If your roof leaks every time the winter rains arrive, you are far from alone. This is one of the most common problems we encounter across properties in both Gozo and Malta, and the good news is that it can be fixed — permanently — when the right approach is taken. At Xmun Projects Ltd., we have spent over a decade diagnosing and resolving roof leaks for homeowners, landlords, and commercial property owners, and we understand exactly why Maltese roofs are so vulnerable and what it takes to protect them for the long term.
To understand why your roof leaks, it helps to understand what your roof endures throughout the year. Malta and Gozo experience a Mediterranean climate characterised by long, hot, dry summers followed by a relatively short but intense rainy season between October and March. During summer, roof surfaces are exposed to extreme UV radiation and temperatures that can exceed 40 degrees Celsius on the surface. This causes roofing materials to expand. When temperatures drop at night or during the cooler months, those same materials contract. This constant cycle of thermal expansion and contraction, repeated hundreds of times each year, gradually causes cracks, separations, and failures in roofing membranes, screeds, and waterproofing layers.
When the winter rains arrive — and they can be torrential, with heavy downpours dumping large volumes of water in short periods — those cracks become pathways for water. Because most roofs in Malta and Gozo are flat or very low-pitched, water does not run off quickly the way it would on a steep pitched roof. Instead, it pools, and even a small amount of standing water will find its way through any weakness in the roof surface. Add to this the effect of salt-laden air, which accelerates the degradation of many building materials, and you have a recipe for recurring leaks if the roof has not been properly waterproofed.
Many property owners have tried to address roof leaks with quick fixes — a bucket of bitumen paint here, a layer of cement screed there, or a simple coat of a generic sealant over the visible crack. While these measures might slow down water ingress for a season, they rarely solve the underlying problem. Temporary patches tend to fail because they do not address the root cause: the existing waterproofing system has reached the end of its effective life, or there was never a proper waterproofing system in place to begin with.
Patching over old, failed membranes or cracked screeds is like putting a plaster on a wound that needs stitches. The water will find another path, often appearing as damp or leaking in a completely different part of the ceiling. Over time, repeated water penetration causes far more serious damage, including rusted reinforcement bars within the concrete slab, spalling concrete, mould growth on interior walls and ceilings, and degraded insulation. What starts as a small drip can, over several winters, develop into a structural concern that is far more expensive to repair.
At Xmun Projects Ltd., we approach roof waterproofing as a systematic process rather than a quick repair. Every project begins with a thorough site visit where we assess the current condition of your roof. We look at the existing waterproofing layers, the condition of the screed, the state of any flashings or upstands around parapets and penetrations, and we identify where water is entering and why.
The first critical step is surface preparation. This means removing any failed or deteriorated existing waterproofing, cleaning the surface thoroughly, repairing cracks in the screed, and ensuring that the substrate is sound and ready to receive a new waterproofing system. Skipping or rushing this step is one of the main reasons waterproofing jobs fail. No membrane or coating will perform properly if it is applied over a dirty, loose, or damaged surface.
Once the surface is properly prepared, we apply the waterproofing system. We work with two main categories of waterproofing for roofs and balconies: membrane systems and liquid-applied systems.
Membrane systems involve the application of pre-formed sheets — typically modified bitumen membranes — that are torch-applied or cold-bonded to the roof surface. These membranes are highly durable, resistant to UV exposure, and can accommodate a degree of structural movement without cracking. They are particularly well suited to larger roof areas and are a proven solution that has been used successfully across the Mediterranean for decades.
Liquid-applied systems use high-performance liquid coatings — often polyurethane-based or acrylic-based — that are rolled or sprayed onto the roof surface to form a seamless, continuous waterproof layer. The advantage of liquid systems is that they can be applied to complex shapes, around penetrations, and in areas where sheet membranes would be difficult to install. They are also excellent for balconies and terraces where a thinner build-up is required.
In both cases, special attention is paid to detail areas: the junctions between the roof and parapet walls, around pipes and other penetrations, at expansion joints, and at drainage outlets. These detail areas are where the majority of leaks originate, and getting them right is essential for a lasting result.
After application, proper curing time is essential. We ensure that the waterproofing system is given adequate time to cure before any protective screed or tiles are laid over it, and before the roof is exposed to foot traffic or heavy rain.
Balconies and terraces are just as vulnerable as main roof areas, and in some cases more so, because they are often finished with tiles that can mask underlying problems. If water penetrates beneath the tiles due to failed waterproofing, it can cause tiles to lift, grout to deteriorate, and water to leak into the rooms below. We treat balcony and terrace waterproofing with the same rigour as roof waterproofing, ensuring a fully sealed surface beneath the finished floor.
Water does not only come from above. In many Maltese properties, particularly older ones and those built in lower-lying areas, rising damp and lateral water penetration through basement walls and foundations are significant issues. Heavy winter rains can saturate the ground, and water under hydrostatic pressure will find its way through any weakness in below-ground structures. We provide waterproofing solutions for basements and foundations as well, using tanking systems and drainage measures designed to keep below-ground spaces dry.
We select all waterproofing materials specifically for their performance in Mediterranean conditions. This means choosing products that are UV-stable, resistant to thermal cycling, tolerant of salt air exposure, and capable of bridging minor cracks that may develop due to structural movement. We work with established, reputable manufacturers and use materials that carry appropriate warranties and certifications.
When we waterproof your roof, balcony, or basement, the goal is always a long-term solution — not a temporary fix that gets you through one more winter. Our process, from the initial site visit through to final inspection, is designed to identify and address the root cause of your water ingress problem and to install a waterproofing system that will protect your property for many years to come.
Because we handle all trades under one roof, we can also address any consequential damage caused by past leaks — repairing spalled concrete, replastering affected ceilings and walls, repainting, and retiling where necessary — all as part of a single, coordinated project with one point of contact.
If your roof leaks every winter and you are tired of temporary fixes, contact Xmun Projects Ltd. on +356 7906 4535, email us at info@xmunprojects.com, or reach out via WhatsApp. We will arrange a site visit, assess your roof, and provide you with an honest quotation for a permanent waterproofing solution.
Have more questions or ready to start your project?