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Freshly sprayed orange polyurea lining inside a manhole

Manhole applications

Every structure
under the street.

Spray-applied ArmorThane polyurea restores sanitary manholes, storm structures, wet wells, vaults and interceptors — without excavation.

Freshly sprayed orange polyurea lining inside a manhole

Sanitary sewer manholes

Stop the acid. Seal the walls.

In sanitary sewers, hydrogen sulfide gas is converted by bacteria into sulfuric acid on the crown and walls of the structure. Unprotected concrete softens, aggregate falls out and rebar is exposed. A continuous polyurea liner isolates the concrete from that environment and from groundwater at the same time.

  • Halts microbial-induced corrosion (MIC)
  • Seals active infiltration once leaks are plugged
  • Restores a smooth, cleanable surface
  • No excavation or road reconstruction
Manhole rehabilitation in progress behind traffic cones

Storm structures

Built for freeze-thaw, salt and grit.

Catch basins, curb inlets and storm junction structures take a beating from abrasive runoff, de-icing salts and freeze-thaw cycling. Polyurea’s toughness and elongation let it flex with the structure instead of cracking, keeping water and soil where they belong.

  • High abrasion and impact resistance
  • Flexes through freeze-thaw movement
  • Prevents soil loss and sinkholes around structures
  • Fast turnaround between storm events
Manhole lined with a seamless blue protective coating

Lift stations & wet wells

The harshest zone in the system.

Turbulence at lift stations and in wet wells strips hydrogen sulfide out of wastewater, making them some of the most corrosive structures a utility owns. Spray-applied polyurea builds a thick, seamless barrier around pump bases, walls and penetrations with minimal downtime for bypass pumping.

  • Thicker builds for severe exposure
  • Seamless detailing around penetrations
  • Minimizes bypass pumping time
  • Protects pump and rail anchorage areas
Looking down a coated manhole with a yellow access ladder

Vaults & junction chambers

Keep critical equipment dry.

Valve, meter, electrical and utility vaults fail from the outside in when groundwater finds a joint. A monolithic membrane across the walls, floor and frame keeps the chamber dry and the equipment inside serviceable for years longer.

  • Waterproofs joints and pipe penetrations
  • Protects valves, meters and electrical gear
  • Slip-resistant floor finishes available
  • Works on precast and cast-in-place concrete
Completed manhole with a smooth monolithic polyurea liner

Interceptors & sumps

Chemistry that shrugs off FOG.

Grease interceptors, oil-water separators and industrial sumps combine fats, oils, grease and aggressive process chemistry. Polyurea’s chemical resistance and seamless finish protect the concrete and make the structure easier to clean and inspect.

  • Resists fats, oils, grease and many chemicals
  • Smooth surface is easier to pump and clean
  • Ideal for restaurants, plants and campuses
  • Short shutdowns for occupied facilities
Crew rehabilitating a street manhole with spray-applied polyurea

Chimney, frame & bench

Seal the top and bottom, too.

Much of the inflow into a manhole sneaks in at the chimney, between adjusting rings and under the frame — while the bench and invert take constant flow and abrasion. Spraying them continuously with the barrel gives you a true top-to-bottom seal instead of a liner with weak edges.

  • Continuous seal across adjusting rings
  • Covers the frame-to-chimney joint
  • Rebuilds and protects bench and invert
  • Eliminates edge terminations where leaks start

Built to resist

What a polyurea liner stands up to.

  • Hydrogen sulfide (H2S)
  • Sulfuric acid
  • Groundwater infiltration
  • Stormwater inflow
  • Freeze-thaw cycling
  • Road salt & chlorides
  • Abrasive grit
  • Fats, oils & grease
  • Root intrusion at joints
  • Vibration & traffic loading
  • Many industrial chemicals
  • High-pressure cleaning

Always confirm chemical exposure and service conditions against the product data sheet and project specification.

Spray gun applying polyurea to the walls of a manhole

Start your own business

Every application is a business opportunity.

The same rig and training cover every structure on this page. Find out what it takes to start your own manhole rehab company.

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