Floor & balcony waterproofing for residential buildings in Makkah
In short: In Makkah (Makkah), floor & balcony waterproofing for residential buildings 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 Makkah sits about 301 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.
Why floor & balcony 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 (SRTM open elevation data), and that altitude shapes what a technician looks at first on any floor or balcony job in the city. Rainfall is brief but can arrive hard, so the first checks are the drainage falls on the slab, the outlets and their blockages, and the upstands where the membrane meets walls and door thresholds. Balconies deserve particular attention because water tends to pool at the outer edge and find its way back under tiles. Before any product is chosen, the surface must be sound, dry where it is meant to be dry, and free of loose screed, so the technician records where cracks run and how wide they are. Cost ranges for the common options are a useful planning reference: liquid roof waterproofing runs from SAR 10–25 per m², bitumen membrane from SAR 15–35 per m², and spray foam from SAR 20–45 per m², while crack injection is priced separately at SAR 40–125 per metre.
Several things can only be settled at the site visit. The technician needs to measure the actual area, confirm whether the balcony is an external slab or sits over occupied space, and decide whether the floor needs a full system or only local repair. The condition of existing tiles, the presence of movement joints, and the state of the parapet or railing fixings all affect the method. Where a bathroom is included, its waterproofing is priced separately at SAR 15–40 per m², and the visit should note wet-area drainage. If any water storage sits above the work, the tank internal coating at SAR 25–65 per m² and any insulation layer, where XPS boards at SAR 15–30 per m² might be used, should be assessed on the same visit so the whole roof or floor is treated consistently.
To help the technician prepare, residents should have ready the age of the building, any previous waterproofing records, photographs of stains or cracks, and a note of where leaks appear after rain. Access arrangements for the balcony and the floor below matter, as does a clear agreement on which side of the works each party is responsible for cleaning and protection. Knowing whether the space is used as a living area or only for storage will guide the choice of finish. Providing this information in advance lets the technician arrive with the right materials and a realistic plan, so the work can be scheduled efficiently and the result matches what the household needs.
For a residential building, shared risers, tanks and pumps are checked as one system.
When do you need floor & balcony waterproofing?
The following signs are worth checking before they grow:
- Damp under the light well
- A wrong fall towards the door threshold
- Water passing from the balcony to the floor below
Causes we see in the field
- A common cause: a blocked drain.
- Incorrect falls.
- A threshold without waterproofing — we check this before anything else.
Tools we use in Makkah
| 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 |
How the work is done, step by step
- 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.
Quick comparison: facts and costs in Makkah
| Item | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| District profile | The centre of Makkah sits about 301 m above sea level (SRTM open elevation data) | SRTM (NASA) open data |
| District profile | 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. | Kashf team |
| Bathroom waterproofing (per m²) | SAR 15–40 per m² | Owner price list (Makkah) |
Short answers for Makkah
What does finishing work typically include?
It covers plastering, painting, flooring, stone or marble walls, ceilings, gypsum, doors, windows, and final electrical and plumbing installations. You can request full or partial finishing, with the scope clearly defined in the price quote.
Is it possible to renovate the building without evacuating the residents?
In many cases it can be carried out in phases without a full evacuation if the damage is limited. However, for extensive structural renovation, a temporary evacuation may be recommended to ensure safety, and the contractor will explain this in their proposal.
Does waterproofing require removing existing tiles?
It depends on the site condition. Sometimes surface waterproofing can be applied over tiles, while deep leaks require tile removal to treat the layer underneath. A technician will determine the best option after inspection.
What is the first step of floor & balcony waterproofing for residential buildings?
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 Makkah?
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.
Mistakes that cost more
- Tiling a balcony without waterproofing
The written outputs
You receive: the flood result and photos of the details, in a technical report with a verification code.
Planning the visit in Makkah
- 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 Makkah
- 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