Water tank sealing in Al Mahamid Jeddah
Al Mahamid is an informal residential quarter on Jeddah's eastern edge, built without formal planning and many streets still unpaved. Tanks here suffer leaks and cracks because foundations are unstable and soil shifts with rain. Treatment focuses on draining the tank, cleaning to sound substrate, sealing cracks and joints, and building the lining on the water-facing surface.
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Potable-rated materials
Linings and disinfectants cleared for drinking water tanks, not general-purpose products.
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You get the downtime first
How many hours the tank is out of service, told before we start rather than after we finish.
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A first-draw flush
We run the first draw off after refilling, and the tank is not handed back until the water runs clear.
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Ground and roof tanks
Villas, apartment blocks and premises that need a written record of each visit.
Why the job is different in Al Mahamid
Houses here were built without formal permits and over many years, with shallow foundations set in salt-laden and unstable soil. The method is set out in full on the full Water tank sealing page.
Tanks on weak and sloping roof structures
Roofs here were built without precise engineering calculations, and tanks sit on unstable platforms. Minor foundation movement causes cracks in the tank and the floor-to-wall joint.
Leaks from joints and pipe entries in alkaline soil
Soil here is alkaline and salt-rich, and cement corrosion starts at joints and penetrations. Old pipework leaks and leaves dampness around the tank.
Cracks develop after rain and seasonal soil movement
Rare but intense rainfall causes rapid soil movement. Tanks crack at certain seasons and leaking worsens in summer heat and internal pressure.
Al Mahamid on the map
Al Mahamid sits about 4.5 km from Umm Al Salam and about 5.5 km from Al Harazat.
Open in Google MapsWhat we read before any material is opened
An unplanned residential quarter on the Old Makkah Road, accessed mainly from Harazat Road, with old unpaved streets. The district falls within the municipality's programme to reorganise informal settlement areas.
Cracking in the wall
Deep cracks in tank walls result from foundation movement and alkaline soil attacking the concrete face.
The floor to wall joint
The floor-to-wall joint is a main weak point because slight foundation movement separates them.
The condition of the old lining
Pipe entries and drains are surrounded by salt-laden unstable soil, causing cement corrosion around the openings.
Sediment and scale
Moisture enters from outside through cracks and soil, carrying salt that weakens the substrate.
The pipe entries
The whole tank may tilt slightly due to weak foundations, concentrating pressure on one spot and causing repeated seepage.
The hatch and the vent
Tanks crack in summer from heat and internal pressure, and in rainy periods from rapid soil movement.
How we work
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1
Inspect with the tank empty
We drain it and read the surface dry: whether the water leaves through a crack, a joint or a pipe collar, and what the outer face of the wall and the ceiling below are telling us. A level test with the valves closed separates a leaking tank from leaking pipework.
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2
Clean and prepare the substrate
Sediment out, a high pressure wash, the loose old lining and the weak surface layer of the concrete taken back, then dried. The material grips sound substrate and nothing else.
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3
Make the cracks and joints good
Cracks are chased out and filled with a repair mortar, a cove is formed where the floor meets the wall, and every pipe collar is treated on its own.
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4
Lining, fill test, sterilisation
Successive coats, each run across the one beneath it, on the face the water touches. Then a full cure, a fill with the level watched, and sterilisation with the first fill run to waste before the tank returns to use.
What water tank sealing includes
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Finding where the water leaves
Carried out drained and dry: cracks, joints, pipe collars and the outer face of the wall.
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Draining and sediment removal
The last of the water and the settled layer on the floor come out, because a lining does not stick over sediment.
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Cracks and joints made good
The crack opened and filled, a cove formed at the floor to wall junction, and each pipe entry worked separately.
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Lining coats on the water face
More than one coat, each crossing the one below, in material made for drinking water tanks rather than roof waterproofing.
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Curing, fill test and sterilisation
The material is left to cure, the tank is filled and the level watched, then sterilised and the first fill run to waste. How long the cure takes follows the material and the weather, and we tell you before the date so you can plan around the supply.
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A follow-up level check
We come back once it is in service to read the level and check the outer face, because any remaining loss shows up then rather than on the day of the work.
The character of Al Mahamid
Mixed district: shops at street level with homes above them
Al Mahamid is an unplanned quarter without formal layout, and tanks are placed on roofs built to no engineering standard. Treatment must account for weak foundations and ongoing structural movement; a new lining may not stop leaks if the underlying structure continues to shift.
Questions about this district
Why do tanks leak faster in Al Mahamid than in other quarters?
Foundations here are shallow and soil is unstable and salt-laden. Tanks sit on unengineered platforms that shift with the seasons.
Does a leak from the floor-to-wall joint require full tank drainage?
Yes. The tank must be drained completely and the surface cleaned to sound material before the joint can be sealed permanently.
Does alkaline soil affect the new lining?
Yes. Salt seeps through cracks and weakens the lining. The new lining material must resist both salt and moisture.
Do inlet and outlet pipes need special treatment?
Yes. Pipe entries are weak points. We must seal them tightly and isolate the pipes from surrounding soil.
Will the new lining stop leaks from very deep cracks if the concrete face is compromised?
The lining protects the inner face, but if cracks run deep into the concrete matrix, external treatment may also be needed.
How often must the tank be treated if foundations keep moving?
If movement is ongoing, the new lining will crack again. True solution is to stabilise the foundation first, or accept periodic maintenance.
How much does water tank sealing in Al Mahamid cost?
It is set after the inspection, because the price follows the type of infestation, the size of the space, how far it has spread and the number of visits it needs. Send a photo and a description on WhatsApp and we will give you an estimate before we reach Al Mahamid.
Nearby districts we cover
Other services in Al Mahamid
Other services we provide to residents of Al Mahamid.
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Water tanks
Water tank cleaning
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Water tanks
Water tank sterilization
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Water tanks
Tank leak repair
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Residential
Cockroach control
Need water tank sealing in Al Mahamid? Tell us what you saw and we will tell you what it needs
We reach Al Mahamid at a time we agree, and you get the full cost before we start.