Stands for water tanks: Steel tank stands vs Timber tank stands

Water tank stands are usually used to place water tanks at elevated heights in order to provide pressure. When deciding between a steel water tank stand and a timber water tank stand, there are a number of factors to consider:

Availability

Steel water tank stands can be bought in kit form in various heights or they can be built by an engineering/steel business.  Timber water tank stands are generally made DIY and are not usually available as off the shelf kits.

Strength & specifications

Professionally manufactured steel water tank stands are designed and built by structural engineers and have precisely known load-bearing properties and specifications.  Timber tank stands can be very well built but due to the varying properties of wooden beams and poles, precise load-bearing calculations are difficult at best.  A certified steel water tank stand will be guaranteed for a certain size/weight of water tank, e.g. 5000 litre water tank or 10000 litre water tank.  A DIY timber water tank stand will carry no guarantees in this respect.

Height

Lower water tank stands made with timber are fine but as the height increases, the availability of suitably long timber structural poles decreases.  Steel water tank stands can safely be designed and built to much higher specifications.

JoJo tank stands are designed and built by a structural engineer

Longevity

A properly constructed steel water tank stand can last a lifetime providing that high quality steel is used and that the metal surface is galvanised or coated to protect against corrosion.  As long as steel water tank stands are inspected and any rust spots removed and re-coated, a steel water tank stand’s service life will far exceed that of a timber water tank stand’s.  Timber tank stands are vulnerable to rot, termites, variable cracking and weathering.  In certain environments timber water tank stands can last a long time, especially if the timber is properly treated and maintained.  However, properly maintained steel water tank stands will always outlast timber tank stands.

Cost

Steel is expensive but professionally-made steel water tank stand kits in predetermined heights reduce cost.  Many steel tank stand kits are relatively compact and easy to transport.  Timber for tank stands is generally less expensive than steel but it is bulky and transport costs could be high.  Labour costs of making a timber tank stand from scratch could also be high.  One should weigh up the costs vs longevity and peace of mind.  Whereas professional steel water tank stands have known weight-bearing qualities and guarantees, timber tank stands often lack these.

Aesthetics

Timber water tank stands can be made to look attractive, depending on the builder.  Timber tank stands may blend in better with certain building structures but steel tank stands are generally neater and less conspicuous.

In South Africa, JoJo Tanks supply steel water tank stand kits for 5000 litre vertical water tanks and for 10000 litre water tanks in the following standard heights: 1.5 metres, 3 metres, 4.5 metres, 6 metres and 9 metres.  All JoJo tank stands are designed and manufactured by a certified structural engineer and each height of JoJo tank stand has an engineer’s certificate and engineer’s specification drawing (available on request).  JoJo steel water tank stand kits are generally far more economical than having an engineering firm build a steel water tank stand from scratch and installation guidelines are also available on request.