Bitumen membrane in Alula: before summer & rain season

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

What is specific about Alula for bitumen membrane

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

Picture a homeowner in Alula who has a flat or villa roof, the kind that bakes under the afternoon sun for much of the year. Each summer the surface heats, expands and cools again at night, and over time small splits appear that let water in. When the rain season finally arrives, the owner notices damp patches on ceilings and wonders whether the roof was ever sealed properly. For this kind of property, the roof is the one part of the building that takes the full weather load every day, so it deserves attention before the seasons change rather than after the first leak.

The town sits at roughly 697 m above sea level, which means its climate is milder and more variable than the coast, with cooler nights and occasional heavy rain on higher ground. For a bitumen membrane, that combination matters. Heat softens and ages the surface, while sudden downpours test every seam and upturn at the edges. A roof that holds through a dry summer can still fail when water collects and pushes into weak spots. Bitumen membrane usually falls in the range of SAR 15–35 per m², so the cost of a full inspection and repair is often modest compared with the damage a single wet season can cause inside the building.

Start by walking the roof after the hottest weeks and again before the rains, looking for blisters, cracks, loose laps and worn sealant around drains, parapets and pipe penetrations. Clear debris and standing dirt so you can see the true condition of the surface. Next, mark any areas where water pools after a wash-down test, since these need extra attention. Repair cracks and open seams first, then decide whether the wider surface needs a new membrane layer or a liquid topcoat. Check that drains and outlets run freely, because a blocked outlet defeats even a good membrane. Finally, schedule the work early enough that the new surface has time to settle before the first heavy rain, and keep a simple record of what was done so future inspections are faster.

Checks before summer and before the rain season catch problems while they are still small.

When do you need bitumen membrane?

These are the signs most often linked to bitumen membrane:

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

Where the problem usually comes from

• No protection layer.
• A common cause: seams that were not welded properly.

Tools and methods, and when we use them

How the work is done, step by step

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.

Facts and costs — Alula

Short answers for Alula

Common mistakes we see

• Leaving the membrane exposed without protection

The written outputs

You receive: photos of the welds and the flood-test result, in a technical report with a verification code.