Basement & foundation waterproofing for clinics in Rafha

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

Before we start: what we know about Rafha

The centre of Rafha sits about 451 m above sea level (SRTM open elevation data).

Picture a clinic owner in Rafha who has just leased a ground-floor unit with a small basement used for sterilisation storage and records. After a heavy rain, the owner finds damp patches creeping up the lower walls and a faint smell that patients and staff notice straight away. The space is needed every day, so the owner wants the problem solved quickly and without disrupting the medical work above.

Rafha sits about 451 m above sea level, so the town is not at a low point where water naturally collects. For a clinic owner this means the question is less about flooding from outside and more about moisture coming through the structure itself, from the ground around the walls and from cracks that let water track inward. Because a basement is below the surrounding ground, every crack and every unprotected wall face is a route for water. Dampness in a clinic is more than a cosmetic issue, since it can encourage mould and undermine storage areas that must stay dry and clean. The elevation fact helps frame the work: the aim is to keep water out of the lower structure, not to plan around standing water in the street.

The practical sequence starts with a careful look at the basement. First, identify where the damp is, note any cracks, and check whether the wall surfaces are sound enough to take a new layer. Second, repair cracks by crack injection, which is priced per metre, so measure the total length of visible cracks before asking for estimates. Third, choose the main barrier for the walls and floor: a bitumen membrane, which is priced per square metre, or an epoxy coating for a harder, easier-to-clean finish, both measured on the same basis. Fourth, where the space is used for storage and insulation is needed against the wall, consider XPS boards as a drying and protective layer. Finally, once the work is complete, keep the area ventilated and inspect the walls after the next rainy period to confirm that the repairs have held.

For clinics, work is scheduled around patient hours and kept to the areas that need it.

Signs that call for basement & foundation waterproofing

If you notice one of these signs in Rafha, 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

Causes we see in the field

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

Tools we use in Rafha

The steps in order

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 — Rafha

Questions from Rafha

What we advise against

• Painting the basement wall while the water comes from outside

What you receive

You receive: the source, the treatment and the follow-up result, in a technical report with a verification code.