Understanding Balcony to Wall Interface Rehabilitation for Repairing Water Damage

When waterproofing has failed on the balconies of multi-residential buildings, particularly condos or apartments, the costs involved in repairing wood rot can be staggering. However ensuring the project is done correctly and avoids further need for repair in the future makes the investment well worth the cost.

We'd like to invite you to check out a great visual provided by RDH Building Science and Technology (see link at bottom of page) that will help you understand the changes in technology that result in a more durable detail. This excellent sequence shows you how best practices take a 6-level system to a 17-level system and provide the most security and confidence that your building envelope is protected at the vulnerable deck to wall intersection. Once the rehabilitation has been done, it looks virtually identical to the original detail from the outside, but it is what is going on underneath that is important to understand.

Important Detail on Working With the Vinyl Membrane in Multi-Layer Systems

One of the critical details on the best practices is to ensure that there is a separation layer between any asphalt based products and the vinyl membrane. Products that are asphalt based and the plasticizers in the vinyl membranes can cause the asphalt to "flow". This is particularly noticeable with rubberized asphaltic "peel and stick" types of products commonly used for waterproofing transitions at doors, windows, etc.



An Asphalt Based Peel and Stick product softened and flowing on PVC.

In summary, here is a comparison of the steps involved in an older system as compared to best practices that exist today.

Old Methods	New Technology Best Practices
1-Interior Gypsum 2-Framing 3-Insulation 4-Sheathing 5-Deck Membrane 6-Cladding	1-Interior Gypsum 2-Framing 3-Insulation 4-Sheathing 5-Building Paper 6-Membrane Flashing 7-Building Paper 8-Framing 9-PVC Coated Metal Flashing 10-Deck Membrane 11-Membrane Isolation Strip 12-Building Paper 13-Membrane Flashing 14-P.T. Strapping 15-Paper Backed Metal Lath 16-Stucco Base Coat 17-Stucco Color Coat

Again, we encourage you to check out this great RDH Balcony to Wall Interface Rehabilitation Graphic Sequence for a thorough understanding of what is going on under the surface in waterproofing projects.

If you'd like to inquire about a Rehabilitation project, call Duradek to be referred to a trained and authorized installer near you.