A Building Inspection Could Uncover a Leaking Balcony

A Building Inspection Could Uncover a Leaking Balcony

When carrying out a Pre-purchase inspection on a home with a balcony my first thoughts are it is likely to be leaking and has the vendor recently repaired and painted the balcony underside to conceal a defect. Yes, we often see recently patched and painted balcony undersides however no evidence of waterproofing or tile replacement rectification on the balcony surface. We are of the opinion over 60% of balconies over 10 years of age have leaking issues.

Tiled Balconies

Tiled balconies can suffer damage from leaks originating in a number of ways. It is likely that the tiled balcony was not waterproofed properly in the first place during construction. Balcony waterproofing membranes can also become damaged during installation. Generally our opinion is a poor knowledge of building standards and inadequate installation of these standards. Damage can also occur from background movement or expansion of building materials resulting in leaks occurring and the waterproof membrane been compromised. Even if the waterproofing is providing the barrier that it should, flooding can still occur due to an inadequate fall in the balcony surface to shed water. If the balcony is walled in with a dwarf wall surround we often see a poor fall to the drainage ports within the balcony. The QBCC has identified that leaking balconies are now in the top three defects in Residential dwellings.

Depending on how your balcony is constructed, any moisture damage may seriously compromise structural integrity. Leaking through the balcony surface can lead to gradual deterioration and extensive wood decay occurring to the structural timbers (most residential dwelling balconies are constructed with timber supports). Balconies are usually elevated structures and this type of damage represents a serious risk of injury or even death if the structure collapses as a result. All elevated structures especially balconies should be inspected annually. Leaving your balcony unchecked may result in significant repairs that could have been avoided with regular building inspections.

Our Pre-purchase building inspections provide the purchaser with a written section within the Building Report on any evidence to suggest;

1. Is the Balcony Leaking?
2. Does the balcony have adequate fall to shed water?
3. Is the drainage installed adequate?
4. Are tiles cracked or separation evident at the step down and face edges?
5. Are balustrade fixing penetrations in accordance with Australian Standards?
6. Any other notable defects present?