Skylight Waterproofing for Warehouse and Factory Roofs in KSA

Skylights bring daylight into warehouses and factories, but on many metal roofs they are also the first thing to start leaking. Single-skin and double-skin skylight sheets are made of fibreglass, and the Saudi sun, wind-blown sand and moisture slowly wear them down until tiny pinholes open. ETCE seals skylights with EPDM and Promax Bonding Adhesive, or tells you honestly when a panel should be replaced instead.

Across Saudi ArabiaUp to 15-year warrantyFree roof survey

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Alfa Laval – Riyadh

How the climate wears out fibreglass skylights

A fibreglass skylight starts life with a smooth resin surface. Years of intense UV break that surface down, and sand and silica carried by the wind scour it like fine sandpaper, particularly in Riyadh and the central region. Once the glass fibres are exposed, moisture works into them, the sheet turns cloudy and brittle, and small pinholes form that let water straight through. The joints where skylights meet the metal sheets suffer too, because the two materials expand at different rates.

A leaking skylight is also a safety concern: weakened fibreglass will not carry a person's weight, which is why our crews never stand on skylights and always work tied to lifelines. For the repair there are two routes. Where the skylight is still sound, EPDM and Promax Bonding Adhesive seal its laps and weak areas with a flexible, long-lasting finish. Where the panel is badly degraded, a new skylight is the better investment, and the survey report tells you which applies.

Signs your skylights need attention

Yellowed or cloudy panels letting in less light than before
A rough surface with glass fibres showing
Pinholes or hairline cracks, seen as points of light from below
Drips or wet stock directly under rows of skylights
Gaps or failed sealant where skylights overlap metal sheets

How we waterproof skylights

Assess each skylightEvery skylight is inspected from safe access points and graded as repairable or due for replacement.
Set up a safe zoneLifelines are rigged and crews keep off the fibreglass for the whole job.
Clean the surfaceDust, loose fibres and failed sealant are removed around laps and damaged areas, and the surface is dried.
Seal with EPDM1.2 mm EPDM is cut to fit the skylight laps and failure areas and bonded with Promax Bonding Adhesive.
Final inspectionEach treated skylight is checked for full adhesion along its edges before the zone is closed.

Materials & workmanship

1.2 mm EPDM membrane, flexible enough to move with both fibreglass and steel
Promax Bonding Adhesive, which bonds to metals, plastics and rubber
Replacement skylight sheets proposed where panels are beyond repair
Height-safety lifelines and full PPE on all skylight work

Photos from ETCE projects

Skylights - Zamil Group Real Estate, Al Khobar

Skylights - Salama Radiator Factory, Dammam

Skylights - Al Kuhaimi SSG Plant, Dammam

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

Frequently asked questions

Will sealing reduce the light coming in?

EPDM is opaque, so we keep it to the laps, edges and damaged areas rather than covering the whole panel. If a skylight is so porous that most of it would need covering, we recommend replacement instead so you keep your daylight.

Is it better to repair or replace our skylights?

It depends on how far the fibreglass has degraded. Skylights leaking mainly at their joints or in small areas are good candidates for EPDM repair, while brittle, heavily pinholed panels are better replaced. The survey grades each one so you can decide panel by panel.

Why do our skylights leak only in some storms?

Pinholes and open laps may let in very little during light rain but a lot when wind drives water across the roof or it builds up against the skylight. Winter rain in the Kingdom is infrequent but can be intense, so hidden damage tends to show up all at once.

Is it safe to walk near skylights during the survey?

Only with the right precautions. Aged fibreglass can give way underfoot, so our engineers and crews use lifelines, full PPE and planned walking routes, and we advise facility teams not to send untrained staff onto the roof.