Balcony waterproofing Cape Town

Sometimes. Clear penetrating sealers and over-tile membranes work when tiles are sound and the leak is through grout. If water is trapped under the tiles, falls are wrong or tiles are drummy, they must come up for a lasting fix. A specialist should test before recommending either.

Usually because there is no membrane under the tiles, or it has failed at the edges, the drain or the door threshold. Water soaks through grout, travels along the slab and appears on the ceiling below. Finding the entry point is the first job.

North-westerly winter storms drive rain against doors and along tiles, testing every seal. Balconies with poor falls pond water for days. Doing balcony work in the dry summer gives membranes time to cure before the next winter.

Often. Posts bolted through the tiles into the slab create holes in the waterproofing, and if they are not sealed properly, water runs straight down. Side-fixed or properly sealed base plates reduce the risk. Check them whenever a balcony leaks.

Balcony waterproofing in Cape Town ranges from about R250 per m² for a clear sealer to R1,800 per m² for a full strip, membrane and retile. The right option depends on why it leaks, which is why a site inspection comes first. Ask for the scope and guarantee in writing.