Guys
This comes up frequently
Do what you want. For 30 years I was a Chicago Licensed contractor
specializing in restoration work.
Roofing cement belongs on roofs.
Do not put it on metal, wood, masonry (which includes concrete).
You want to protect metal, wire brush the rust, coat with a galvanizing
paint such as ColdGav or some such.
Then check and touch up every year.
Roofing cement will soon allow water in...but it won't let it out.
I'm sure some scientist can explain why it is that way.
I just know that I've had my guys start cutting through the layers only to
have copious amounts of water start flowing out.
If you are in a freezing area, that trapped water will do even more harm.
----- Original Message -----
From: "Dave Sublette" <k4to@meginc.com>
To: <W9zr@aol.com>
Cc: <towertalk@contesting.com>
Sent: Monday, December 03, 2001 5:31 PM
Subject: Re: [TowerTalk] Looking for Ideas for Preserving Tower Legs
>
> I coat the legs of my towers with roofing compound...black gooey stuff.
> Your idea of treating the legs, then filling the concrete up to above
> grade seems reasonable. I have actually removed a one yard base from the
> ground using railroad jacks. It wasn't too hard.
>
> 73,
>
> Dave, K4TO
>
> W9zr@aol.com wrote:
>
> >I am running into a problem with my tower legs starting to rust and I am
> >looking for some ideas.
> >
> >Background:
> >
> >When I installed an 80 foot Rohn 45 tower 8 years ago I anticipated
moving
> >within 4 or 5 years. I installed it in 1 yard of concrete and left the
top
> >of the concrete 6 inches below grade and filled in dirt on top of the
> >concrete. I did this so that when I moved I did not have to deal with
the
> >buyers probable complaint of a concrete pad in the backyard. In the past
I
> >would just cut off the legs and backfill dirt and nobody knew it was
there.
> >I realized then that if I did not move in 5 years I would have to do
> >something to prevent the tower legs from rusting as they would be in
contact
> >with the moist soil. BTW I did use sand and pea gravel at the bottom of
the
> >legs for proper intrenal drainage.
> >
> >8 years have passed and it looks like I am not moving anytime soon. So
much
> >for the best laid plans. As a result I removed some dirt and closely
> >inspected the tower legs and, while the galvanizing is gone, they appear
to
> >be solid but certainly have a fair amount of surface rust as you would
expect.
> >
> >My initial thought was to sand and paint the legs and then pour a
concrete
> >cap to a level approx 6 inch above grade.
> >
> >Another thought was to sand and paint the legs and then coat them with 2
part
> >epoxy. After that I could wrap a layer of rubber self vulcanizing tape
and
> >then vinyl tape similiar to we do for leak proof coax connections. With
> >this setup could I just backfill the dirt and forget about the concrete?
> >
> >This is new territory for me but I bet someone out there in towertalk
land
> >has had this problem and come up with a good solution. I am all ears!!
> >
> >73
> >
> >Randy
> >
> >
> >List Sponsored by AN Wireless: AN Wireless handles Rohn tower systems,
> >Trylon Titan towers, coax, hardline and more. Also check out our self
> >supporting towers up to 100 feet for under $1500!!
http://www.anwireless.com
> >
> >-----
> >FAQ on WWW: http://www.contesting.com/FAQ/towertalk
> >Submissions: towertalk@contesting.com
> >Administrative requests: towertalk-REQUEST@contesting.com
> >Problems: owner-towertalk@contesting.com
> >
> >
>
>
>
> List Sponsored by AN Wireless: AN Wireless handles Rohn tower systems,
> Trylon Titan towers, coax, hardline and more. Also check out our self
> supporting towers up to 100 feet for under $1500!!
http://www.anwireless.com
>
> -----
> FAQ on WWW: http://www.contesting.com/FAQ/towertalk
> Submissions: towertalk@contesting.com
> Administrative requests: towertalk-REQUEST@contesting.com
> Problems: owner-towertalk@contesting.com
>
>
>
List Sponsored by AN Wireless: AN Wireless handles Rohn tower systems,
Trylon Titan towers, coax, hardline and more. Also check out our self
supporting towers up to 100 feet for under $1500!! http://www.anwireless.com
-----
FAQ on WWW: http://www.contesting.com/FAQ/towertalk
Submissions: towertalk@contesting.com
Administrative requests: towertalk-REQUEST@contesting.com
Problems: owner-towertalk@contesting.com
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