Floor & balcony waterproofing for restaurants in Alula

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

Before we start: what we know about Alula

Main roads in or near Alula: King Abdullah Road. The centre of Alula sits about 697 m above sea level (SRTM open elevation data).

Alula sits about 697 m above sea level, which gives the town a dry, high-desert character with cool nights and wide temperature swings between day and night. For a restaurant, that climate means the main moisture threats are not constant rain but occasional heavy downpours, wind-driven rain and the thermal expansion of surfaces that heat up sharply in the afternoon and cool quickly after dark. Owners should plan floor and balcony systems that can flex with these movements rather than crack under them.

Each fact here translates into a practical effect on the service. Because the town is high and open, roof and balcony surfaces receive strong sun, so liquid roof waterproofing at SAR 8–25 per m² and bitumen membrane at SAR 15–35 per m² are worth comparing against the exposure and the expected lifespan of the finish. Where kitchen floors and back-of-house areas take daily washing and spills, epoxy coating at SAR 35–90 per m² creates a seamless, cleanable surface that resists water entering through joints. Cracks that appear as the building moves can be sealed by crack injection at SAR 40–120 per metre, which is usually cheaper than replacing a whole section. Spray foam at SAR 20–45 per m² suits irregular or hard-to-reach surfaces, and XPS boards at SAR 12–30 per m² can be used as an insulating layer beneath a finish on balconies that stay cold at night. Restaurants that store water for kitchens and toilets can also protect those vessels with tank internal coating at SAR 25–60 per m², while basement and bathroom areas follow their own rates of SAR 50–150 per m² and SAR 15–40 per m².

Owners in Alula often avoid several common mistakes. They do not wait for a small crack to spread before calling for crack injection, and they do not coat a floor without first checking that the old surface is dry and clean. They avoid choosing a cheap roof finish for a sunny terrace that will need recoating sooner. They also do not forget that wet floors in a dining room create slip hazards, so the finish should suit both the water and the foot traffic. Planning around these points keeps the restaurant open and dry through the seasons.

For restaurants, visits are planned outside service hours and recorded for the premises file.

When do you need floor & balcony waterproofing?

If you notice one of these signs in Alula, it is a good moment to talk to the team:

• A wrong fall towards the door threshold
• Water passing from the balcony to the floor below
• Damp under the light well

The most common causes

• Incorrect falls — we check this before anything else.
• A common cause: a threshold without waterproofing.
• A common cause: a blocked drain.

Tools we use in Alula

The steps in order

1. Checking the falls: Where water collects and where it should go.
2. Details: Thresholds, drains and upstands.
3. Waterproofing: The layer is applied and protected.
4. Flood test: Tested before the finish goes on.

Alula in facts and sources

Common questions about floor & balcony waterproofing in Alula

What we advise against

• Tiling a balcony without waterproofing

What you receive

The written output: the flood result and photos of the details. The report is numbered and can be checked with its verification code.