Water tank sealing in Al Rawabi Makkah
Al Rawabi is a hillside district south of the Grand Mosque where high-rise apartment blocks for Umrah visitors were built rapidly on steep slopes. Water tanks in these buildings face sharp temperature swings and ground movement caused by the slope and the tunnels running beneath the quarter. Cracks and leaks are common in tall tanks here due to structural stress.
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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 Rawabi
The high-rise residential blocks here were built in recent decades on sloping land, with foundations sitting on steep inclines and underground tunnels that link west and east sides of the city. The method is set out in full on how we approach Water tank sealing.
Tall buildings and rooftop tanks
Tanks here sit on roofs of very tall buildings exposed to strong winds and direct sun all day. Metal and concrete expand and contract rapidly, causing cracks in welds and corners.
Tunnels and ground movement beneath buildings
Underground tunnels pass beneath the apartment blocks and cause minor foundation settlement. Tanks sitting on these building roofs move with the settling, and joints between tank and inlet and outlet pipes crack.
Umrah visitors and intensive daily water use
The buildings host large numbers of Umrah guests and daily water consumption is very high. Tanks fill and empty quickly, imposing repeated mechanical stress on tank walls.
The character of Al Rawabi
Apartment district: residential blocks, repeated floors and shared entrances
High-rise apartment buildings mean tanks sit on very tall roofs exposed to strong thermal and mechanical stresses. Tunnels and ground movement beneath create foundation movement, so sealing must be strong enough to withstand repeated expansion and contraction.
What we read before any material is opened
A residential hillside district on the slopes south of the Grand Mosque along the Ajyad to Kudai road, with high-rise apartment buildings set among Al Rawabi Garden and the Jabal Khandamah viewpoint.
Cracking in the wall
Tank surface inspection reveals cracks and oxidation caused by direct sun and repeated thermal expansion.
The floor to wall joint
Crack repair focuses on welds, corners and joints, which weaken from ground movement caused by the tunnels beneath.
The condition of the old lining
Wall-to-floor joint cracks result from relative movement between foundation and walls, common in tall buildings on slopes.
Sediment and scale
Pipe inlets and outlets need careful inspection because movement loosens joints faster than in stable areas.
The pipe entries
Interior lining protects against leaks and contamination, and seal strength must be high to handle repeated pressure from rapid filling and draining.
The hatch and the vent
Tank sterilisation before use is essential because high-altitude tanks experience high temperatures that may affect water quality.
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.
What is different about Al Misfalah Sub-Municipality
Al Misfalah sub municipality runs downhill from the south of the Grand Mosque through Al Misfalah, Kudai and Al Rawabi to Al Taqwa, Al Hindawiyah, Al Khalidiyah and Al Rusayfah at the third ring road. The northern end is old apartment blocks and pilgrim hotels with restaurants along Ibrahim Al Khalil Street and the huge coach parks at Kudai. The south and west are dense popular districts with countless small shops and unplanned hillside housing, some of it already cleared for redevelopment, giving way to orderly land grant schemes in Al Rusayfah beside the railway station.
Questions about this district
Why do Al Rawabi tanks crack faster than tanks elsewhere?
Intense rooftop heat and repeated expansion cause high thermal stress. The tunnels beneath create minor ground movement that the tank shares with its building.
Is the leak from pipe joints or from the tank body itself?
In Al Rawabi leaks often come from joints because ground movement loosens them. But older tank walls may also crack under repeated filling and draining pressure.
If ground movement continues, is a crack repair permanent or temporary?
If movement continues, repair may be temporary and need renewal. If movement is minor and the tank in good shape, repair is lasting.
Does tank sealing protect against the high surface heat?
Yes, sealing reduces thermal expansion significantly. But ground movement may cause cracks in the seal itself.
Does the tank design in tall buildings differ from tanks on other structures?
Yes, tall tanks need stronger design to handle extra pressure and movement. Tanks here may have thicker walls than ground-level tanks.
Do we inspect pipes and joints before sealing?
Yes, we check all joints, pipes and water inlet and outlet. If weak, we repair or replace them before final sealing.
How much does water tank sealing in Al Rawabi 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 Rawabi.
Nearby districts we cover
Other services in Al Rawabi
Other services we provide to residents of Al Rawabi.
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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 Rawabi? Tell us what you saw and we will tell you what it needs
We reach Al Rawabi at a time we agree, and you get the full cost before we start.