Water tank sealing in Shaib Amir Wa Shaib Ali Makkah
Shaib Amir and Shaib Ali are two old ravines north east of the Grand Mosque behind Souq Al Layl, historically the heartland of Banu Amir and neighbour to Al Ghazza and Al Judariyah markets. Most old stone houses still cling to the slopes of Jabal Khandamah. Tanks here are very old and face constant leaks from cracks in stone and concrete.
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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 Shaib Amir Wa Shaib Ali
Stone houses date back over a century and tanks are small, buried underground, suffering constant leaks and salt and moisture erosion. The method is set out in full on Water tank sealing in detail.
Stone houses and buried tanks
Tanks here lie underground within or beside old stone houses. Sandstone has eroded through salt and moisture over decades, cracks run deep and leaks are continuous.
Slopes and high groundwater
The quarter sits on the slope of Jabal Khandamah with very high groundwater especially in the rainy season. Water pressure from below strains tank walls and leaks rise from the floor.
Salt-laden air and damp ravines
Proximity to the mosque and narrow ravine passages mean high humidity and air saturated with sea salt and mineral salts from ancient soil. This accelerates failure of any new coating or seal.
Landmarks of Shaib Amir Wa Shaib Ali
Access to tanks in Shaib Amir Wa Shaib Ali runs via Jabal Khandamah to the east and Souq Al Layl to the west. The narrow ravines and buildings clinging to the slope define the work zone and allow precise understanding of groundwater and moisture patterns.
- Souq Al Layl
- Jabal Khandamah
- The Grand Mosque
- Shiab Amir Street
- Al Mualla Cemetery
What we read before any material is opened
A historic quarter set in ravines north east of the Grand Mosque behind Souq Al Layl, bounded by Jabal Khandamah to the east and Al Masjid Al Haram Road to the west, with part cleared for the northern expansion plaza.
Cracking in the wall
Inspection of stone cracks focuses on joints between old stone and modern cement, where leaks begin.
The floor to wall joint
High groundwater from the slopes exerts constant pressure from below and sides, causing floor and lower corner cracks.
The condition of the old lining
Inspection of joints between tank walls and surrounding stone reveals voids where groundwater seeps.
Sediment and scale
Salt accumulation on the inner surface indicates salty groundwater leaking in from outside and the salt-laden environment.
The pipe entries
Erosion of the sandstone itself means the tank has lost much of its protective thickness, especially at corners.
The hatch and the vent
Internal sediment and algae indicate groundwater seepage carrying minerals and salts from ancient soil.
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 Ghazza Sub-Municipality
Al Ghazza sub municipality wraps around the north and west of the Grand Mosque, from Al Shamiyah, Al Qararah and Shaib Amir round to Jarwal and Al Taysir. Large tracts were cleared for the northern expansion and the Rua Al Haram scheme, leaving excavated ground and open construction sites beside ageing blocks that now serve as dense seasonal lodgings in Jarwal and Al Taysir. Old flood paths still fall from Jabal Qaiqaan and Jabal Khandamah towards the mosque, and markets and eateries crowd Al Masjid Al Haram Road and Umm Al Qura Road.
Questions about this district
Why does the tank beneath the stone house leak from below?
Groundwater is high and pressure comes from below ground. Sandstone has eroded and become porous, so sealing needs a barrier from underneath, not just above.
Can we seal a buried tank without digging up the whole house?
Yes, if internal access exists. But if the problem is external and groundwater pressure, we may need partial excavation.
Does salt trapped in the stone destroy any new seal?
Salt accumulation in stone penetrates a seal slowly. Salt treatment first is essential before any new sealing.
How often must the tank be resealed in this quarter?
Salt-laden and damp conditions mean resealing every 3-4 years. Annual inspection prevents sudden leaks.
Does being underground mean the tank is protected from salt and moisture?
No, the opposite. Underground tanks are compressed by moisture and groundwater from every side.
Does tank sealing help if the outer house wall is cracked?
Tank sealing helps but is not enough. A cracked outer wall lets groundwater enter around the tank.
How much does water tank sealing in Shaib Amir Wa Shaib Ali 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 Shaib Amir Wa Shaib Ali.
Nearby districts we cover
Other services in Shaib Amir Wa Shaib Ali
Other services we provide to residents of Shaib Amir Wa Shaib Ali.
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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 Shaib Amir Wa Shaib Ali? Tell us what you saw and we will tell you what it needs
We reach Shaib Amir Wa Shaib Ali at a time we agree, and you get the full cost before we start.