Balcony Waterproofing: Protecting Your Property and Structure

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Balcony Waterproofing

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Since balconies are outdoors and outdoor structures, they will always be exposed to the elements and require specific steps to properly waterproof. Although most balconies have a roof or an external cover, proper and thorough waterproofing is required to ensure that no water damage does not get through the subfloor. If this happens, it could cause damage to the structure as well as, in some instances, damage to those living below. 

Balcony waterproofing roofing is an integral component of maintaining the integrity of your property and its structure. In order to effectively shield your balcony from weather elements, selecting appropriate materials and techniques is vital to waterproof it properly. 

Proper waterproofing ensures water doesn’t seep through to cause potential structural damage below. Creating a slight slope to optimize drainage or using waterproof membranes are effective measures to safeguard both balconies and properties against flooding.

Balcony Waterproofing: Essential Steps

The following steps must be put in the right place when building a balcony.

A little slope

Balconies must be constructed with a slight slope to permit sufficient water drainage. In order to ensure the slope is adequate, there must be at least 1.5 centimeter gradient for each meter. If the minimum gradient isn’t followed, severe water damage could result from accumulating water and being incapable of moving away and draining effectively.

Substrate preparation

Like all flooring projects, the preparation of the floor is crucial to the final result of the flooring. The surface must be dry, clean, and free of dirt or other debris. Suppose a thorough cleaning process is not done and dirt or other debris is present on the substrate. In that case, the subsequent adhesion of flooring will be affected and result in sloppy flooring or vulnerable to damage. For more insights on flooring installation and maintenance, check out our informational blogs.

Sealing gaps, joints, and pipes

If you have any external plumbing and fittings for water, ensure that they are adequately waterproofed and sealed so that leaks don’t occur. The kind of leaks that can occur could cause more damage than natural elements because they’re constant, and frequently, they aren’t noticed till there’s a major issue that, by the time it is at that point, is very expensive to fix. Christmas lights are a great approach to saving money too.

Waterproofing

The process of waterproofing balconies is a meticulous procedure that must be carried out to ensure there is no structural damage to the building and the balcony beneath. When waterproofing the balcony (or any other area that is subject to continuous exposure to the elements), it’s recommended and the most effective to finish the work in the best possible way, in the beginning, to ensure that it won’t need to be rebuilt later on the line. 

An appropriate waterproofing membrane must be installed to waterproof a balcony properly. It is advantageous to waterproof both below and above the screen to ensure that the best protection is applied for the construction. 

Water storage facilities for excess

In the case of heavy rainfall, the excess water will require more channels to drain, so these drainage channels must be constructed into the structure of the balcony. It’s also crucial to ensure that the drains are sufficient and there’s an adequate quantity, particularly on balconies with large spaces. 

Flashing is also a factor to consider. Flashing is a thin piece of material put in place to block water from getting through horizontal or vertical joints in structures that are more susceptible to damage from water.

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Balcony Waterproofing

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