Water tank sealing in Al Shubaikah Makkah
Al Shubaikah is one of Makkah's oldest quarters, overlooking the Haram from the Hazwarah side, filled with ancient houses and heritage hotels with tanks dating back decades. Tanks here are constrained by weak old roofs and historic stone walls. Leaks threaten not just the tank but the ancient stone structure and architectural heritage.
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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 Shubaikah
Houses and hotels here are older than most Makkah quarters, some dating back centuries, and tanks are mounted on weak roofs and have been repaired many times. The method is set out in full on our Water tank sealing service.
Tanks on weak historic house roofs
Old roofs cannot support heavy tanks, and the tanks themselves may be corroded metal or brittle concrete. Leaks find easy paths into old stone walls and architectural heritage.
Historic stone walls and moisture
Stone walls absorb water quickly, and moisture spreads through the stone structure and accelerates decay. Salts in the stone react with water and cause the stone to crumble.
Heritage hotels and complex maintenance
Historic hotels require very careful maintenance as they are registered monuments. Leaks must be repaired in ways that do not damage the historic fabric or original decoration.
The character of Al Shubaikah
Historic district: close-set buildings, narrow lanes and ageing services
The ancient historic quarter means most tanks are very old and roofs and walls are weak. Treatment must preserve the historic structure and heritage value of houses and hotels. Materials and methods must be compatible with old stone construction.
What we read before any material is opened
An ancient historic quarter, one of Makkah's oldest, overlooking the Haram from the Hazwarah side, narrow lanes and old houses beneath the Jabal Omar and Jabal Al Sharashif towers, next to Al Hajlah to the east and the historic Al Shubaikah cemetery at its heart with the Khalid ibn Al Walid Mosque at Harat Al Bab.
Cracking in the wall
Careful inspection begins by examining the floor, walls and cracks in the old tank and surrounding metal fittings.
The floor to wall joint
Pipe joints and openings may be defective from corrosion or very old wear, and leaks start there in most cases.
The condition of the old lining
Pressure on tank walls is moderate but old roofs sag, causing tank misalignment and uneven pressure.
Sediment and scale
Moisture is very high in Al Shubaikah because stone walls retain moisture naturally and leaks cause severe damp problems.
The pipe entries
The damage point may be in corroded metal or brittle concrete in the tank's inner walls.
The hatch and the vent
Final testing is done carefully to ensure no new leaks, and ongoing inspection may be needed to ensure tank stability on the old roof.
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 Ajyad Sub-Municipality
Ajyad sub municipality takes in the districts that press against the Grand Mosque from the south and west: Ajyad, Al Hajlah, Al Shubaikah, Al Tandabawi and Al Mansour. Hotels and rented apartment blocks for Umrah visitors stack up along Ajyad Street and Ibrahim Al Khalil Street, with kitchens and restaurants running aday and night in season. Behind them, Al Shubaikah and Al Tandabawi keep narrow old lanes on hillside ground where buildings and drains are ageing, and demolition and construction sites are a constant presence around Jabal Omar and the central zone.
Questions about this district
Does tank leakage affect the historic stone structure?
Yes, very seriously. Old stone absorbs water and dissolved salts crumble the stone from inside. Fast leak repair preserves the historic fabric.
Can an old roof support a modern replacement tank?
Possibly, but the roof must be strengthened first. Modern tanks are heavier and may need reinforcement of the old roof timbers.
Is sealing an old tank better than replacing it?
If the tank is corroded metal but repairable, sealing may extend its life years. If severely damaged, replacement is the better choice.
How do you work on tanks in registered heritage hotels?
We work carefully to avoid damaging the historic structure. Sealing materials must be compatible with old building stone and reversible if possible.
Why do Al Shubaikah tanks leak more than tanks in other quarters?
Old roofs sag and bend over time, affecting tank stability. The tank itself may be very old, with corroded metal or cracked concrete.
Does sealing one tank suffice or must walls be treated too?
Tank sealing is essential, but if moisture has penetrated deep into walls, the walls may need specialised drying using methods that do not harm the historic structure.
How much does water tank sealing in Al Shubaikah 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 Shubaikah.
Nearby districts we cover
Other services in Al Shubaikah
Other services we provide to residents of Al Shubaikah.
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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 Shubaikah? Tell us what you saw and we will tell you what it needs
We reach Al Shubaikah at a time we agree, and you get the full cost before we start.