Like everything else, the balcony gradually degrades over time and under the influence of weather conditions. Being on it is no longer as much fun as it used to be. This is a sign that it’s time for balcony renovation in Australia.
Thanks to it, the balcony will return to its former glory and become our oasis again. Of course, the best solution is to hire a team that will renovate the balcony efficiently and quickly. However, if we have a little practice, we can try to renovate the balcony ourselves.
How to start renovating your balcony and what to pay attention to
The basis for balcony renovation in Australia to prepare and insulate its surface before applying the finishing layer. The first work always involves dismantling the old finishing layer. You should remove the tiles and the surface layer that is inconsistent with the substrate, i.e., delaminated. This is a significant activity because it will be our foundation for further work. The next step is dismantling the eaves strips, if they were initially installed, and cleaning the safety barriers. You can start renovating the railings after removing the old balcony finishing and cladding elements. It is good to do this as the first step because paint drops will not stain the newly applied layer of balcony finishing.
Preparing the balcony for applying the finishing layer
The first stage should be priming the chipped balcony surface, which will bond the loose concrete particles to the surface. The next stage is to apply a layer of waterproofing, i.e., a specially dedicated mass, to the entire surface of the substrate, which is also a leveling layer. Attention should be paid to insulating the space for the balcony profiles with waterproofing, ensuring the eaves strip at the edge, and ensuring a jump, enabling the drip edge to be embedded in the balcony cladding. When leveling the balcony surface, make a slight slope so that the precipitation flows under the influence of gravity toward the balcony’s edge. In places susceptible to moisture, such as the junction between the balcony surface and the façade or where the eaves strip can be embedded, additional protection in the form of butyl sealing or non-woven sealing tape will be ideal. Another important thing is cutting expansion grooves if the balcony length requires it. Expansion grooves should be made every 2 m.
For balcony repair in Melbourne, it’s crucial to choose a reputable company with a proven track record of excellence and customer satisfaction.
Finishing the balcony
Once the substrate is prepared correctly, you can start the final stage, i.e., finishing works. First of all, you need to perform the flashing of the facade, i.e., embed the eaves strips, level them properly, and connect them with dedicated connectors. The strip embedded in the substrate should be additionally protected with a new waterproofing layer. Please remember that the embedded strip should not interfere with the free water flow toward the balcony’s edge. With the substrate prepared in this way, you can start the final stage of work, e.g., laying ceramic tiles or resin layers. It is necessary to check whether the tiles resist weather conditions and frost. The final stage of finishing work is to secure the space between the tiles with appropriate grout, which will protect the substrate against water getting into the deeper layers of the balcony. Tiles usually crack or come off the ground due to the freezing and thawing of water that gets under the tiles. With such a renovated balcony, it will likely serve you for many years.
Waterproofing Australia 