All guides
A guide to Saudi building codes, standards and regulations: which reference covers which work, and where to find it in the encyclopedia
A map of the binding and official Saudi references behind Binaaline's guides: parts of the Saudi Building Code (general, electrical, energy, plumbing), SASO regulations (energy efficiency, water saving, plugs), electricity and solar regulations, and Balady services, with a link to the guide that explains each.
Renovating a bathroom step by step: the right order from planning to handover
Most bathroom renovation mistakes come from doing the work in the wrong order: tiling before testing plumbing, electrics in a dangerous location, or neglected waterproofing. This is the right sequence, with links to each detail.
Taking handover of a new building: a pre-signing checklist, the documents to request, and hidden defects insurance
Before you sign for a new house or apartment: what to check in each room, how to test water, electricity and AC, which documents and drawings to request, and what the mandatory 10-year hidden defects insurance covers.
Renovation checklist: before contracting, during the work, and at handover
A practical checklist for owners to use with contractors, and for contractors to organise their work: what to ask for in the quote, what to inspect at each stage, and what to collect at the end.
Construction quality checkpoints for owners: what to watch, photograph and request at each stage from excavation to finishing
An owner is not a supervising engineer, but can know what to ask for. A list of observation, photo and document checkpoints by stage: excavation and soil, rebar before pouring, concrete placing and curing, blockwork, waterproofing and flood testing, services before closing up, and tiling.
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.
A preventive home maintenance plan: monthly, seasonal and yearly checks for AC, water, electrics and roofs
Small regular maintenance saves big repairs. A practical schedule of what to check monthly, seasonally and yearly: AC filters and drains, leaks and water tanks, the RCD, silicone, the roof before the rains, and when to call a technician.
Maintaining an existing building or apartment block: common areas, roof and tanks, leaks, gates, and a maintenance log for the building owner
An apartment block or existing building owner is responsible for parts everyone uses: the roof, tanks, pumps, drainage, gates and lighting. A periodic inspection plan for these parts, how to organise reports and a log, and when to call a professional, with links to detailed guides.
Before you pay for materials: a checklist for specs, place of use, warranty, quantity and samples
Most buying mistakes come from a marketing name instead of a specification. A practical list of what to ask the supplier before paying: the data sheet, the standard the product meets, suitability for the place of use, a written warranty, quantity with waste, and a sample; with examples from tiles, adhesives, pipes, paints, cables and AC units.
Warranties, spare parts and after the warranty: protecting your rights on appliances, materials and contractor work
In Saudi Arabia electrical appliance warranties are at least two years and extend by any delay in spare parts or repairs, and building hidden defects insurance runs 10 years. The types of warranty at home, what voids them, how to keep a warranty file, and what to do after they end.
Yard and driveway paving: interlock, porcelain, stone and concrete, and why the layers under the surface matter more than the surface
Comparing yard and driveway surfaces: interlocking concrete pavers, outdoor porcelain and ceramic, stone, and concrete. From the ICPI construction guide: layer thicknesses, compaction, bedding sand, joints and slopes, and the mistakes that cause settlement, ponding and efflorescence.
Indoor air and dust at home: where dust gets in, humidity and odours, and MERV filters
Dust, odours and humidity indoors have three known remedies: source control, ventilation and filtration. From U.S. EPA guidance: MERV filter ratings, target humidity, the 24–48 hour rule against mold, and when to call a professional.
How to read a contractor's quote and estimate cost without misleading figures: items, quantities, specifications and exclusions
A price per square metre alone is not enough to compare contractor quotes. How to read a quote item by item: quantity and unit, specification, what the price includes and excludes, schedule, payments and warranty; and how to estimate cost from quantities and real quotes instead of internet figures.
How to compare building materials fairly: same category, same criteria, manufacturer data versus independent studies, and whole-life cost
A 'which is better?' comparison misleads if the two materials belong to different categories or were measured differently. A practical method: the same use, uniform criteria (durability, maintenance, performance, safety, whole-life cost), and separating manufacturer figures from independent studies, with examples from the encyclopedia.
Car shades and privacy screens: shade regulations, the permit, and what to ask before installing
What do official bodies require for car shades? A summary of the Riyadh Region Municipality regulatory guide (shade height, projection, columns, prohibitions) and the car shade permit service on Balady, followed by technical questions to ask before contracting.
Water around the building: garden irrigation, AC condensate, roof downpipes, and why it matters for foundations and walls
Irrigation, AC and rain water pooling next to walls can cause rising damp and efflorescence, and on expansive soils or sabkha it can move foundations. Why it happens, what falls to use, and a checklist around your house.
Home swimming pools: drowning safety, chlorine and pH, pool chemicals, and what to ask before building
A guide for owners before and after building a pool at home or in a rest house: a four-sided fence with a self-closing gate, chlorine and pH levels and testing frequency, rules for handling chemicals, and technical questions for the contractor on waterproofing, drainage and electrics.
Building pests and termites: the signs, prevention through moisture control and keeping wood off soil, and when you need a pest control company
Subterranean termites reach wood through mud tubes from the soil. The signs, prevention steps around the house (drainage, trees, stacked wood, sealing cracks), control methods, and how to choose a pest control company, from U.S. EPA guidance.
Gates, boundary walls and doors: automatic gate and door safety, materials and fixing, sealing, and maintenance
An automatic driveway gate can endanger children if it does not reverse on contact. From an official safety alert: automatic reversing, the electric eye and its height, the reverse test and 30-day inspection, and where to put the wall button; then choosing, fixing, sealing and maintaining walls and doors.
A guide for rest house (istiraha) owners: pool, cooling, shades, outdoor lighting, water, pests and off-season maintenance
A rest house is used intermittently and exposed to sun and dust, so its problems differ from a home: a pool needing safety and chemicals, cooling for open spaces, shades and outdoor lighting, tanks that may stand stagnant, and pests. A guide gathering what matters to a rest house owner with links to details.
Exterior finishes for facades and boundary walls: exterior paint, efflorescence and peeling, stone and exterior tiles, and what makes them last
A facade faces strong sun, dust, rain and salts. The causes of efflorescence, peeling and blistering in exterior paint from manufacturer sources, questions before choosing paint, stone or tiles for facades and walls, and why moisture is fixed before any finish.
Commercial buildings and shops: shared services, documentation, maintenance, and assessing services before a change of use
A shop or commercial building differs from a home: higher electrical loads, services shared between tenants, and regulatory requirements that vary by activity. A guide for owners and tenants: what to document, what to check before a change of use, and how to organise maintenance, noting that official requirements come from the competent authority.