Core Drilling in Ras Tanura – Parapet Outlets & Sea-Proof Sealed Holes

Core drilling in Ras Tanura is the drilling of clean, round holes through concrete parapets, walls and slabs with a diamond core rig, and the requests we get most often from the town are rainwater outlets through roof parapets, pipe holes in sea-facing walls that must be sealed properly, and rows of cable holes in offices. Aemar Al-Maryam General Contracting drills each hole and seal it on the same visit, and we serve Ras Tanura and Rahima with scheduled visits from Dammam on which you can group all your holes. Our price list opens at SAR 90 (AC holes and other small bores), then goes to SAR 140 for 5–6 inches, SAR 230 for 8 inches and SAR 320 for 10–12 inches; the visit and our mutual agreement turn these starting figures into a final price. Call or WhatsApp 0547879578.

By the sea, the job is only half done once the concrete cylinder is out. Salt-laden, humid air looks for any gap around a pipe or any unsealed edge to reach the steel inside the wall, and rainwater that cannot leave a roof finds its way into the ceiling below. That is why this page spends as much time on what happens after drilling as on the drilling itself.

Core drilling in Ras Tanura: from the roof parapet to the cable room

Core drilling jobs in Ras Tanura fall into four main groups: roof drainage, services through external walls, office cabling, and kitchen and bathroom holes inside the home. In each case the hole is drilled with a hollow diamond bit that releases a complete concrete core at the required diameter, so the wall is not hammered and its edges do not shatter. On a coastal building that matters, because a smooth edge is far easier to seal than a broken one.

Rainwater outlets through roof parapets in Ras Tanura

A rainwater outlet through a roof parapet in Ras Tanura is cored at the lowest point of the roof and exactly at the level of the finished roof surface, so that all the water leaves and none of it ponds behind the parapet. We do this often on sea-view villas and on apartment buildings where a terrace has been added or the roof re-tiled, raising the surface so that the old outlets now sit above the water line.

Where exactly should the outlet be drilled?

We first check the falls across the roof and find the low point, then set the centre of the hole so that its bottom edge sits at the level of the waterproofing or finished tiles, never above it. Drill two centimetres too high and a permanent puddle stays behind the parapet; drill below the membrane and water starts running underneath the waterproofing. That is why we agree the level with whoever is doing the waterproofing and tiling before we drill, not afterwards.

What diameter does a rainwater outlet need?

The hole follows the outlet fitting that will be set in it, or the pipe that will carry the water down to the ground. Take a 110 mm pipe: allow a ring for sealant around it and you are normally drilling a 5-inch-class bore. Short horizontal spouts that throw water clear of the wall are sized with the owner according to the roof area and the number of outlets. On a large roof we prefer two smaller outlets to one big one, so drainage does not stop completely if dust and sand block one of them.

Tying the outlet into the roof waterproofing

An outlet that is not bonded to the waterproofing layer becomes a leak. After drilling we leave the hole clean and dry; the outlet is then fitted with a flange or collar that runs under the membrane or bonds to it, and the joint around it is closed with a flexible sealant. For the roof membrane itself, see the waterproofing and insulation service.

Concrete coring in Ras Tanura: why wet drilling and smooth edges matter

Concrete coring in Ras Tanura is done with a stand-mounted core rig and a water-cooled diamond bit, which gives a round hole of a set diameter with a smooth edge that needs no wide patching. The water keeps dust down and extends the life of the bit, and a wet vacuum collects it as we go. In internal block walls we may drill dry with dust extraction instead, keeping water out of the porous block.

A smooth edge is not just about appearance. When the bit cuts through a bar, the cut end stays inside the wall of the hole, and with a clean bore it can be fully covered by the sealing materials. Breaking out, by contrast, leaves bars protruding and the concrete cover cracked around them, which is exactly the opening salt needs to start its work.

Sealing core holes against sea moisture in Ras Tanura

Sealing a core hole in an external wall in Ras Tanura means closing the gap between the pipe and the concrete with layers that stop water and salty air getting in, and shaping it so water runs away from the hole rather than into it. Field surveys of concrete structures in the east of the Kingdom put corroding steel at the top of the list of defects, and a coastal setting with salt and humidity speeds it up, so an unsealed hole becomes a shortcut to the steel.

The sealing layers we use

1. 1
   Clean and dry the bore
   we rinse the slurry off the inside face of the hole and give it time to dry, because sealants bond poorly to wet concrete.
2. 2
   A sleeve inside the hole
   a plastic pipe slightly larger than the service pipe protects it and lets it be replaced later without new drilling.
3. 3
   Fill around the sleeve
   non-shrink mortar between the sleeve and the concrete, covering any cut bar ends.
4. 4
   Flexible seal between sleeve and pipe
   an elastic sealant that tolerates the pipe moving with heat.
5. 5
   Outward fall and an outer collar
   the hole slopes slightly to the outside, and its outer mouth gets a waterproof coating or collar that sheds water.

Closing old holes that are no longer used

Many houses in Ras Tanura still have old window-AC openings, or holes left behind by removed pipes and plugged with a piece of wood or a bag of cement. These are worse than new holes, because water collects in them and reaches the steel directly. When we move an AC unit or reroute a pipe, we close the old hole on the same visit: clean the edges, fill it in layers with non-shrink mortar, waterproof the outer face, and leave it ready for paint.

Look at the existing holes before drilling new ones

When we arrive at a house or apartment building in Ras Tanura to drill new holes, we also look at the existing ones: are there rust stains, flaking plaster or damp patches on the inside wall around them? If so, we suggest resealing them on the same visit, which is far cheaper than repairing concrete later. If corrosion has already reached the bars and the concrete is spalling, that is renovation work, covered on our renovation contractor in Ras Tanura page.

Drilling holes in walls in Ras Tanura

Drilling a hole through a wall in Ras Tanura is done by coring whenever a pipe, cable or air duct needs a round passage, once we know what the wall is made of and what lies behind it. External concrete walls are drilled wet and sealed on the outside; internal block walls are drilled carefully so the hollow cells do not collapse. On seafront apartment buildings we agree the pipe route across the facade with the owner before drilling, so the hole does not end up somewhere more exposed to sea spray than it needs to be.

• Sea-facing elevation: where the route allows, we prefer holes on elevations less exposed to spray-laden wind.
• Stone-clad wall: we start gently through the cladding so the stone does not chip around the hole.
• Wall next to a bathroom or kitchen: we scan for buried pipes first, as these walls are full of them.
• Boundary or courtyard wall: often block on a concrete base; we check which part the hole falls in before choosing wet or dry drilling.

AC core holes in Ras Tanura

A split AC core hole in Ras Tanura is drilled to the diameter in the unit’s installation manual, angled down towards the outside, and sealed on the outside before the AC technician leaves. Many wall-mounted splits, for instance, specifies a 65 mm hole sloping outwards. Near the shoreline our advice is to run the copper pipes and condensate line inside a sleeve and closing the gap with a flexible sealant rather than gypsum or ordinary cement, which crack over time.

Core holes for offices and cable rooms in Ras Tanura

Core holes in Ras Tanura offices are usually a row of equal holes in the wall of a server or communications room, carrying cable bundles between rooms or up to the next floor. We set out the whole row before drilling with equal spacing, keep enough concrete between holes, and scan along the full length of the row rather than spot by spot.

• ✓Spare holes: one or two extra holes in the row save you another visit when the cabling grows.
• ✓Protecting equipment: we cover nearby cabinets and equipment and collect water with a ring and vacuum, or drill dry if the wall is block and the equipment is live.
• ✓Fire-rated walls: if the wall is a fire-rated separation, the holes are closed after cabling with an approved firestop system, and we drill to the size that system needs.
• ✓Timing: we agree a slot that does not disrupt staff, such as early morning or after hours.
• ✓Labelling: we can number each hole on both faces so the cabling contractor knows which route is which.

Ceiling and roof slab core drilling in Ras Tanura

Slab coring in Ras Tanura is mainly for drain and water pipes between floors, or for services rising to the roof for water tanks and outdoor units. We scan for bars, keep away from beams and columns, protect the room below and prepare to catch the core when it drops. Any hole in the roof slab in particular is tied into the waterproofing after the pipe is installed, because the roof is the first surface to take the rain and humidity.

Protecting the room under a slab hole

Before drilling from the roof or the floor above, we go down to the room underneath: furniture is moved away, the floor is covered with waterproof sheeting, and a barrier keeps people out of the spot where the core will land. In occupied apartment buildings we agree the time with the downstairs resident, because drilling can be heard and felt even without hammering.

Large holes, several holes in one slab, or holes close to columns need an engineer’s view before drilling, as does any slab that may be post-tensioned.

Kitchen and bathroom core holes in Ras Tanura

Kitchen and bathroom holes in Ras Tanura cover extractor outlets in walls and drain holes in slabs. Their size comes from the duct connected to the appliance: a 100 mm duct, typical of bathroom fans, suits a hole of about 4 inches, and a 150 mm duct, common on kitchen hoods, suits one of about 6 inches; the appliance manual has the final say. On a coastal home the outside mouth of an extractor needs a cowl or flap that keeps rain and spray out while the fan is off.

When a bathroom or kitchen is moved during a flat refurbishment, we coordinate the new holes with the plumbing works and close the old ones with non-shrink mortar, waterproofing them if they are in a bathroom slab.

Common core hole sizes in Ras Tanura

A core hole is the diameter of whatever passes through it plus room for the sleeve and sealant. In coastal homes we tend to keep that margin generous, because the seal matters more here:

Rebar scanning before core drilling in Ras Tanura

Scanning before core drilling in Ras Tanura locates bars, pipes and buried cables so the hole can be placed between them. On coastal buildings the scan has a second benefit: once the core is out, it shows us the condition of the concrete cover and the steel in that part of the building. If a core comes out with rusted bars or crumbling concrete, we stop and tell you before drilling the remaining holes, because it signals that the wall or slab needs a wider inspection.

Scheduled visits from Dammam: grouping your holes in Ras Tanura

We reach Ras Tanura and Rahima on dates arranged in advance from our Dammam base, and the most economical approach for you is to group every hole the house or building needs into one request. Travel is priced at the inspection and then shared across the holes drilled, so a visit with ten holes puts only a small slice of it on each one compared with a visit for a single hole.

The visit day: what happens

We arrive at the agreed time with bits to suit the diameters you sent, plus sleeves and sealing materials. We start with a quick walk-round to confirm each position with you, then scan and mark the centres, drill the external holes first so they have the longest time to dry before sealing, and then the internal ones. Before leaving we go over every hole with you: diameter, slope, seal and a clean site. If a small extra request comes up on the day, such as an extractor hole you forgot, we do it if time and equipment allow.

If a neighbour or a nearby building also needs holes, book them on the same date; both of you then carry a smaller share of the travel cost.

Core drilling prices in Ras Tanura

The lowest price for a core hole in Ras Tanura is SAR 90, for an AC hole or something of similar size, and the final figure is set after inspection according to diameter, thickness, height and sealing requirements. Travel, priced at the inspection, is added on top:

To be clear: the figures are starting points pending inspection and agreement, and travel to Ras Tanura is priced at the inspection. See also the prices page.

What pushes the price up, and what brings it down?

• Up: a hole in a high parapet that needs a scaffold, a thick slab, a heavily reinforced wall, or a request to drill concrete dry.
• Down: grouping holes into one visit, clearing the work area before we arrive, and knowing the diameters in advance.

Core drilling or concrete cutting in Ras Tanura: when is a core enough?

Coring in Ras Tanura is enough for any round hole. A square duct opening, a new door or window, or a long drainage channel in a courtyard floor needs diamond saw cutting instead. The two often work together, with a core at each corner of a rectangle acting as the saw’s end stop. Saw work is covered in concrete cutting in Ras Tanura and our concrete cutting service.

Mistakes we keep seeing on coastal homes in Ras Tanura

Most core-hole problems we find in Ras Tanura have nothing to do with the drilling itself, but with what happened afterwards. These are the most common, and every one of them can be avoided on the day:

• ✓An AC bore drilled level: water from the unit and from rain drains inwards, and a damp patch appears under the indoor unit months later.
• ✓The gap filled with gypsum or plain cement: it cracks as the pipe moves and the summer heat works on it, letting salty spray in.
• ✓A rainwater outlet set above roof level: standing water stays behind the parapet and seeps slowly into the ceiling.
• ✓A pipe with no sleeve: replacing it later means new drilling or breaking around it.
• ✓Slurry left in the drains: dried concrete slurry blocks roof and bathroom drains, so we vacuum it before leaving.
• ✓An old open hole ignored: a live leak next to a freshly sealed hole undoes the benefit of the seal.

Core drilling contractor in Ras Tanura: what to check before agreeing

The core drilling contractor you want in Ras Tanura drills with a stand-mounted rig after scanning, and does not leave until the external holes are sealed or until you have agreed who will seal them. Ask before you agree:

• ✓Does the price include sealing? And what material goes around the pipe on the outside?
• ✓How will you set the level of a rainwater outlet? Will you coordinate with whoever does the waterproofing?
• ✓Is the travel cost fixed before the visit? And how is it shared if I add more holes?
• ✓What happens if a core shows rusted bars? Will you tell me before carrying on?

How to book core drilling in Ras Tanura

List every hole you need in one WhatsApp message to 0547879578, and you will receive a price estimate plus the next Ras Tanura date on our schedule:

1. 1
   A photo of each hole position
   inside and outside, plus the whole roof if it is a rainwater outlet.
2. 2
   Purpose and diameter
   AC, drain, extractor, cabling or rainwater outlet, and the pipe size if you know it.
3. 3
   The wall or slab
   concrete or block, approximate thickness, and which floor.
4. 4
   Location
   Ras Tanura or Rahima, and whether the building faces the sea.
5. 5
   Date
   we propose a day from our visit schedule and confirm it with you beforehand.
6. 6
   Handover
   you check the diameter, position, slope and seal with us before we leave.

Or fill in the visit request form and we will phone you.

What you get from Aemar Al-Maryam in Ras Tanura

• Drilled and sealed on one visit: no external hole is left open to the sea air.
• Experience with roof outlets: we set the outlet at the right level and tie it into the waterproofing.
• Clear scheduling from Dammam: a fixed date, with travel priced at the inspection.
• Prices you can see first: a starting figure for each hole size is on this page before anyone visits.

For the technical detail on diameters and machines, see our core drilling in Dammam guide; for plant and warehouse work, read core drilling in Jubail; and finished jobs are on the projects page.

Ras Tanura and Rahima: where we work

Our pre-booked trips cover Ras Tanura and Rahima, working in homes, villas, apartment buildings, offices and shops: