Leaking Balcony in Geelong

Defective balcony waterproofing and drainage can cause serious issues

Water damage is consistently one of the most frequently reported building defects in Victoria, leading to serious structural damage, widespread consumer complaints and health concerns.

If you suspect your balcony is leaking, addressing the issue promptly is crucial to prevent further damage to your home. Manse Group Building Consultants specialises in inspecting leaking buildings, locating the leak, identifying its cause and providing

opinions on the most effective method of rectification.

When constructing a new home, balconies are among the highest-risk components of any double-storey property. Although balconies are designed by qualified engineers the drainage system is specified in the endorsed plans and the substrate is nominated in the specifications, it’s vital that the construction process adheres strictly to these requirements. Waterproofing measures, including detailing around edges, joints, and penetrations, should be integrated with the substrate manufacturers requirements to ensure a compatible, durable and compliant waterproofing system.

Balcony designs can be complex with different external wall floor junctions, door openings and balustrade fixings to substrate. Based on our extensive experience with new home inspections over the past nine years, we’ve found that balconies are rarely constructed to the required standards.

Water ingress is a common issue raised in complaints to the VBA, insurance claims with the Victorian Managed Insurance Agency (VMIA) and disputes managed by Domestic Building Dispute Resolution Victoria (DBDRV).

Ensuring proper construction and waterproofing from the beginning is key to avoiding issues down the track which commonly result in disputes.

 

Common causes of leaking balconies

There are many factors that can contribute to the failure of balconies. Identifying the cause and addressing the issue can be challenging and costly. Common causes include:

• Poor detail and design of waterproofing systems: Often balconies have poorly detailed drawings, and the critical details are left up to trades on site to figure out. This can result in significant flaws in the balcony design that cannot be overcome with the application of a waterproof membrane. Some areas we commonly see issues with are sliding doors, parapet walls and structural posts that penetrate the floor.
• Subsill flashings: Flashings not installed or inadequately installed to the base of door openings.
• Inadequate fall: If water does not fall away from the building and towards drainage points, it can lead to water travelling toward the house and water pooling.
• Overflow: No overflow or inadequate overflow provisions.
• Balustrade post installation: Often we see balustrade posts being installed after the waterproof membrane has been installed. This results in holes being drilled into the membrane and eventual water ingress below the balustrade posts.
• Non-compliant waterproofing techniques: Incorrect installation or use of waterproofing membranes on balconies is a primary cause of water penetration.
• Poor substrate preparation: Waterproof membranes require a well-prepared and smooth substrate that is free of holes, low spots and loose material prior to the application of the membrane.
• Structural Movement: Buildings naturally settle and shift over time. Omission of control joints, fillets and bond breakers at junctions can cause the membranes to split and fail over time.

Ensuring proper design, material selection and construction methods are followed is essential to preventing water ingress and damage to your property.

 

What issues can a leaking balcony cause?

Water ingress occurs when water penetrates the building envelope, causing immediate or gradual damage to the structure. The longer water ingress is left untreated, the more severe the damage and the higher the repair costs. When there are habitable rooms below the balcony, the extent of damage is often greater.

• Structural damage over time to framing, floor joists, structural flooring, structural steel and other structural members which are integral to the stability of the home.
• Damage to internal linings such as carpets, plasterboard, timber flooring, internal timber trims etc.
• Growth of harmful mould which poses a risk to the health and safety of occupants.
• Damage to neighbouring properties or shared spaces, particularly in apartment and townhouses.
• Expensive repair costs. Often a non-compliant balcony can be difficult to rectify without demolishing it back to a bare frame and starting again.
• Safety issues: Further degradation of non-compliant balconies can compromise its load-bearing capacity and increase the risk of collapse.

Given the significance of the damage a leaking balcony can cause, it should never be ignored.

 

How to tell if I have a leaking balcony?

Early detection is key to avoiding extensive damage. Look out for these common warning signs:

• Water stains or bubbling paint on ceilings and walls adjacent to the balcony
• Mould growth or musty smells near the balcony area
• Loose, cracked or drummy tiles on the balcony surface.
• Efflorescence (white powdery residue) in the tile grout joints or around the perimeter of the balcony.

 

What to do if I have a leaking balcony?

• Be proactive: If you’re building a new home, an inspection during construction will highlight many non-compliant practices which can be rectified before construction progresses. The waterproofing of balconies is checked during our waterproof/fix stage inspection.
• Be wary of quick fixes: It is important to understand the root cause of the problem, covering up the issue with a band-aid approach such as sealing over the existing balcony may lead to further problems down the road and will only delay the inevitable.
• Get the facts: An inspection of the balcony by Manse Group should be able to determine the cause of the leak, to determine the most appropriate method to rectify it. Should a dispute occur, Manse Group can prepare a Building Expert Witness report to assist your case.

 

How can Manse Group help with my leaking balcony?

Manse Group specialises in water ingress and leak detection for leaking balconies and windows. Whether you have a new or established home and noticed the balcony is leaking, Manse Group can assist. We have in-depth knowledge of building codes and regulations regarding balcony construction and waterproofing.

Our Consultants are Registered Building Practitioners with extensive experience with leaking balconies, we also utilise specialist tools such as thermal imaging devices and moisture meters to assist in detecting moisture ingress.