Bitumen membrane in Alula: before buying or handover

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

Why bitumen membrane differs in 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).

Before any bitumen membrane is bought or a property is handed over in Alula, the first thing to check is the elevation. The centre of Alula sits about 697 m above sea level, which places it on higher ground than the coastal areas many residents are used to. For a membrane job, this matters because the ground, the rooflines and the drainage paths all respond to the site's height and exposure, so the surface conditions you see on arrival should be read in that context rather than assumed to match elsewhere in the Kingdom.

Once the basic setting is understood, the detailed assessment is left to the site visit. A technician will look at the actual substrate, the slope of the roof, the state of any existing membrane, the presence of cracks and the way water currently runs off. These are things no general guide can judge for a particular building. Costs also depend on the scope of work. For reference, bitumen membrane is typically priced at SAR 15–35 per m², while liquid roof waterproofing sits lower at SAR 8–25 per m² and XPS boards at SAR 12–30 per m². Where a building also needs crack injection, which runs at SAR 40–120 per metre, or work in a basement at SAR 50–150 per m², the quote will reflect those separate items, so it should be read line by line.

To help the technician, prepare a clear description of the roof or area: its approximate size in square metres, whether it is flat or sloped, how old the existing covering is, and any places where you have noticed damp, staining or cracking. Note whether the building has a water tank, as tank internal coating is priced separately at SAR 25–60 per m². Share any previous repair records and the date of the last handover inspection. Being specific about where leaks appear, and when they tend to happen, lets the visit focus on the real problem rather than starting from scratch.

Before buying or taking over a property, an inspection gives you findings in writing before you sign.

Signs worth paying attention to

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

• Old rolls that are cracking
• A flat concrete roof that needs waterproofing

Where the problem usually comes from

• Seams that were not welded properly.
• No protection layer — we check this before anything else.

How we choose the tool in Alula

The steps in order

1. Preparation: Cleaning, priming and repairs.
2. Torch welding: Overlaps are welded and checked.
3. Details: Upstands, drains and bases.
4. Protection and flood test: Protection is laid after a successful flood test.

Alula in facts and sources

Common questions about bitumen membrane in Alula

What we advise against

• 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.