Balcony Waterproofing
Balconies fail more than any other exterior detail — poor falls, missed penetrations, cheap membranes. We install trafficable systems that survive UV, thermal cycling and foot traffic for the life of the tile.
Water tracks under tiles, saturates the screed, then reappears as ceiling stain on the level below.
Ardex WPM liquid systems bonded to primed substrate, cove bead at upstands, drainage cell over membrane, tile-bedded in polymer-modified mortar.
Cross-section.
What we deliver.
Common questions.
Do we have to remove all the tiles?+
For a compliant re-membrane, yes. Overlay systems exist but they change floor height and rarely meet AS 4654.2.
How do you handle the door threshold?+
The membrane turns up 150 mm minimum behind the door frame, dressed into a bond breaker at the threshold. This is the single most common failure point — we detail it explicitly.
Can you install over timber decking?+
Not directly. Timber deflects; membranes crack. We overlay with compressed cement sheet fixed to spec, then membrane.
How long before we can tile?+
24–48 hours depending on ambient conditions and membrane thickness.
Do you flood test?+
Every balcony. 24-hour static test with photo documentation before tile goes down.