Cracked bitumen, peeling coatings, torn plastic sheets and patch upon patch of old repairs can trap water and hide damage. Wellcool provides complete old waterproofing removal and renewal in Pakistan, stripping failed layers down to a sound base and installing a fresh, well-bonded waterproofing system.
★★★★★ Trusted by homeowners & businesses across Pakistan
Failed layers removed, not covered up
New membrane bonded to a sound base
Debris bagged and removed from site
Every waterproofing system has a working life. On Pakistani roofs, that life is often shortened by extreme heat, UV, monsoon rain and poor original application. Hot bitumen layers turn brittle and crack, cheap coatings chalk and peel, polythene sheets under the mud layer tear and hold water like a pond, and years of patch repairs leave a roof covered in mismatched layers that no longer stick to each other or to the slab. A common mistake is to keep adding new coatings on top of failed ones. The new layer may look good for a few months, but because it is bonded to a weak, cracked or loose base, it fails along with it, often trapping water beneath and making leaks harder to trace. Wellcool provides specialised old waterproofing removal and renewal services for houses, apartments, plazas, schools and industrial buildings across Lahore, Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Faisalabad, Multan, Peshawar and the rest of Punjab and KPK.
Our process is straightforward: test the existing waterproofing, remove everything that has failed, repair the exposed screed and slab, correct slopes and details, and then install a new waterproofing system suited to the roof and your needs, whether a liquid polyurethane or acrylic membrane, a cementitious system, a torch-applied membrane, or a heat-reflective waterproof coating. You end up with a clean, properly bonded system rather than another layer on top of old problems.
Age and UV exposure break down most waterproofing materials over time. Bitumen oxidises in the sun, becoming hard and brittle; acrylic coatings chalk and thin out; low-grade membranes lose flexibility. Thermal movement in Pakistan’s climate, with roofs heating to extreme temperatures and cooling sharply, stretches and compresses the waterproofing layer daily until it cracks at joints, drains and parapets.
Poor original application is a major factor: membranes laid on dusty or damp surfaces, coatings applied too thin, no primer, no reinforcement at corners and drains, or no protection over the membrane. Mechanical damage from water tank installation, solar structures, cable work and foot traffic punctures the layer. Finally, incompatible patching, such as cement over bitumen or acrylic over oil-based tar, creates layers that do not bond, so water travels between them and emerges far from the actual defect.
It may be time to strip and renew if you see:
We test whether the old layer can stay or must go, instead of guessing.
Failed bitumen, coatings and sheets stripped back to a sound base.
Screed, cracks, slopes and drains fixed before the new system.
A modern membrane chosen for your roof and climate.
We carry out pull-off and scrape tests, cut small inspection openings and check moisture beneath the old layers. This tells us how well the existing waterproofing is bonded, how many layers there are, and whether water is trapped under them. Sometimes a sound old membrane can be cleaned and overcoated; often it cannot.
Loose and failed coatings are scraped and ground off. Brittle bitumen is chipped and scraped away, sometimes after softening or cooling depending on the material. We avoid harmful practices such as burning off old layers on occupied buildings, and we take care not to damage the slab beneath.
Where the old system includes a mud layer over a polythene sheet, water often collects on the sheet and stays trapped for months. We remove the wet mud and torn sheet, allow the slab to dry and inspect it for cracks and corrosion before rebuilding.
The exposed surface is cleaned of residue, dust and grease. Cracks are routed and sealed, hollow screed replaced, slopes corrected so water reaches drains, fillets rebuilt at parapets and drain outlets reset. This step is what allows the new system to perform as designed.
After priming, we install the chosen system: liquid-applied polyurethane or acrylic membrane with fabric reinforcement at details, two-component cementitious coating, or torch-applied modified bitumen membrane with lapped and sealed joints. A heat-reflective top coat or protective screed can be added depending on the use of the roof.
Where practical, the new system is flood or spray tested to confirm watertightness. Areas with foot traffic, such as paths to water tanks, can receive an extra wearing layer to protect the membrane.
Adhesion, layers and trapped moisture checked.
Removal scope and new system specified in writing.
Bitumen, coatings, mud and sheets removed.
Slab dried; cracks, screed, slopes and drains fixed.
Primer, membrane and reinforcement installed.
Water test where practical, clean-up and care advice.
The cost of renewal depends heavily on what is already on your roof. Removing one thin coating is very different from chipping off several layers of bitumen and digging out a waterlogged mud layer. Wellcool inspects and tests first, then gives you a written quote with the removal scope and new system clearly listed. Main cost factors:
Tired of patching the same old roof? Call or WhatsApp 0321-4156036 with photos of your current waterproofing. We will tell you whether it can be overcoated or needs full renewal and arrange an inspection.
Not every old system has to be removed. If an existing coating is firmly bonded, compatible with the new material and has no water trapped beneath it, cleaning, repairing and overcoating can be a cost-effective option. If the layer is loose, blistered, brittle, incompatible or holding water, overcoating will only waste money. Our adhesion and moisture tests give a clear answer, and we explain the result to you with photos before work starts.
Hot bitumen and tar have been used on Pakistani roofs for decades. In our summers, bitumen softens and becomes sticky, then hardens and cracks in winter. Most modern water-based coatings cannot bond to old bitumen, and oils in the bitumen can stain or soften them. Applying a new acrylic coat over cracked tar is a common shortcut that fails quickly. In most cases, failed bitumen must be removed or covered with a specially compatible system, which we assess on site.
When water gets under an old membrane, the sun heats it into vapour that pushes the membrane up into blisters. Walking on blisters tears them, and the trapped water keeps the slab wet and can drip into rooms long after rain has stopped. Simply coating over blisters seals the water in. Renewal involves opening and removing the affected areas, letting the slab dry and rebuilding the system so moisture has nowhere to collect.
Most of our renewal projects are carried out while families or businesses continue using the building. We plan the work in sections so that no large area of roof is left exposed overnight, keep an eye on the weather forecast, cover open areas with sheets if unexpected rain arrives, and keep drains clear of debris. Noise and dust from grinding are kept to working hours, and we coordinate with you about access to the roof, staircases and water tanks.
Spring and early summer are the best times to strip and renew roof waterproofing in Punjab and KPK. The weather is dry, the slab can dry out properly after old layers are removed, and the new system can cure fully before the July rains. If your roof leaked last monsoon despite patching, booking a renewal survey in the dry months avoids rushed emergency work later.
Waterproofing renewal links closely to our other services: roof waterproofing for new systems, roof surface repair for screed, tiles and slope, roof leakage repair for active leaks, protective coating application for specialised coatings and roof heatproofing to keep your renewed roof cool.
Renewal is not only for roofs. Bathrooms built decades ago often have no waterproofing under the tiles, or an old layer that has cracked as the floor settled, which leads to damp ceilings below and seepage into adjoining walls. Terraces and balconies show similar problems. In these areas we remove tiles and bedding, strip the failed layer, repair the slab and slope, install a new flexible cementitious or PU membrane with reinforced corners and drain collars, and then re-tile. It is more involved than roof renewal, but it is the only permanent cure for a leaking wet area.
Old tank linings can blister, crack or start releasing particles into the water. Renewal involves draining and cleaning the tank, removing the failed lining, repairing cracks and honeycombed concrete, and applying a new potable-water-safe coating with proper curing and flushing before refilling. See water tank waterproofing for details.
After renewal, the first monsoon is the real test. You should notice ceilings staying dry, no new stains, water draining quickly toward outlets and no soft or blistered areas on the roof. Keep an eye on details around tanks and solar frames, and call us if anything looks unusual so it can be checked early.
Removing old bitumen, coatings and mud generates dust and debris. Our team uses masks, gloves and eye protection, wets down dusty material where practical, bags debris instead of throwing it off the roof, and keeps drain outlets covered so removed material does not block downpipes. We avoid open-flame burning of old layers on occupied buildings because of fumes and fire risk.
Every Wellcool customer receives the same complete service — from the first inspection to the final check. No shortcuts, no half-finished work.
Old layers tested for bond and trapped moisture.
Failed coatings, bitumen and sheets stripped.
Cracks, screed, slope and drains fixed.
New system installed with reinforcement.
Flood or spray test where practical.
Old material bagged and removed.
Your building is our priority. From the first phone call to the final check, our team treats your property as if it were our own. We arrive on time, protect your home while we work, and leave the site clean.
We follow one simple rule: prepare properly, apply correctly, check thoroughly. That is how results last for years — not just for one season.
Punjab, KPK & Islamabad
Site survey & quote
Tested systems
Clear timelines
Only if it has failed. If the old layer is well bonded, compatible and dry underneath, it may be cleaned and overcoated. If it is peeling, cracked, blistered, bitumen-based and incompatible, or holding water, it must be removed so the new system bonds to a sound base.
Most modern water-based coatings do not bond well to old bitumen, and the oils can damage them. Some specialised systems can go over sound bitumen, but cracked or brittle tar should generally be removed. We test and advise on site.
A typical house roof may take several days, depending on how many layers must be removed, how much repair the base needs, drying time and the new system’s curing requirements. Larger commercial roofs are done in phases. We include a timeline in our quote.
No. We use mechanical methods that remove the waterproofing without cutting into the structural slab. Any existing damage found once the slab is exposed, such as cracks or corrosion, is repaired as part of the job.
Yes. Work is carried out on the roof in sections, and we keep the roof protected overnight and during rain. Some noise and dust from grinding is unavoidable during working hours.
It depends on the roof use, budget and heat concerns. Liquid PU or acrylic membranes with reinforcement and a reflective top coat suit most house roofs; cementitious systems suit areas under tiles; torch membranes suit some larger roofs. We explain the options after inspection.
Yes. We strip and renew waterproofing on plazas, schools, hospitals, warehouses and factories across Punjab, KPK and Islamabad, planning work in phases to keep operations running.
From stripping failed layers to long-term maintenance, we keep your roof working.
Tracing and sealing active roof leaks at drains, joints, cracks and parapets before ceilings are damaged.
Treating rising damp, wall seepage and salt patches at the source so plaster and paint stay sound.
Diagnosing and filling structural and plaster cracks with the right flexible or rigid repair system.
Rebuilding broken screeds, hollow tiles, ponding areas and worn roof surfaces for proper drainage.
Weather-proof coatings and sealing that protect outside walls from rain, sun, dust and salt.
Professional application of waterproof, reflective and anti-carbonation coatings on roofs and walls.
Planned pre-monsoon and post-summer roof check-ups, cleaning and minor repairs to extend roof life.
Complete protection packages for houses: roofs, walls, bathrooms, tanks and boundary walls.
Tell us your city and the problem, send a few photos on WhatsApp, and our team will arrange a site visit. No obligation, no hidden cost.
Call, WhatsApp or fill in our quote form for a free estimate.