Floor & balcony waterproofing for duplexes in Madinah
In short: In Madinah (Madinah), floor & balcony waterproofing for duplexes begins with the roof, falls and drains survey and the moisture meter for ceilings and walls; nothing is opened until the position is clear. The centre of Madinah sits about 589 m above sea level (SRTM open elevation data). Published price: Bathroom waterproofing (per m²), SAR 15–40 per m²; anything else is quoted after the inspection.
Before we start: what we know about Madinah
Team note on Madinah: Kashf teams serve this city and its nearby districts with the same documented inspection standard: device-based leak detection without demolition, a written report, and a clear scope before any work begins.. The centre of Madinah sits about 589 m above sea level (SRTM open elevation data).
Floor and balcony waterproofing in a duplex most often fails at the junctions: where the balcony slab meets the living room floor, around drainage outlets, and along the edges where tiles meet the wall. Water seeps through these weak points and shows up as stains on the ceiling below, peeling paint, or damp patches along the skirting. In many duplexes the upper unit's balcony drains onto the lower unit's ceiling, so a small leak can spread before anyone notices it. Waterproofing a duplex therefore means treating the whole build-up as one system rather than covering a single surface.
The local setting shapes the approach. The centre of Madinah sits about 589 m above sea level (SRTM open elevation data), and while elevation alone does not decide the method, it is a useful reminder that the site's drainage and rainfall behaviour should be checked on the actual roof and balcony rather than assumed from the layout. Costs also vary by method, which helps match the solution to the problem. Liquid roof waterproofing runs at SAR 10–25 per m², bitumen membrane at SAR 15–35 per m², and epoxy coating at SAR 35–90 per m². Crack injection is priced at SAR 40–120 per metre, so a visible crack along a balcony edge may be sealed separately before a full surface treatment is chosen. Bathroom waterproofing, often included in the same duplex, is quoted at SAR 15–40 per m².
Before the visit, ask the provider which area of the duplex they plan to inspect first, and whether they will check the floor above and the ceiling below. Confirm which method they recommend and why, and ask for the price range that applies to each part of the work, using the per-square-metre or per-metre rates above as a reference. Ask how they will handle drainage outlets and wall junctions, and whether the bathroom and balcony will be treated in the same job. Finally, ask what preparation you should do, such as clearing the balcony and noting where leaks have appeared, so the inspection can start with the real problem areas.
In a duplex, the two floors often share lines, so tests are done floor by floor.
Signs that call for floor & balcony waterproofing
These are the signs most often linked to floor & balcony waterproofing:
- Damp under the light well
- A wrong fall towards the door threshold
- Water passing from the balcony to the floor below
The most common causes
- A common cause: a blocked drain.
- Incorrect falls — we check this before anything else.
- A threshold without waterproofing.
Tools and methods, and when we use them
| Tool or method | What it measures | Why it is chosen here |
|---|---|---|
| Moisture meter for ceilings and walls | Where water is entering now, from inside | Limits: measures the effect, not the water path |
| Roof, falls and drains survey | Ponding areas and the condition of the old layer | Limits: shows the condition, not the material alone |
| Flood test | Whether the waterproofing holds before it is covered | Limits: for roofs with drains and wet areas before tiling |
The steps in order
- Checking the falls: Where water collects and where it should go.
- Details: Thresholds, drains and upstands.
- Waterproofing: The layer is applied and protected.
- Flood test: Tested before the finish goes on.
Madinah in facts and sources
| Item | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| District profile | The centre of Madinah sits about 589 m above sea level (SRTM open elevation data) | SRTM (NASA) open data |
| District profile | Team note on Madinah: Kashf teams serve this city and its nearby districts with the same documented inspection standard: device-based leak detection without demolition, a written report, and a clear scope before any work begins. | Kashf team |
| Bathroom waterproofing (per m²) | SAR 15–40 per m² | Owner price list (Madinah) |
Questions from Madinah
What is the difference between standard spraying and integrated pest management?
Standard spraying treats visible symptoms only, while integrated pest management includes diagnosis, sealing entry points, and multiple methods for longer-lasting results.
Could the leak be caused by weak waterproofing rather than the pipes?
Yes, damage to the waterproofing layer beneath the bathroom floor is one of the most common causes of leaks, especially in older buildings. In this case, water seeps through the tile joints into the screed and then down to the ceiling below. A specialized inspection can distinguish this from a pipe leak.
What is the difference between drain unblocking and drain cleaning?
Unblocking removes an existing blockage that prevents drainage, while cleaning is a preventive procedure that removes deposits and grease from pipes before they cause a blockage.
What is the first step of floor & balcony waterproofing for duplexes?
We start with checking the falls (where water collects and where it should go), then details (thresholds, drains and upstands).
How much does floor & balcony waterproofing cost in Madinah?
From our published price list: Bathroom waterproofing (per m²) SAR 15–40 per m². Quantities are confirmed at the inspection.
What do I get at the end?
The flood result and photos of the details, in a technical report that carries a verification code.
What we advise against
- Tiling a balcony without waterproofing
The written outputs
The written output: the flood result and photos of the details. The report is numbered and can be checked with its verification code.
If you live in Madinah and are new to the area
- The Saudi weekend is Friday and Saturday; mention your preferred day and time when booking.
- You can message us on WhatsApp in English; the booking details are sent back to you in the chat to confirm before the visit.
- Keep photos of the problem and of any earlier repairs — they help the technician compare before and after.
- 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.
Sources and method
- SRTM (NASA) open data
- Kashf team
- Customer questions (reviewed)
- Owner price list for Madinah
- 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