How to repair a leaky shipping container roof
In a previous article we discussed elastomeric roof coatings like Kool Seal for preventative maintenance and sealing small holes in shipping container roofs. In addition, light colored roof coatings also reduce the heat island effect and heat buildup inside your container often caused by a darker painted or rusted container roof. With their primary purpose of keeping the elements out, container roofs are the weak link in the entire structure. The shipping container walls are constructed of 14-gauge weather-resistant steel and the posts are made of 7-gauge steel tubing, but the shipping container roof is constructed of 16-gauge die-cast corrugated steel sheets. to 18. These roofs have a very limited load capacity, any load in the containers must be distributed to the ground (or boat deck) by the four corner posts, not the roof.
Shipping containers can often have a dented roof due to handling while loading or unloading from cargo ships. If the container roof has a dent where water can collect, it needs to be fixed before it rusts. If you find that water is getting into the container, the best solution is to remove the damaged part of the roof and weld a new section of steel roof panel, however in some situations this is easier said than done. If the proper tools and equipment are not available, then you need an alternative but permanent repair.
In the modular building industry, we have had great success using a product called EternaBond to permanently seal roof seams between building sections. EternaBond works on both metal and EPDM surfaces and is used time and time again to bond roof seams on rented modular buildings. Modular buildings are delivered, configured and used in sometimes caustic environments such as chemical plants for several years. When the rent is over the roof seam, it is cut, the building modules separated and then shipped to a new site where another slightly wider layer of EternaBond tape is installed just over the top of the old tape seam. because the previous layer is too difficult and time consuming. -consume to eliminate. As roofs aged and deteriorated with multiple layers of bonding material left behind, a fresh layer of EternaBond tape rarely failed us.
EternaBond is a rubber tape product with adhesive on one side. To install, clean the surface, brush a primer onto the surface, apply an adhesive to the surface, then press the EternaBoond tape down. You will immediately have a long lasting watertight roof patch. For added protection, you can apply an EtrnaBond chalk to the edges of the patch. EternaBond is available in 50′ rolls from 2″ wide to 48″ wide, so you can find an EternaBond product for almost any container roof repair need, both emergency and permanent.