Leaking balcony repairs
Balconies leaking into the room or unit below, repaired from the surface.
Waterproofing membrane repairs Sydney Failed membrane? We'll find it and fix it.
A failed membrane lets water into the slab, the walls and the rooms below. We find exactly where it has failed and repair it, often without tearing up the whole area.
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Balconies, flat roofs, terraces and wet areas. A membrane can fail at one corner, drain or door sill, or across the whole area. Knowing which is the difference between a targeted repair and a full strip-out. Our balcony work is carried out to AS 4654.2 and current NSW Design and Building Practitioners requirements.
- 1Find the failureWe locate where the water gets through before we quote.
- 2Repair what's failedTargeted repairs where the rest of the membrane is sound.
- 3Built to standardBalconies to AS 4654.2 and NSW DBP requirements.
A failed membrane is a serious defect
Left alone, water through a failed membrane rots timber, damages ceilings below and, in concrete slabs, rusts the reinforcement until the concrete cracks and spalls. Sydney's cycles of heat, sun and heavy rain, plus normal building movement, put membranes under constant stress. The earlier it's repaired, the smaller the repair.
What's included
- Inspection to find where the membrane has failed
- Loose tiles, grout and failed membrane removed where needed
- Surface cleaned and primed to suit the system
- Corners, upstands, drains and penetrations detailed first
- Polyurethane or liquid membrane, lapped onto the sound membrane
- Applied to the manufacturer's specification
- Balcony work to AS 4654.2
- Written quote before any work starts
Membranes we repair
- Balconies and decks
- Flat and concrete roofs
- Rooftop terraces
- Parapets and box gutters
- Roof penetrations and awnings
- Shower recesses
- Bathroom and laundry floors
- Strata common property
See leaking balcony repairs, roof repairs and trafficable membranes. We don't do car parks, podiums, or pitched tile and metal roofs.
Perfect for
- Owners of older balconies and flat roofs
- Strata managers chasing damp in a building
- Landlords protecting rental units
- Apartment owners leaking into the unit below
- Buyers who found damp at a building inspection
Problems we fix fast
- Water coming from under balcony tiles
- Tears, bubbles or lifting in an exposed membrane
- Damp patches on the ceiling below
- White salt stains on slabs and walls
- Loose or hollow-sounding deck tiles
Repair or replace?
Where the membrane has failed in one place, like a corner, an upstand or around a drain, we repair that area. Where it has failed across the area but the tiles are sound and the falls are right, a system applied over the tiles can often seal it without demolition. Where tiles are loose or water sits on the surface, stripping and replacing is the better repair, and we'll tell you so before you spend anything. Read when a no-tile-removal repair isn't the right choice.
How we repair a failed membrane
- Inspect. We find where the water gets in, not just where it shows up. The inspection is free.
- Open up the failure. We remove loose or failed material to expose the damaged area.
- Prepare and prime. Clean, dry and primed so the new membrane bonds.
- Detail the weak points. Corners, upstands, drains, sills and penetrations get extra attention, as that's where most membranes fail.
- Apply and cure. Membrane applied to the manufacturer's specification, then left to cure before the area goes back into use.
Before and after: balcony and membrane jobs
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After
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Membrane repair questions
Can you repair just one section of membrane?
Yes, when the rest of the membrane is sound. Most failures start at a corner, upstand, drain or door sill, and a targeted repair there costs far less than replacing the lot.
Can a failed membrane be repaired without removing the tiles?
Often, yes, when the tiles are sound and the falls are right. Where tiles are loose or water ponds, the area may need to be stripped. Read when regrouting is enough and when a membrane needs replacing.
Why do membranes fail?
Building movement, sun and heat on outdoor areas, poor detailing when the membrane was first laid, and age. Water ponding on a surface that doesn't drain speeds it up.
What is concrete cancer?
When water gets through a failed membrane into a concrete slab, the steel reinforcement rusts and expands. That cracks the concrete and pushes it off. Fixing the leak early stops it getting worse.
Do you waterproof car parks or podiums?
No. We repair balconies, terraces, flat and concrete roofs and wet areas. We don't do car parks, podiums, or pitched and metal roofs.
What warranty comes with a membrane repair?
Eligible systems carry a manufacturer's product warranty of up to 25 years, under the manufacturer's terms. Your written quote sets out what applies to your job.
Can you issue a compliance certificate?
Yes. We can issue a compliance certificate for our waterproofing work. Just ask at the inspection.
Book a free membrane inspection
Call or SMS 0412 000 893, seven days a week.