Basement & foundation waterproofing in Makkah: before buying or handover

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

Why basement & foundation waterproofing differs in Makkah

Team note on Makkah: 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 Makkah sits about 301 m above sea level (SRTM open elevation data).

The centre of Makkah sits about 301 m above sea level, according to SRTM open elevation data, and that single fact shapes where water tends to collect in a building. Before anyone prices a job for a basement or foundation, the first things to check are the lowest points of the structure, where groundwater and surface runoff are most likely to press against the walls and slab. Look for old staining or efflorescence along the lower walls, damp patches at the junction of wall and floor, and any sign that previous repairs have failed. Basement waterproofing in Makkah is typically quoted at SAR 55–160 per m², so knowing the exact wet area is the first step toward a realistic figure, and a rough sketch with measurements will help you compare offers on the same basis.

What cannot be settled from a description alone is left to the site visit. A technician needs to see whether cracks are active or dormant, how far water has travelled inside the walls, and whether the surrounding ground drains away from the building or back toward it. The choice of method depends on these findings. Crack injection is priced at SAR 40–125 per metre, while epoxy coating runs SAR 35–95 per m² and spray foam SAR 20–45 per m², so the visit is where the right combination is decided rather than assumed. The same applies to any tank or bathroom area in the same structure, which are separate jobs with their own rates, from SAR 25–65 per m² for tank internal coating to SAR 15–40 per m² for bathroom waterproofing. Ask the visitor to note which areas are being treated under which method.

To help the technician, prepare a few things in advance. Provide the building's drawings or a simple plan showing the basement footprint, the depth of the lowest floor, and the location of drains, pumps and any existing membranes. Mention when leaks first appeared and whether they follow the rain or the irrigation season. If XPS boards or a bitumen membrane were installed before, say so, because they affect how new materials bond. Finally, clear access to the walls and the outside perimeter, where possible, lets the technician judge the drainage problem as well as the damp itself.

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

When do you need basement & foundation waterproofing?

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

• Water seeping in after rain
• Salt marks at the bottom of the walls
• Damp basement walls

Where the problem usually comes from

• Cracks at construction joints.
• A high groundwater level — we check this before anything else.
• Rainwater draining towards the foundation.

Tools and methods, and when we use them

How the work is done, step by step

1. Finding the source: Groundwater, rain or a pipe — each needs a different treatment.
2. Preparation: Surfaces are cleaned and opened where needed.
3. Injection: Active cracks are injected.
4. Waterproofing layers: The system is applied on the right side of the wall where possible.
5. Follow-up: Readings are repeated after the treatment.

Facts and costs — Makkah

Questions from Makkah

Mistakes that cost more

• Painting the basement wall while the water comes from outside

The written outputs

The written output: the source, the treatment and the follow-up result. The report is numbered and can be checked with its verification code.