Our Services
Underground Waterproofing
Basements, foundation rafts and retaining walls sealed against groundwater pressure, salts and sulphate attack.
Overview
How we approach it
Underground waterproofing seals basements, foundation rafts and retaining walls against groundwater under pressure. In Saudi soil conditions it protects concrete from chloride and sulphate attack as much as from leaks — and it's needed on every below-grade structure, new or existing.
Below-ground structures in the Kingdom deal with aggressive groundwater — high chlorides and sulphates that attack concrete from the outside while hydrostatic pressure pushes water through every joint and tie hole. Fixing an underground leak after backfilling costs many times more than doing it right the first time, which is why specification matters most here.
For new construction we install complete Sika® tanking systems: SikaProof® pre-applied fully-bonded membranes under rafts and against walls, Sika® waterstops at construction and expansion joints, and SikaSwell® hydrophilic profiles at penetrations. For existing basements that are already leaking, we work from the inside — Sika® injection systems to seal active water paths and cementitious slurry systems to create a new internal barrier.
Every project gets a joint-by-joint waterproofing plan, because underground systems are only as good as their weakest joint.
Typical scope
- Survey & diagnosisGroundwater conditions, leak mapping and structure review.
- System designMembrane, waterstop and joint plan matched to the structure and water table.
- InstallationSikaProof® / Sika® tanking installed and protected before backfill; internal systems for existing structures.
- Verification & warrantyInspection of all joints and penetrations, covered by a single-source warranty.
Related services: Crack Injection · Joint Treatment
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
Can a leaking basement be waterproofed from the inside?
Yes. When excavation isn't possible, we work from the negative side: polyurethane injection seals active water paths through cracks and joints, then cementitious slurry systems create a new internal barrier bonded to the concrete. It's the standard approach for occupied buildings and is fully warrantable when done correctly.
What causes basement leaks in Saudi Arabia?
The usual culprits are failed or missing joint waterstops, unsealed tie-rod holes, shrinkage cracks, and membranes damaged during backfilling. Saudi groundwater is also aggressive — high chlorides and sulphates attack the concrete itself. Our survey identifies the actual entry path before we propose anything, because sealing the wrong spot wastes money.
What is the best basement waterproofing system for new construction?
For new builds we recommend fully-bonded pre-applied membranes like SikaProof, installed before the raft is cast, combined with waterstops at every construction joint and hydrophilic seals at penetrations. Fully-bonded systems prevent water migrating between membrane and concrete, so a single puncture can't flood the whole basement.