other work.
Full roof replacement
from $8,000mid size tank
New purlins, sheeting, cap and hatch. Large tanks are priced individually.
Every job is quoted firm after inspection. Price moves with tank diameter, access, condition of the shell and travel distance. The written quote is the price you pay. Call 0499 142 149 for a firm number.
Roof repairs
ASKED ON EVERY ROOF JOB
Still stuck? Call 0499 142 149.
Not usually. We can do most roof repairs with the tank in service. It only has to be drained if the liner is being replaced at the same time.
If the corrosion is in a few sheets, patch. If it is spread across the roof and the purlins are going too, replace. We will tell you which one your tank is.
Light is getting in. A hole in the roof or a missing hatch lid lets sunlight reach the water and algae follows. Sealing the roof fixes the cause.
Yes. Mesh on the vent and overflow is a small job and it keeps mosquitoes and vermin out. We often do it alongside a liner or band job.
Related
OFTEN DONE TOGETHER
Get a price
SEND US THE NUMBERS.
Diameter, height, outlets and a couple of photos. That's usually all we need to come back with a firm price — no site visit required to start.
Coverage
WE TRAVEL FOR TANKS
WA Tanks is based in Perth and works across Western Australia. We cover the Perth metro area, the South West, the Wheatbelt, the Mid West, the Great Southern and the Goldfields. Regional jobs are batched into runs, so the lead time depends on the next trip to your area.
Not on the list? Call, we usually travel there anyway.
Perth metro
Perth & HillsSwan ValleyRockinghamMandurahMetro jobs usually start within a week of the quote being accepted.
South West
BunburyBusseltonMargaret RiverManjimupBooked into the next South West run, so timing follows the run, not the call.
Wheatbelt
NorthamMerredinNarroginKatanningBooked into the next Wheatbelt run, so timing follows the run, not the call.