Water tank sealing in Al Zahir Makkah
Al Zahir sits on the Madinah road north of Makkah and contains dense apartment blocks built on uneven ground shaped by Jabal Al Zahir, Jabal Al Barud and Wadi Al Zahir. Tanks here endure constant soil pressure and slow foundation settlement, with leaks appearing at floor-wall joints, wall seams and pipe entries.
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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 Zahir
Buildings here were constructed forty to sixty years ago on uneven hillside ground, and tanks now require periodic sealing because of ongoing ground pressure. The method is set out in full on how we approach Water tank sealing.
High tanks on apartment blocks and ground pressure
Most residential buildings in Al Zahir have rooftop tanks, and constant pressure from water weight and slow foundation movement causes wall cracks. Concrete exposed to direct sun develops accelerating fractures over time.
Floor-wall joints, seams and pipe entries
Water leaks severely at the floor-wall junction and around external pipe openings. Old tanks were not made to modern sealing standards and joints are inherently weak.
Seasonal heat and cold cycles cause recurring cracks
Makkah is extremely hot, and tanks face intense daytime heat and relative night-time cooling. This expansion and contraction creates small cracks that grow with time.
The character of Al Zahir
Apartment district: residential blocks, repeated floors and shared entrances
Apartment buildings in Al Zahir are old and built on uneven hillside ground. Tanks endure constant ground pressure and slow foundation movement. Sealing must be flexible to withstand pressure and continuous expansion, not simple rigid waterproofing.
What we read before any material is opened
A densely built residential district north of Makkah on the Madinah road, containing apartment buildings and flats. The Third Ring Road and Hajun Street cross it, bordering it on both sides.
Cracking in the wall
External surface inspection reveals deep cracks in tank walls from ground pressure and seasonal heat cycles.
The floor to wall joint
Floor-wall joint and seam inspection shows clear leakage at the base and around external pipe openings.
The condition of the old lining
Pipe and entry point inspection finds erosion and cracks around openings, with water running down below the tank.
Sediment and scale
Internal inspection after emptying reveals accumulated layers of dirt, sediment and algae buildup.
The pipe entries
Floor and corner inspection shows moisture pooling, sediment and deep cracks in stress corners.
The hatch and the vent
Final sterilisation ensures new water is free of bacteria and fungi and remains clean in the sealed tank.
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 Utaybiyah Sub-Municipality
Al Utaybiyah sub municipality covers the old districts north of the Grand Mosque: the hillside quarters of Al Hajun, Al Utaybiyah and Al Bayban, Al Zahir and Al Shuhada at the northern entrance, and the newer Al Zahra, Al Diyafah and An Nuzhah westward. Its building stock is among the oldest in Makkah, stone houses on the hills, packed apartment blocks and sewers decades old, threaded with crowded markets like the Utaybiyah souq and furnished flats that fill in the pilgrim seasons. Wadi Al Zahir and Wadi Al Tanim carry storm water through it, and industrial workshops line Hajj Street.
Questions about this district
Why does a tank in Al Zahir leak again after a few years of repair?
Ground pressure and slow foundation movement create new cracks. Seasonal heat accelerates cracking, and simple sealing does not endure under this pressure.
Does the tank itself need replacement or is sealing enough?
If the concrete shell is intact and cracks are surface-level, full sealing is sufficient. If concrete has eroded or weakened, engineering assessment is needed.
What drives up sealing costs in Al Zahir apartment buildings?
High rooftop tanks require scaffolding, safety systems and access work. Full sealing requires complete tank emptying and internal surface rebuilding.
Is the sealing safe for drinking water quality?
Yes, we use approved sealing materials that do not affect water quality. The tank is sterilised before returning to service.
Does the old construction type of these buildings change sealing method?
Yes, old buildings may have tanks without repairable floors. We inspect the structure and design a solution suited to the old tank.
How long does the sealing last after treatment?
With proper sealing and sound concrete, it lasts seven to ten years. In Al Zahir it may shorten slightly because of ongoing ground pressure.
How much does water tank sealing in Al Zahir 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 Zahir.
Nearby districts we cover
Other services in Al Zahir
Other services we provide to residents of Al Zahir.
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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 Zahir? Tell us what you saw and we will tell you what it needs
We reach Al Zahir at a time we agree, and you get the full cost before we start.