Bitumen membrane for hotels & serviced apartments in Alula
In short: In Alula (Alula), bitumen membrane for hotels & serviced apartments begins with the roof, falls and drains survey and the flood test; nothing is opened until the position is clear. The centre of Alula sits about 697 m above sea level (SRTM open elevation data). Published price: Bitumen membrane (per m²), SAR 15–35 per m²; anything else is quoted after the inspection.
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).
Bitumen membrane work in Alula starts with the roof and the parts of the building that face the open sky, because the site sits about 697 m above sea level and is exposed to strong sun, sharp day-night temperature swings and occasional heavy rain. Before any material is ordered, the technician checks the existing surface for age, cracks, ponding and the condition of upstands and drainage outlets, since these are the points where water usually gets in. For hotels and serviced apartments, the timing of work also matters, so the guest schedule should be confirmed in advance to keep rooms and corridors clear of dust and fumes.
Other checks depend on what is actually found on the day and are left to the site visit. These include the moisture level in the screed, the slope towards outlets, the state of any old membrane that may need removal or can be overlaid, and whether the building has adjacent areas such as basements, tanks or bathrooms that need separate treatment. Indicative price ranges quoted for this page are SAR 15–35 per m² for bitumen membrane, SAR 8–25 per m² for liquid roof waterproofing, and SAR 12–30 per m² for XPS boards where insulation is added. The final figure depends on measured area, access, the number of layers and the condition of the substrate, so the visit is where these are confirmed.
To help the technician prepare, the owner or manager should provide the roof plan with dimensions, the age of the building, any previous waterproofing records, and a note of leaks reported by guests or staff, with the rooms or areas affected. Access arrangements, including roof hatch location, lift use for materials, and quiet hours for guests, should also be noted. Photographs of ceilings and roof edges taken after recent rain are useful. Having this information ready allows the visit to focus on measuring and testing rather than gathering basic details, and makes the quotation more accurate for a hotel or apartment operating in Alula.
For hotels and serviced apartments, rooms are handled in batches to keep units available.
Signs worth paying attention to
The following signs are worth checking before they grow:
- Old rolls that are cracking
- A flat concrete roof that needs waterproofing
Causes we see in the field
- Seams that were not welded properly — we check this before anything else.
- No protection layer.
Tools and methods, and when we use them
| Tool | What it finds | When we use it in Alula |
|---|---|---|
| Flood test | Whether the waterproofing holds before it is covered | Limits: for roofs with drains and wet areas before tiling |
| Roof, falls and drains survey | Ponding areas and the condition of the old layer | Limits: shows the condition, not the material alone |
From the first visit to the report
- Preparation: Cleaning, priming and repairs.
- Torch welding: Overlaps are welded and checked.
- Details: Upstands, drains and bases.
- Protection and flood test: Protection is laid after a successful flood test.
Facts and costs — Alula
| Item | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| District profile | The centre of Alula sits about 697 m above sea level (SRTM open elevation data) | SRTM (NASA) open data |
| Roads | Main roads in or near Alula: King Abdullah Road | Kashf data (owner) |
| Bitumen membrane (per m²) | SAR 15–35 per m² | Owner price list (Alula) |
Questions from Alula
What is the first step of bitumen membrane for hotels & serviced apartments?
We start with preparation (cleaning, priming and repairs), then torch welding (overlaps are welded and checked).
How much does bitumen membrane cost in Alula?
From our published price list: Bitumen membrane (per m²) SAR 15–35 per m². Quantities are confirmed at the inspection.
What do I get at the end?
Photos of the welds and the flood-test result, in a technical report that carries a verification code.
Common mistakes we see
- Leaving the membrane exposed without protection
The written outputs
The written output: photos of the welds and the flood-test result. The report is numbered and can be checked with its verification code.
If you live in Alula and are new to the area
- If you rent, tell your landlord or building management before the visit and agree in writing who pays; the written report can be shared with them.
- Keep photos of the problem and of any earlier repairs — they help the technician compare before and after.
- Prices are in Saudi riyals (SAR); the final price is confirmed after the inspection, before any work starts.
- Have access ready to the water meter, the tank hatches, the roof and the main valve; in apartment buildings the roof keys are often with the building guard (haris).
Sources and method
- SRTM (NASA) open data
- Kashf data (owner)
- Owner price list for Alula
- Local pages are published only after a quality gate: real local facts, text similarity of no more than 15% with any other English page, and a claims check.
- النسخة العربية