Seamed Linings for EPDM Lined Tanks

While the linings on EPDM lined water/heat storage tanks are usually made with a single piece of EPDM that is pushed into the tank, and then folded like a Chinese restaurant takeout box, it is possible to eliminate the big folds by very carefully doing bonded seams in the EPDM.

The pictures below show Jarrod's EPDM lined tank that uses the seaming technique to make a neater installation that also uses less EPDM. 

One thing that is clear is that these seams require some special materials and skills, and very careful attention to details.  So, if you are going to go this way be prepared to do your homework.

For most of us who don't have a talented cousin in the business, the one piece lining is probably the safest way to go.   But, if you want to give the seamed lining a try, the pictures and description from Jarrod below should help a lot.

I guess that another possibility would be to find a local EPDM roofing person to work with.  Another possibility is to have a lining made by one of the custom lining places.

Thanks very much to Jarrod for making this material available!

 

<Jarrod -- I took your description from Fieldlines and pasted it in below with a couple small edits -- could you:

- Provide the names of the products used for the seaming.

- Check for any errors I might have added to your description.

- Suggest a caption for each picture.

>

 

Well last night my cousin showed up with his glues and lap joints , uncured rubber and seam joint and a water base glue and a solvent base primer .

 

We started by laying the big piece in as one which was 6 feet by 10 so the only seams would be on the front and back wall . Before laying any of the rubber down we applied a glue on the rubber and the foam board so it would actually be bonded to the walls and floor .

 

On all the seams, the inside patch or inseam is 6 inches and the outside is also 6 inches . 

 

On the corners, he hand makes a corner patch out of uncured rubber, which is  very flexible -- this makes a nice corner with a small pig ear flap that gets glued down and another two pieces get laid over that making three layers of protection.  He says that on roof jobs that only two layers are used.


To be warranted by the manufacturer of Mule-Hide Products, every job he does has to inspected buy a rep from the company.   He hasn't had any problems.  He also he teaches this product line at a local tech school .  I still hold a little worry about leaks and so on ,but it does look really professional and it lays over the top sill really nice making for a great seal . I guess like anything we do diy or green projects you have to go out on limb.   I will keep you guys updated on it -- so far I'm really happy .

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

<Jerrod -- if you want to add an email address, people could email you questions -- this is totally up to you and people have done it both ways.  If you do provide an email, I will try to disguise it so that the spammers won't see it>

Jarrod,  October 5, 2010

 

 

 

Gary