Balcony waterproofing and other methods to protect your property's balcony this Summer
As a Portuguese property owner, you know just how important it is to maintain your building. Whether it’s keeping up with the maintenance issues or protecting
your investments, these tasks can surely add up over time. But when it comes to preserving the longevity of your building and its aesthetics, balcony waterproofing should be top priority on your list.
Not only will this prevent essential damage from occurring due to weather elements, but also keep your most valuable asset in tip-top condition for years to come! In this blog post,
we’ll discuss why protecting your balconies against weather extremes and
moisture exposure is crucial – read on to learn more!
Balcony Drainage and Cracks
Water is known to often pool on balconies, therefore balcony waterproofing is essential as it can lead to leakage and property damage. It is vital to regularly inspect your balcony to help identify the potential risks.
Water will likely pool on a balcony with obstructed drainage, poor drainage falls, structural sagging, or settling. Problems may emerge if your Portuguese property is not regularly cleaned thoroughly enough.
It’s important to ensure blockages are not created and the grout especially is cleared of any impurities and particles that could cause cracking or blockage to your drainage system. In winter conditions, this water may freeze and produce ice, which may grow and crack within those minute surface cracks, making them larger. Each freeze-thaw cycle will cause more fissures and water penetration as more water enters.
Balcony waterproofing can really help with isolating drainage issues and prevent further structural damage. It’s important to recognize that even though this process can involve more work than you think, it is a crucial part of protecting your Portuguese property.
Loose Balcony Handrails
Handrails that move when pushed or leant on are a huge warning indicator of further structural damage so it is vital to inspect the entire balcony not just the railing. In addition to being a potential threat to public safety, they could violate the building code. Plus, they almost always serve as an early warning indication of problems in the slab itself or the factors that contribute to problems.
You will detect movement between the plate holding the handrail and the slab in areas where there is a loose handrail. These areas are the ones where the handrail is fastened to the slab. If the gap where the railing post penetrates the concrete is not properly caulked, or if the quality of the caulking deteriorates over time, water will be able to seep in. This will eventually cause the posts and the screws that are holding them in place to rust. This causes further cracks, which in turn enable more water to enter, further eroding the stability of the posts.
Balcony Netting
Pigeon mesh, balcony screen, balcony fabric, and other forms of balcony netting are all included under the umbrella term “balcony netting.”.
No matter what you choose to call it, apartment balcony netting is an extremely important component of bird control systems designed for balcony use. For starters, having pigeons make their homes on the balconies of your apartment building can be a major source of frustration. They need to be prevented from accessing the floor, ledge, and rails of your balcony in any way, shape, or form. Unless you do something to prevent it, these birds will continue to return to your location.
As you can see above these nets can also provide security for things like pets small children and provide a safer experience for your guests. It is also important to note that the professional installation of these nets is not just vital for safety, but for the over all aesthetic of the property, as improper fitting could be an eyesore!
Double-Coat Sealer
The use of double-coated premium sealer on the exterior of your balcony will further protect your property from weathering and additional coastal factors. Introducing the use of a waterproof membrane is an additional way to protect your balcony and tiles during more testing times.
Flexible Polymer Seal
The installation of flexible sealant accounts for minute structural fluctuations. This is even more relevant with coastal properties due to the further slight increase. Using a product like this will prolong the waterproofing and structural quality of your Portuguese balcony space.
We get it, it seems like a lot of work, but holiday makers love a balcony and maintaining and even installing yours within your rental property will make it so much more attractive to future guests!
