Water tank sealing in Harat Al Sham Jeddah
Harat Al Sham lies in the north inside the old wall beside Bab Al Madinah, holding very old coral stone houses fronted by tall wooden rawashin and modern residential blocks. Tanks sit on very old roofs and narrow terraces, and salty water, sea salt and high humidity cause fast lining corrosion. Sealing restores the tank to service after repairing cracks and joints and sterilising.
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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 Harat Al Sham
Buildings date back to the age of merchants and craftsmen, and roof tanks hold old water and face very high salt spray and humidity. The method is set out in full on Water tank sealing in detail.
Tall coral stone houses and narrow, very old roofs
Houses in Harat Al Sham are tall coral stone structures fronted by very tall wooden rawashin. Roof terraces are very tight and tanks sit in confined spaces, some extremely old.
High humidity and strong sea salt from close sea
The quarter sits very close to the sea and humidity is very high. Sea salt reaches roofs and tanks directly, and wind carries salt into every crack.
Old water pooling and failing linings in some abandoned houses
Some tanks hold stagnant water for long periods because old houses are closed or abandoned. Linings are failing from age, salt and humidity.
The character of Harat Al Sham
Historic district: close-set buildings, narrow lanes and ageing services
Harat Al Sham is a very old historic quarter with tall coral stone houses and high wooden rawashin. Tanks are confined to tight roofs and access is very difficult. Treatment needs special care to avoid damaging old heritage buildings and tight roof spaces, and must be carefully coordinated with residents and local authorities.
What we read before any material is opened
A very old historic quarter in the north inside the wall beside Bab Al Madinah, containing old coral stone houses with tall wooden rawashin, with Dar Al Zahid, Banaja House, Dar Al Sarti and Ribat Al Khunji Al Kabeer, surrounded by narrow alleys.
Cracking in the wall
Surface corrosion starts at edges and corners where salt and humidity accumulate fast, especially around pipe inlets.
The floor to wall joint
Deep cracks in the lining come from sea salt attack and slight movement of the tank on old tight roofs.
The condition of the old lining
Salt and humidity enter through cracks, joints and gaps around pipe sleeves and overflow points.
Sediment and scale
Sea salt is very high because the quarter is next to the sea and wind carries salt spray directly to roofs and tanks.
The pipe entries
The original lining is failing and even the concrete beneath exposed steel is weak from salt and saline water.
The hatch and the vent
White algae and salt crusts build on the tank's outer surface and inside cracks, accelerating chemical and biological corrosion.
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 Historic Jeddah Municipality
The Historic Jeddah municipality covers the quarters of Al Balad inside the old wall: Al Mazloum, Al Sham, Al Yaman and Al Bahr. The buildings are tall houses of coral limestone and timber rawashin, centuries old, standing shoulder to shoulder on narrow lanes that see little sun, many under restoration or partly vacant. The ground is low and close to the sea and the harbour, humidity stays high through the year, and popular souqs and eateries trade late into the night. Old timber, voids between walls and goods stores create conditions favoured by termites, cockroaches, rodents and wood boring beetles.
Questions about this district
Why is lining corrosion in Harat Al Sham worse than other quarters?
The quarter is very close to the sea and sea salt is very high. High humidity and salt attack the lining with greater force.
Does stagnant water pooling in a tank cause faster corrosion?
Yes. Old water concentrates minerals and salt. Some old houses use little water so water stays and salt deposits thicken.
Is sealing cost higher in coral stone houses?
It may be, because roofs are tight and access is hard. Special care is needed to avoid damaging old heritage roofs.
Does sealing protect from sea salt corrosion?
Yes. Materials used are barriers against salt and humidity. After sealing and sterilisation, the tank is protected from salt-driven wear.
Do abandoned tanks really need extra sealing work?
Yes. Abandoned tanks hold old polluted water and linings are very degraded. Deep cleaning before sealing may be needed.
How often should a tank in Harat Al Sham be checked after sealing?
At least every three months. Sea climate and salt are very intense here and new failures can appear fast.
How much does water tank sealing in Harat Al Sham 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 Harat Al Sham.
Nearby districts we cover
Other services in Harat Al Sham
Other services we provide to residents of Harat Al Sham.
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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 Harat Al Sham? Tell us what you saw and we will tell you what it needs
We reach Harat Al Sham at a time we agree, and you get the full cost before we start.