When does a balcony need refurbishing?

A balcony needs refurbishing when damage affects its waterproofing, load-bearing structure or safety. Cosmetic wear alone does not call for immediate refurbishment.

The warning signs depend on how the balcony is built. On a concrete balcony, look for continuous cracks, spalling and exposed or rusting reinforcement. On a timber balcony, look for structural members that give when pressed, signs of rot or discolouration, fungal growth and loose joints. On a metal balcony, look for heavy corrosion, distortion and defects in welds, bolted connections or fixings where the structure meets the building.

Some signs apply to balconies of any construction: damp, open joints, waterproofing that no longer keeps water out, standing water, loose floor coverings and an unstable balustrade. Damage to the load-bearing structure, its connections to the building or the balustrade directly affects the balcony’s stability and safety at its edge, and requires a professional survey. Work on historic balconies also requires experience of their particular construction and of the requirements that apply to listed buildings.

Before renewing the balcony surface, check the load-bearing structure, substrate, falls and drainage. Then carry out any necessary repairs and restore the waterproofing with a suitable elastic waterproofing system such as ALLESDICHT.

WARCO balcony tiles made from rubber granules with a PU binder are suitable as the visible wearing layer: they are weather-resistant and slip-resistant. On a suitable, sound substrate with adequate drainage, they can be laid loose rather than bonded to the substrate throughout. You can therefore also install them yourself.