CAWS repairs leaking balconies across Perth, on apartments, townhouses and family homes. We find where the water is getting in, replace the failed waterproofing membrane properly, and repair any concrete cancer the leak has already caused in the slab.
Signs your balcony is leaking
Water stains, bubbling paint or mould on the ceiling below
Drummy, cracked or lifting tiles
White salt deposits in the grout or along the balcony edge
Rust stains or cracking along the slab edge
Damp skirting boards or carpet just inside the door
Water sitting on the balcony long after the rain has stopped
Why balconies leak
Tiles and grout are not waterproof on their own. Almost every balcony leak comes back to the membrane underneath them: one that was applied too thin, never taken up the walls and under the door sill, not bonded into the drain, or has simply reached the end of its life. Once water gets past it, it soaks into the slab and finds its way out wherever it can.
Cross section of a typical tiled balcony. The numbers match the causes below: 1 membrane, 2 slab crack, 3 floor to wall junction, 4 drain and falls.
How we fix a leaking balcony
Find the cause. We inspect the balcony, the ceiling below and the slab edge, and test where needed, before we scope anything.
Strip back. Where the membrane has failed, the tiles, bedding and old membrane come up so the repair starts from sound concrete.
Repair the concrete. Concrete cancer is broken out and the steel treated, cracks are repaired, and falls to the drain are corrected.
Install a new membrane. A reinforced membrane system suited to the balcony is applied in the right thickness, dressed up the walls, under the door sill and into the drain.
Finish. The balcony is retiled, or finished with a decorative flake or trafficable coating.
Hand over. We photograph the finished work, so you have a record.
New membrane dressed into the drain on a residential balconyDecorative flake finish on a canal home balcony
Strata buildings and homes
Strata. One balcony or a whole building. We provide clear scopes for councils of owners and strata managers, and program the work around residents.
Homes. Balconies over living areas and garages, upstairs decks and entry landings.
Balcony repairs on a coastal apartment blockBalcony remediation on a strata building
Common questions
Can a leaking balcony be fixed without lifting the tiles?
Sometimes. Resealing grout or applying a clear sealer can slow a minor leak, but if the membrane under the tiles has failed, the lasting fix is to lift the tiles and replace it. We will tell you honestly which one your balcony needs.
Can a leaking balcony cause concrete cancer?
Yes. Water reaching the steel in the slab is one of the most common causes of concrete cancer on Perth balconies, which is why we check the slab edge and the ceiling below on every balcony job. Read more about concrete cancer repair.
How long does it take?
It depends on the size of the balcony, the concrete repairs needed underneath and the curing time between coats. We give you a program with the quote.
Do you work outside Perth?
Yes. We work across Perth and Peel, and regularly in Bunbury, Geraldton and other parts of regional WA.
