Balcony Repair in Houston
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It's a difficult day for our customers when the ceiling underneath their balcony (either inside or outside) starts to show water stains. We have seen this happen many times before due to improper installations, problems with the cladding (such as stucco) and just plain old mother nature and father time.
Keeping the balcony flooring watertight and keeping the water at bay is a critical function of your home's balcony, especially if the balcony floor is on top of important parts of your home. Balconies aren't always an integral part of the home and many times they are built almost completely independently of each other (see figure 1). This is usually ideal because the balcony and its water mitigation capabilities can function independently of the home's water tightness. This is usually the case when a separate deck is built in an existing house and the balcony is an added feature.
However, many builders nowadays build the balcony as an integral part of the house, and the framing is monolithic with the home's framing. |
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Unfortunately, this creates a situation where the systems of the balcony and the home must work together to keep the home dry. It's not ideal to count on your balcony to be watertight in order for your home to stay dry, but unfortunately, that is an all too common case nowadays for many Houston homeowners.
Figure 1. When the balcony is built separately, there is less chance of water intrusion
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Figure 2. Moisture staining is one of the first signs of balcony damage but isn't necessarily a sign of major issues.
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Figure 3. A balcony with cracking cladding needs to be repaired and checked for possible moisture intrusion, which is best checked invasively by an inspector.
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Balcony Repair Work
Moisture staining on balconies is liable to happen on most balconies due to water, needing a place to run off to (see figure 2). When it moves, it takes with it dirt and grime from the environment and causes staining. The more severe the staining, the more probability that the water transport is happening through the cladding and not just on the surface, however, this is not always the case and it's very hard to deduce or prove where exactly the water may be coming from. We recommend calling us or a home inspector to help you determine this.
If the stucco on a balcony face is cracking, the crack must be repaired as soon as possible to avoid added water intrusion. Cracking is not necessarily a sign of water intrusion through the cladding, but excessive branched cracking could be especially if coupled with worrisome moisture staining or delaminating paint, stucco or mortar.
If the stucco on a balcony face is cracking, the crack must be repaired as soon as possible to avoid added water intrusion. Cracking is not necessarily a sign of water intrusion through the cladding, but excessive branched cracking could be especially if coupled with worrisome moisture staining or delaminating paint, stucco or mortar.
Balcony Leak Repair
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One of the most frustrating repairs to have to undertake is a balcony that's leaking water into itself or worse, into the structure of the home itself.
Most times a spot repair is not recommended due to the importance that the system has in keeping the area underneath it dry. We rebuild balconies with a system that repairs the flashings that protect the cladding (stucco, brick, stone, siding) and rebuild the flat waterproofing layer. The simplified order is steps is as follows on most repair jobs:
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The balcony shows signs of damage through moisture staining, cracking and delamination of paint. However, water damage can only be confirmed by an invasive probe.
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If you need a full replacement of your balcony system, give us a call at 832-720-6828.
Balcony Floor & Tile Repair
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Balcony floors may need repairs that help to protect the underlying membrane. These repairs sometimes help to mitigate water damages when done in advance and when the maintenance is upkept.
Repairing broken tiles or cracked flooring can help the system avoid some failures down the line. However, don't assume this is the only repair that is needed. There is also the option to apply a surface applied coating that acts as a surface applied flashing. It is not ideal to trust in the application of this system as the only method of managing water intrusion, but as a preventative measure, it definitely functions as a "cheap insurance" for the system. |
It won't hold back the tide if major problems are afoot, but it can serve to make a good system last that much longer. As with many other parts of the home, sometimes the small maintenance items can keep you from making larger expenditures down the line.
To explore your options, don't hesitate to give us a call today.
Call today at 832-720-6828.
To explore your options, don't hesitate to give us a call today.
Call today at 832-720-6828.
Why Hire Us as Your Balcony Repair Specialists?
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Our specialty in repairing balconies comes from repairing the whole balcony, cladding, flooring, framing, and other systems adjacent to a typical balcony.
Since stucco houses are usually luxury homes, many times balconies come included. For this reason, we have built and re-built many balconies over the years and have utilized an updated system that can outperform the builder grade materials and setups. We provide you with the following: * Recommendations for better railing mounting options (to improve water tightness) * A dual layer of membrane for protection against water (double the protection!) * A thorough check of the slope in the balcony * Options for mitigating water staining * Flooring options both stylish and functional * Installation of drainage relief * Warranty for work performed * Updated flashing installation to meet the most stringent building codes If these options sound like what you need on your next project, don't hesitate to give us a call at 832-720-6828. 832-720-6828 |
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Concrete Balcony Repair
You would think that because they poured a 4" thick concrete balcony a few stories up in the air that you would not have water problems with a concrete balcony.
However, this is not always the case. We have personally been on builder jobsites where the waterproofing membrane was poorly installed. Thereafter, the concrete was poured on top to give the water a larger barrier but still an imperfect barrier nonetheless.
We are able to completely demo these balconies and provide you with a better system. This is the best option when concrete balconies have been poured over other the structure.
However, this is not always the case. We have personally been on builder jobsites where the waterproofing membrane was poorly installed. Thereafter, the concrete was poured on top to give the water a larger barrier but still an imperfect barrier nonetheless.
We are able to completely demo these balconies and provide you with a better system. This is the best option when concrete balconies have been poured over other the structure.
Cantilevered Concrete Balconies
Alternatively, it could be that your balcony is cantilevered and made of solid concrete. This is actually a good thing.
These balconies themselves won't be affected by water (being made of solid concrete!), but they could be allowing water to leak through to areas that WILL be affected by water. We can assess your specific situation and give you a recommendation for flashing or repair that will keep the water away from the critical building components. Because these balconies can still be tied in the building and not functioning independently as far as water management is concerned, sometimes it may be necessary to do necessary repairs and improvements. Whatever the situation, give us a call and we will provide you with a proper solution for your specific case. Call us today at 832-720-6828 |
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