Everything you need to build and renovate with confidence
A construction encyclopedia built on standards, building codes and technical guides: materials and finishes, home systems, prefab and alternative building, and projects you can do yourself — for homeowners, contractors and suppliers.
Choose your path
Three direct ways in, depending on what you want to do. All technical sections remain below.
I am building a home
- Before buying a plot
- Soil and foundations
- From permit to occupancy certificate
- Construction quality checkpoints
- Taking handover of a new building
Calculate before you buy
Calculators based on manufacturer formulas and codes, with the source of every formula.
Tile calculator
Number of tiles and boxes, including waste.
Calculate →Electricity use
An appliance's monthly use and cost from its wattage.
Calculate →Paint calculator
Paint quantity from wall area and number of coats.
Calculate →Concrete volume
Slab or footing volume in m³ with allowance.
Calculate →Rebar
Weight and stock bars to buy, allowing for cutting.
Calculate →Drain slope
Minimum fall by pipe diameter and length.
Calculate →Something wrong at home? Start here
Leaks, damp, cracks, hollow tiles, peeling paint, a tripping RCD, a dripping AC… each guide covers the causes, what you can safely do yourself, and when you need a professional.
How to find water leaks in walls and floors: from the meter test to the thermal camera
An unexplained high water bill, a damp wall or a stain on the ceiling? Start with the free tests the US Environmental Protection Agency recommends, then the professionals' tools — thermal cameras and moisture meters — and their limits.
Damp walls: condensation, rising damp or a leak? How to diagnose before you treat
The wrong treatment for damp wastes money and brings the problem back. The UK Building Research Establishment classifies dampness into types, each with a different treatment, and warns against relying on a moisture meter alone. A practical diagnosis guide.
Cracks in concrete and walls: types, causes, and when they are serious
Not every crack is dangerous, and not every crack is harmless. The common crack forms as classified by the US National Ready Mixed Concrete Association, why concrete cracks in hot weather, and the warning signs that call for a structural engineer.
Common household electrical faults: why does the RCD trip? Hot sockets, and protecting appliances from surges
RCD keeps tripping? A socket getting hot? Appliances damaged after a power cut? The most common causes as explained by the UK Institution of Engineering and Technology, what you can safely check, and when you need an electrician.
Common AC faults: not cooling, dripping water, tripping, or noisy — causes and what you can do
Before calling a technician: many AC problems come from a clogged filter, a blocked condensate drain, or an outdoor unit choked with dust. What the US Department of Energy recommends for maintenance, and what a professional technician should check.
Common tile problems: hollow tiles, tenting and cracking, grout cracks, and white salts
The most common tile complaints have well-known causes: missing movement joints, poor adhesive coverage, or moisture. Each problem, its cause and its fix, based on guidance from the Ceramic Tile Education Foundation (CTEF) and the Tile Council of North America.
Looking for materials or a contractor in your city?
Choose one of 104 Saudi cities and towns — from Jazan to Turaif, from Rafha and Al-Qaisumah to Sharurah — then a category, and we open the Google Maps search for you. Results come from Google; they are not businesses registered or verified by Binaaline.
Projects you can do yourself — safely
Each project lists time, difficulty and cost, a "what you need" box, numbered steps and safety notes. And if a job is not for amateurs, we say so clearly.
DIY: painting a room step by step (prep, filler, primer, two coats and ventilation)
Painting a room is one of the easiest projects a homeowner can do, and the secret of a good result is preparation, not the paint itself. A practical guide with tools and steps, plus what the US Environmental Protection Agency recommends about ventilation.
DIY: resealing silicone around the basin, bath and shower (removal, cleaning, application, cure time)
Black, mouldy silicone around the bath or basin usually can't be cleaned — it has to be replaced. The right way to renew it, as the manufacturer recommends, and why silicone can't be painted.
DIY: drilling walls and hanging things safely (where cables and pipes run, choosing screws and wall plugs)
Hanging a TV, shelf or mirror looks simple, but a hole in the wrong place can hit a cable or water pipe. Where cables are expected under the British wiring standard BS 7671, why you can't rely on that alone, and how to choose the right fixing for the wall type.
The most useful guides
Essentials for anyone building or renovating.
Tile types: ceramic vs. porcelain and how to tell them apart scientifically
The real difference between ceramic and porcelain is water absorption, not the brand name. The international tile classification by forming method and water absorption, and how to read it in a manufacturer's catalogue.
Tile adhesive: what C1, C2, T, E, F, S1 and S2 mean and how to choose
The codes printed on an adhesive bag aren't random; they're the European EN 12004 classification. Every letter and number explained precisely, and when you need each type.
Water pipe types: PPR, PEX, CPVC and PVC — temperature, pressure and correct use
Not every plastic pipe is fit for hot water. The common pipe types in homes, the application classes in ISO 10508, and when to use each type.
Circuit breakers: MCB vs. RCD, and B, C and D trip curves
An ordinary breaker protects the cable from fire; an RCD protects people from electric shock. The difference, the trip curve types, and the 30 mA RCD requirement in the international standard.
Air conditioners: the Saudi energy label, EER and SEER, refrigerants, and maintenance that saves electricity
The AC is the biggest electricity consumer in our homes. The Saudi standard SASO 2663 and its move from EER to SEER, test conditions for extreme heat, the refrigerant transition, and what the US Department of Energy says about the effect of filter cleaning.
Thermal insulation: EPS, polyurethane and mineral wool compared by the numbers
The key number for any insulation material is thermal conductivity λ. What it means, a comparison of common materials using values published in a peer-reviewed study, and how to work out equivalent thickness.
Prefab: ready-mixed concrete, precast, sandwich panels, gypsum board and cement board
Every prefabricated or factory-made material in one place, with standards, pros, cons and sources — plus a comparison with conventional construction.
- 20–50%potential schedule acceleration for modular projects (McKinsey)
- up to 20%potential cost savings, given scale and repetition
- < 5%typical waste in modular manufacturing
Construction chemicals, alternatives and solar
Roof waterproofing: bitumen membranes, single-ply membranes and liquid-applied systems — compared with pros and cons
Roof leaks are among the most common home problems. A comparison of flat-roof waterproofing membranes: SBS and APP modified bitumen, TPO, PVC and EPDM single-ply, liquid-applied systems and spray foam — and where the thermal insulation goes.
Conventional or alternative construction? A full comparison of concrete and block, modular, sandwich panels, AAC, ICF and steel framing
One comparison table summarising building systems: speed, insulation, fire, durability, and when each system fits — with links to the detailed guides and sources for each point.
Rooftop solar in Saudi Arabia: net billing, allowed sizes, and the connection steps with the electricity company
Saudi regulations allow small solar PV systems from 1 kW to 2 MW to connect to the distribution grid. Based on the official documents of the Saudi Electricity Company and the Saudi Electricity Regulatory Authority: net billing, application steps, capacity limits, and what to ask before contracting.
How we write and verify
Source first
We start from the standard, code or official technical guide — never from forums.
Cross-checking
Important figures are matched against more than one source before publishing.
Checked figures
Every figure and specification is matched to its original source before publishing.
Review & correction
A review date on every guide and a button to report any error.
Three account types
Accounts are being prepared. Register your interest and we will let you know at launch.
Homeowner
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Supplier
- Company page and product catalogue
- Listed under material sections
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