Water tank waterproofing in Sabya: before summer & rain season

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

Before we start: what we know about Sabya

Team note on Sabya: 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.. Main roads in or near Sabya: King Fahd Road, King Abdulaziz Road, King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Road.

The centre of Sabya sits about 40 m above sea level (SRTM open elevation data). Sabya is about 16.7 km from the sea coast (OpenStreetMap).

Sabya sits about 40 m above sea level, and the centre of town is about 16.7 km from the sea coast. Because of this, the first thing a technician checks on a water tank here is not salt spray or tidal damp, as it might be in a coastal city, but the condition of the tank walls, lid and inlet fittings that take the full force of heat and sudden rain. The surface is inspected for hairline cracks, flaking old coatings, and any sign of water tracking down from the lid seam, since summer sun on exposed concrete and the short, heavy rain season both push water into these weak points. Tank internal coating is typically priced from SAR 25 to SAR 60 per m², and a technician will usually estimate the area before any work begins so the client understands the scope early.

Some points can only be settled on site. The exact depth of cracks, whether the tank has an old membrane underneath a newer coating, and how much of the internal surface is actually breaking down all depend on draining the tank and looking at it closely. The same is true of the roof if the tank sits on it: a liquid roof waterproofing finish (SAR 8 to SAR 25 per m²) or a bitumen membrane (SAR 15 to SAR 35 per m²) may be suitable, but the choice depends on the substrate, slope and how the existing layer has aged. Crack injection, priced at SAR 40 to SAR 120 per metre, is only confirmed once the crack has been traced along its full length. Where the tank meets a wall or a bathroom floor, the technician will also decide between spray foam (SAR 20 to SAR 45 per m²) and epoxy coating (SAR 35 to SAR 90 per m²) after seeing how the joint moves.

To help the technician prepare, it is useful to share the tank's age, the material it is made of, when it was last cleaned and whether water has been tasted or noticed to smell or change colour. Tell them if the tank sits on a roof or a ground slab, and whether any insulation boards such as XPS (SAR 12 to SAR 30 per m²) were used previously. Photographs of the lid, the inlet and any visible staining are very helpful. Clear access to the tank and a safe place to drain it will save time on the day. With this information, the technician can arrive ready to inspect the right areas before summer heat or the rain season arrives.

Checks before summer and before the rain season catch problems while they are still small.

Signs that call for water tank waterproofing

The following signs are worth checking before they grow:

• Unusual colour or taste in the water
• A tank that leaks after testing
• Deposits and flaking inside the tank

The most common causes

• Construction joints — we check this before anything else.
• Damaged old coating.
• Cracks in the walls or floor.

Tools we use in Sabya

The steps in order

1. Emptying and ventilation: The tank is emptied and ventilated before entry.
2. Cleaning and preparation: Loose material is removed down to a sound surface.
3. Crack treatment: Active cracks are treated first.
4. Coating layers: A material intended for drinking-water tanks is applied.
5. Disinfection and fill test: The tank is disinfected and the level is monitored after filling.

Sabya in facts and sources

Short answers for Sabya

What we advise against

• Using a material that is not intended for drinking water

What you receive

The written output: the material name, its batch number and the fill-test result. The report is numbered and can be checked with its verification code.