Roof waterproofing for hotels & serviced apartments in Alula

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

Roof waterproofing in Alula: the local context

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

For hotels and serviced apartments in Alula, the most common roof problem is water finding its way through old or cracked surfaces and into guest floors below. Roofs on these buildings are often flat and carry heavy plant, air-conditioning units and water tanks, so small splits in the surface can grow quickly. Because guest areas are occupied and bookings are sensitive to disruption, a leak that appears in a room or corridor is far more costly than the repair itself. Early inspection of joints, parapets and drainage points is usually the most valuable step.

The local setting shapes how the work is done. The centre of Alula sits about 697 m above sea level, which places it on a high plateau rather than the coast, so the surface is exposed to strong sun and wide daily temperature swings that stress membranes over time. Work is typically planned around the existing roof build-up rather than assuming a single standard system. Options commonly used on roofs include liquid roof waterproofing at SAR 8–25 per m², bitumen membrane at SAR 15–35 per m², and XPS boards at SAR 12–30 per m² where insulation is also needed. Crack injection, priced at SAR 40–120 per metre, can address isolated splits before a wider coating is applied. Where a roof drains into a water tank, tank internal coating at SAR 25–60 per m² may also be considered. Each choice depends on the condition of the existing surface rather than on the building's size alone.

Before booking a visit, ask the provider to confirm which roof areas they will inspect and whether they will check the areas directly above guest rooms first. Ask how they will protect occupied floors and keep disruption to a minimum during work. Request a clear breakdown of the proposed method for each area, with the unit rate used and the total area they expect to cover. Find out how they handle joints, parapets and drainage outlets, since these are common weak points. Finally, ask what they will provide in writing after the visit so you can compare options calmly before committing.

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

When do you need roof waterproofing?

These are the signs most often linked to roof waterproofing:

• The old waterproofing is cracking
• Water pooling on the roof
• Stains on the top-floor ceiling after rain

The most common causes

• A common cause: cracks in the roof slab.
• Wrong falls towards the drains.
• A common cause: damaged waterproofing around tank and AC bases.

Tools we use in Alula

The steps in order

1. Survey: Falls, drains and the condition of the old layer are recorded.
2. Preparation: Cleaning and repairs before any new layer.
3. Primer: The base coat that the system needs.
4. Waterproofing layers and details: Corners, upstands and bases get their own detail.
5. Flood test: The roof is flooded and checked before it is covered.

Alula in facts and sources

Short answers for Alula

Mistakes that cost more

• Ignoring the tank bases
• Covering the waterproofing before the flood test

The written outputs

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