Floor & balcony waterproofing for schools in Qatif

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

What is specific about Qatif for floor & balcony waterproofing

Qatif is about 2.5 km from the sea coast (OpenStreetMap). The centre of Qatif sits about 5 m above sea level (SRTM open elevation data).

Team note on Qatif: 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..

Is a school floor or balcony in Qatif really worth waterproofing, given how dry the air can feel? The answer depends on where the building sits. The centre of Qatif sits about 5 m above sea level (SRTM open elevation data), and the town is about 2.5 km from the sea coast (OpenStreetMap). That closeness to the coast means salt-laden air and moisture can reach exposed concrete, so floors and balconies at schools that see heavy foot traffic and daily cleaning need a surface that holds water out. For schools, the practical choices are liquid roof waterproofing at SAR 8–25 per m², bitumen membrane at SAR 15–35 per m², and epoxy coating at SAR 35–90 per m², each suited to different surfaces and levels of wear.

Our inspection starts with a walk of every floor slab and balcony, looking for hairline cracks, ponding spots, damaged edges and old coatings that have lifted or peeled. Where cracks are present, crack injection is priced at SAR 40–120 per metre, and the crack is measured and mapped before any work begins so the school knows exactly what is being treated. The inspector also checks drainage outlets and the junction where the floor meets walls, since water usually finds its way in at these joints. Surface condition is recorded for each area, and the inspector notes whether a spray foam layer at SAR 20–45 per m² or an XPS board layer at SAR 12–30 per m² would suit the substrate better than a membrane. Each finding is written down so the school can review it before any decision is made.

To make the visit efficient, please clear the floor and balcony areas of furniture, plant pots and stored equipment so the inspector can reach every edge and corner. Let the site contact know which classrooms, corridors and balconies are in use on which days, so the work can be scheduled around teaching hours. Gather any previous waterproofing records, maintenance reports or drawings of the building, since they show where earlier repairs were made. It also helps to note any areas where leaks have appeared after rain or cleaning, along with the date and location. With these details ready, the inspector can focus on the parts of the building that need attention most.

For schools, the larger jobs are planned for weekends and holidays.

Signs that call for floor & balcony waterproofing

The following signs are worth checking before they grow:

• A wrong fall towards the door threshold
• Water passing from the balcony to the floor below
• Damp under the light well

Where the problem usually comes from

• A common cause: incorrect falls.
• A threshold without waterproofing.
• A blocked drain.

Tools and methods, and when we use them

From the first visit to the report

1. Checking the falls: Where water collects and where it should go.
2. Details: Thresholds, drains and upstands.
3. Waterproofing: The layer is applied and protected.
4. Flood test: Tested before the finish goes on.

Qatif in facts and sources

Short answers for Qatif

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.