Glass & Sealant Joint Waterproofing for Glass Roofs and Skylights in Saudi Arabia

Glass roofs, glazed skylights and atriums on commercial buildings from Jeddah to Al Khobar look impressive until the joints between the panes start letting water in. ETCE waterproofs these joints with a strip of EPDM bonded over the line of each joint, a detail that keeps holding through Saudi summers when the glass itself becomes extremely hot.

Across Saudi ArabiaUp to 15-year warrantyFree roof survey

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Alfa Laval – Riyadh

Why sealant alone fails on glass

Most glazed roofs rely on a single bead of sealant between the pane and its frame, or between neighbouring panes. Glass in direct sun gets far hotter than the air around it, and every day it expands and contracts against its frame. Over time the sealant loses its grip, hardens or develops fine cracks along its edge. Running a fresh bead over the old one rarely lasts, because the new material is bonding to a surface that has already failed.

Instead of relying on that narrow bead, ETCE covers the whole joint. A strip of EPDM 100–150 mm wide is centred over each joint and bonded to the glass and frame on both sides with Promax Bonding Adhesive. The adhesive is rated for surface temperatures up to 120 °C, so it stays put and does not peel even at the height of summer, while the flexible membrane follows the daily movement of the panes.

Signs your glass joints are failing

Drips along the frames of a glass roof or skylight after rain
Sealant that is cracked, discoloured or pulling away from the glass
Dust and dirt tracking inside along the joint lines
Joints that have been re-sealed more than once and still leak
Water marks on floors or finishes below atriums and glazed canopies

How we waterproof glass joints

Joint-by-joint surveyOur engineer inspects each joint of the glass roof or skylight and records every failure in a photo report.
Clean the joint lineLoose and failed sealant is removed, and the glass and frame are cleaned so the adhesive bonds to a sound surface.
Cut strips to widthEPDM is cut into strips 100–150 mm wide, sized to cover the joint with a margin on both sides.
Bond over the jointEach strip is centred on the joint and fixed with Promax Bonding Adhesive along the joint's full length.
Inspect the finishEvery strip is checked for full adhesion at its edges before the area is signed off.

Materials & workmanship

EPDM strips 100–150 mm wide laid over each glass joint
Promax Bonding Adhesive that keeps its grip on glass surfaces up to 120 °C
UV-stable EPDM that stays flexible as the panes expand and contract
Applied from the outside, so interiors and daily operations are not disturbed

Photos from ETCE projects

Glass & Sealant Joints - Alfa Laval, Riyadh

Glass & Sealant Joints - Zamil Group Real Estate, Al Khobar

Glass & Sealant Joints - Salama Radiator Factory, Dammam

Glass & Sealant Joints - Al Kuhaimi SSG Plant, Dammam

Site photos from ETCE projects in Saudi Arabia and Bahrain. Tap to enlarge.

Frequently asked questions

Will the EPDM strips block the light?

Each strip covers only a narrow band along the joint line, so the rest of every pane stays clear. The roof continues to let daylight in much as it did before.

Why not just re-apply silicone?

A new bead of sealant sits on top of old, failed material and faces the same heat and movement that broke it. A bonded EPDM strip spans the whole joint and grips the glass on both sides, so it does not depend on that narrow bead.

Does the glass need to be removed?

No. The strips are applied over the existing joints from the outside, so the glazing stays in place and the building remains open throughout the work.

Is this only for glass roofs?

The same approach suits glazed skylights on factories and warehouses, and other roof joints that were originally closed with sealant alone. During the free survey our engineer will confirm which joints are suitable.