Basement & foundation waterproofing for hotels & serviced apartments in Alrass

Prepared by the technical team · editorial review · last updated 13 November 2026 · Sources

Why basement & foundation waterproofing differs in Alrass

Team note on Alrass: Kashf teams serve this city and its nearby districts with the same documented inspection standard: device-based leak detection without demolition, a written report, and a clear scope before any work begins.. Main roads in or near Alrass: King Abdulaziz Road, King Fahd Road, King Salman Road.

The centre of Alrass sits about 695 m above sea level (SRTM open elevation data).

Does a hotel or serviced apartment basement in Alrass really need waterproofing, given that the city is inland? The answer depends on the site, not the altitude alone. The centre of Alrass sits about 695 m above sea level, so the ground is elevated and the question is how water moves through the basement walls and floor slab, not whether the area is low-lying. For a basement, waterproofing is usually priced per square metre, with basement work falling between SAR 50 and SAR 150 per m². Crack injection, which seals a visible leak line, is priced per metre at SAR 40 to SAR 120 per m, so an owner can compare a targeted repair against a full membrane system before deciding anything.

The inspection normally starts with a walk through the basement and the floor above it, looking for damp patches, efflorescence on walls, staining at the junction of wall and slab, and any cracks that are wet or moving. The surveyor then checks the areas that matter most for a hotel or serviced property, including the bathrooms above, the lift pit, and any water tank room, since leaks often start there and travel down. Measurements are taken for each zone so the quote can be broken into basement waterproofing, bathroom waterproofing at SAR 15 to SAR 40 per m², tank internal coating at SAR 25 to SAR 60 per m², and any roof work, where liquid roof waterproofing runs SAR 8 to SAR 25 per m² and bitumen membrane runs SAR 15 to SAR 35 per m². The surveyor will also note where insulation such as XPS boards, at SAR 12 to SAR 30 per m², might be considered.

Before the visit, gather the building's drawings, especially any basement and foundation plans, and a list of areas where guests or staff have reported damp, odours or staining. Note when problems appear, such as after heavy rain or when the water tanks are filled. Clear access to the basement walls, the tank room and the roof, and tell the team about any rooms that must stay in service during the work, since this affects phasing. Having this information ready lets the inspection focus on the real problem areas and gives you a clearer, itemised basis for comparing options and planning the work around your guests.

For hotels and serviced apartments, rooms are handled in batches to keep units available.

When do you need basement & foundation waterproofing?

These are the signs most often linked to basement & foundation waterproofing:

• Water seeping in after rain
• Salt marks at the bottom of the walls
• Damp basement walls

Causes we see in the field

• A common cause: cracks at construction joints.
• A common cause: a high groundwater level.
• A common cause: rainwater draining towards the foundation.

Tools and methods, and when we use them

The steps in order

1. Finding the source: Groundwater, rain or a pipe — each needs a different treatment.
2. Preparation: Surfaces are cleaned and opened where needed.
3. Injection: Active cracks are injected.
4. Waterproofing layers: The system is applied on the right side of the wall where possible.
5. Follow-up: Readings are repeated after the treatment.

Alrass in facts and sources

Short answers for Alrass

What we advise against

• Painting the basement wall while the water comes from outside

The written outputs

You receive: the source, the treatment and the follow-up result, in a technical report with a verification code.