Southern Corrosion

What Southern Corrosion does

Southern Corrosion, Inc. is a privately held, family-owned water tank and water tower maintenance services company headquartered in Roanoke Rapids, North Carolina, founded in 1983 by Harry Skilton. The company provides a bundled suite of services to municipal, county, industrial, and rural water association customers across 13 Mid-Atlantic and Southeast US states, including professional painting and restoration per AWWA and SSPC specifications, NACE/AMPP-certified inspections (dry tank, ROV, drone-assisted), interior washouts and cleaning, and custom-engineered recurring maintenance programs delivered under two tiers — the comprehensive Water Tank Management Program and the standard Water Tank Sentry Program. Adjacent product lines include Medora GridBee mixing systems (via distribution partnership), FAA-compatible solar aviation warning lights, security services, and cell antenna engineering analysis and management for cellular carriers mounting on municipal water towers.

The business model centers on direct field sales executed by regional sales representatives who live in the territories they serve, supported by strategically positioned company-owned inspection, maintenance, and painting crews. Revenue is generated primarily through multi-year, quote-based maintenance contracts (illustrative anchor: Gaffney Peachoid at ~$18,000 per quarter / ~$72,000 per year), supplemented by project-based one-time painting and repair work priced per tank scope. Customer relationships are characterized by multi-decade tenures (35+ years with some accounts), and the company is staffed by six family members across three generations of the Skilton family, with on-staff engineers designing customized programs. Operational certifications include NACE CIP Level 1/2 and AMPP CIP Level 2 coating inspection credentials, SSPC C3 Supervisor qualification, and Virginia Class 1 Water Works licensure held by field staff.

Name

Southern Corrosion

Legal name

Southern Corrosion, Inc.

Website

https://tankcare.net

Company type

Private

Founded year

1983

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Southern Corrosion is a family-owned water tank and water tower maintenance services company operating across 13 Mid-Atlantic and Southeast US states, serving municipal, county, and industrial customers with painting, inspection, cleaning, and recurring maintenance programs since 1983.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Water Tank and Water Tower Maintenance Services

NAICS

Plumbing, Heating, and Air-Conditioning Contractors (23822)

SIC

Services-Miscellaneous Repair Services (7600)

akta.pro primary industry

Water Tank & Storage Hygiene (Inspection, Cleaning, Refurbishment) (BPABAJAH)

akta.pro secondary industry

Corrosion Control & Stabilization (pH/Alkalinity Adjustment, Phosphate Dosing) (EUANABAG)

Keywords

• Water tank maintenance
• Water tower painting
• Tank inspection services
• Corrosion control coatings
• Potable water storage

Headquarters

HQ city

Roanoke Rapids

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Water Tank Management Programs: Recurring maintenance contracts providing yearly inspections, regular washouts, cell antenna management, emergency services, and customizable maintenance plans. Two levels offered: comprehensive Water Tank Management Program and standard Water Tank Sentry Program.
2. Water Tower Painting: One-time painting and restoration services for water tanks including custom graphics and murals. Pricing varies by tank size and scope.
3. Tank Inspections: Annual and routine tank inspections including dry tank and ROV inspections, exterior evaluations, detailed reports with photographs for compliance documentation.
4. Cellular Services: Cable and antenna mount engineering, structural analysis, and installation services for cell carriers on water towers, generating additional revenue for municipal customers.
5. Water Tank Mixing Systems: Sale and installation of Medora GridBee mixers to address water quality issues including stagnation, sediment build-up, and temperature stratification.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Southern Corrosion provides comprehensive water tank and water tower maintenance services to municipal water systems, rural water associations, and industrial water users across 13 Southeastern and Mid-Atlantic U.S. states. Its core offerings are two tiered subscription maintenance programs—the comprehensive Water Tank Management Program and the standard Water Tank Sentry Program—covering recurring inspections, washouts, cell antenna management, and emergency response, supplemented by one-time painting, restoration, repair, and specialty services such as mixing system installation and solar aviation lighting.

Product overview

Southern Corrosion offers a unified suite of water tank and water tower maintenance services organized around two core maintenance program tiers: the comprehensive Water Tank Management Program (which includes yearly inspections, washouts, cell antenna management, and emergency services) and the standard Water Tank Sentry Program (with scheduled washouts and annual inspections). These programs are supported by core services including professional painting, detailed inspections, and cleaning. The company also provides add-on products such as water tank mixing systems (via Medora GridBee distribution), solar aviation warning lights, and cellular antenna engineering services. The Engineered Tank Care framework ties all offerings together to maximize tank life while keeping customers in compliance and on budget.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Water Tank Management Program Comprehensive multi-year subscription maintenance program designed by on-staff engineers covering yearly water tank inspections, regular interior washouts, cell antenna management, emergency services, and customizable plans to maximize tank life, appearance, and structural integrity while keeping municipal customers in compliance and on budget.
• Water Tank Sentry Program Standard tier subscription maintenance program offering customizable maintenance plans, scheduled interior washouts, and annual inspections for ongoing water tank care at an entry-level scope.
• Water Tank and Water Tower Painting Professional one-time water tower painting, restoration, and repair services utilizing AWWA and SSPC spec surface preparation and coating application, including custom graphics, branding designs, and community-themed murals for elevated and ground storage tanks.
• Water Tank Inspections Annual and routine tank inspections including dry tank inspections and ROV (remotely operated vehicle) underwater inspections, analyzing interior for corrosion and sediment while evaluating exterior components such as vent screens, dome, hatches, and overflow pipes, with detailed photographic reports for regulatory compliance documentation.
• Water Tank Cleaning and Washouts Interior washout services to maintain water quality, remove sediment buildup, and ensure proper tank hygiene as part of ongoing maintenance programs.
• Water Tank Mixing Systems Sale and installation of Medora GridBee mixing systems that reduce stagnation, sediment build-up, short-circuiting, and temperature stratification while ensuring uniform disinfectant distribution in potable water storage tanks.
• Cellular Antenna Engineering Analysis and Management Cell antenna cable and antenna mount engineering, structural analysis, post-installation inspection, and management services for water tower owners hosting cellular carrier equipment.
• Water Tower Aviation Warning Solar Lights Solar aviation warning lights for water towers with expected service life exceeding 100,000 hours, FAA compatibility, five to seven year battery life, and adjustable strobes, including installation and operation.
• Water Tank Security Services Security planning and services for water tanks to ensure protection of critical water storage infrastructure.
• Temporary Water Tank Solutions Temporary water tank solutions provided through co-owner Elbert Basolis to address interim water storage needs during maintenance or repair projects.

Quantifiable outcome

• Properly maintained water tanks can last 100+ years
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Medora CorporationcoreTechnology or IntegrationSouthern Corrosion became a Medora distributor for GridBee mixing systems. Significant cost savings on mixers are passed on to customers. GridBee products provide mixing, THM removal, and disinfectant boosting solutions certified to NSF/ANSI Standard 61.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• CB&I (Chicago Bridge & Iron): CB&I is a large engineering, procurement, and construction firm specializing in storage tanks and infrastructure, including water storage tanks. It serves as a broad incumbent competitor at the larger tank construction and maintenance tier.
• Carboline: Carboline is a leading industrial coatings manufacturer serving water and wastewater infrastructure markets. As a coating supplier to tank maintenance contractors, it is comparable to Southern Corrosion's coatings application business at the supply-chain layer.
• Tnemec Company: Tnemec is a major protective coatings manufacturer whose products are specified for water tank applications — Southern Corrosion uses epoxy coatings and 100% solids systems per AWWA/SSPC specs, often specifying Tnemec or comparable products.
• Sherwin-Williams Protective & Marine: Sherwin-Williams Protective & Marine Coatings is a major supplier of high-performance coatings used in water tank applications. While a much larger coatings manufacturer, its products are commonly specified in Southern Corrosion's tank painting projects.

Direct peers

• Landmark Tank & Tower: Landmark Tank & Tower provides water tower maintenance, painting, and inspection services to municipal and industrial customers — a closely comparable specialty services peer in the same niche.
• Pittsburg Tank & Tower: Pittsburg Tank & Tower is a direct peer providing water tank maintenance, painting, inspection, and repair services to municipalities and industrial customers, with national coverage across multiple US regions.
• Caldwell Tanks: Caldwell Tanks designs, builds, and maintains elevated and ground storage water tanks for municipalities and industrial clients, overlapping directly with Southern Corrosion's maintenance and refurbishment offerings.
• Utility Service Co. Utility Service Co. is a direct competitor offering water tank maintenance, inspection, and rehabilitation services to municipalities and utilities across the United States, with comparable recurring maintenance program structure.

Emerging players

• KTA-Tator: KTA-Tator is a coatings inspection and engineering firm serving infrastructure markets including water storage tanks. Comparable to Southern Corrosion's NACE-certified inspection services, though more focused on the consulting/inspection layer rather than full-service maintenance.
• Phoenix Fabricators & Erectors: Phoenix Fabricators & Erectors is a water storage tank manufacturer and erector serving municipal and industrial clients. It overlaps with Southern Corrosion on the maintenance/refurbishment side of existing tanks, though its primary focus is new tank construction.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/tankcaredotnet
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCSmagGHDcXZpyPBbhDsUK5Q/feed
• Facebookfacebook.com/SouthernCorrosionInc
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/southern-corrosion-inc-

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles17 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Southern Corrosion