Waterproofing failures are some of the most expensive building defects we deal with, and they are almost always preventable. The Sunshine Coast climate is particularly hard on membranes, since extreme UV from October through March speeds up oxidation, while the high humidity cycle forces constant expansion and contraction in the substrate underneath.
The three most common failure points
- Balcony membrane edge terminations: the most common failure point on buildings over ten years old
- Upstand height: an inadequate height allows water to pool against the building substrate
- Penetrations: plumbing and drainage penetrations that were never properly sealed at installation
Inspection without disruption
The good news is that a proper membrane inspection does not require scaffolding or any disruption to residents. Our rope access team can inspect and document every balcony on a twenty storey building in a single day, with a full photographic condition report ready by the end of the week.
When to act
If your building is more than ten years old and has not had a waterproofing inspection since original construction, you are overdue for one. The cost of a rope access inspection is a fraction of what you will spend on remediation once water is already moving through the structure.
