The balcony in the early stages of reconstruction, with the existing tiles and screed removed to expose the slab for structural repairs and complete re-waterproofing.
The completed balcony following slab repairs, improved falls and drainage, reinforced waterproofing, a flood test, and new tiles.
Saigon, on Kloof Street in Gardens, was still getting leaks from their balcony slab despite having the waterproofing redone back in 2023. Water was getting in around the support columns, into sections of the kitchen, and through the centre of the balcony. The goal wasn’t another patch — it was to completely reconstruct the waterproofing system and fix the drainage so the leaks wouldn’t just come back again.
Around 120m² of existing tiles and screed were removed to expose the concrete slab. Cracks and other defects were repaired, and the old internal outlets were closed off. Counter-flashing was completed along the adjoining walls and underneath the doors, to strengthen the waterproofing at these vulnerable junctions. New screed was laid with the correct falls to direct water to the drainage points, then a reinforced cementitious waterproofing system was applied across the whole slab before retiling. Three new flanged drainage outlets were core-drilled into the slab and connected to new painted downpipes. Before tiling went down, the whole balcony was flood-tested to confirm the leaks were actually resolved. The project took just over a month, completed in March 2026.
The waterproofing here had already been redone once, in 2023 — and it still leaked, because several drainage and waterproofing details across the slab were never properly addressed the first time. That’s why the whole system had to be reconstructed, including the areas under the doors and around the columns, not just resealed on top.
Frequently Asked Questions
We already had our balcony waterproofed once — why did it still leak? +
Usually because the membrane alone isn't the whole system. If the falls, the outlets, or the detailing around doors and columns aren't right, water still finds a way in even with a new membrane down.
What's a flood test, and why does it matter? +
Before tiling goes down, the whole waterproofed area is flooded with water and left to sit, so any weak points show up while the surface is still exposed and easy to fix — not after it's tiled over.
How long does a full balcony reconstruction like this take? +
For a slab this size — full strip-back, structural repairs, waterproofing, and retiling — it typically runs just over a month.
Need waterproofing work like this done properly?
Reach out to Ikapa Waterproofing and Roofing for tailored solutions in Cape Town.