You love having a balcony in your house because it extends your living space and gives you an area to look out to unobstructed views outside. But you forgot that having this addition to your house also includes the responsibility to maintain it. In fact, building code requires all homeowners to constantly inspect balconies, decks and terraces for damage, deterioration and leaks.
But it’s still not too late to get that started and look for these five signs that tell you it’s time to call the experts in balcony leak repairs:
- There’s efflorescence on your tiles.
One of the most obvious signs of a leaky balcony is efflorescence, which is essentially white crusting on your tiles. This is caused by efflorescent salt that has accumulated through your tile grout from the water that may be pooling under your tiles. When efflorescences appear, this is a sign that a leak has been going on in your balcony for a long time and that a repair should be done right away to avoid further damage to the space.
- You see visible water stains on the ceiling below the balcony.
When you start to see water stains or marks on the ceiling below your balcony, it is a telltale sign of a leak that could be caused by some problems with the sealant in your tiles. The moment you see these marks, make sure to have the problem addressed right away before the damage gets worse and more expensive to fix.
- You notice damages in your tiles and grout.
It does not take long before you can see some obvious signs that your balcony has leaks. If you notice that there are movements or cracks in your tiles or you have missing grout, it could mean that water is already seeping through the membrane and under your flooring, causing all of these damages. Now if you keep ignoring these signs, thinking that they could be natural wear and tear, it won’t be long until your tiles will have bigger cracks or your grout will completely give out that you would need to replace your entire flooring, which is more costly and problematic.
- You see pools of water on the balcony.
While it is normal to have water patches or pools of water during the rainy season, having them during summer could be a manifestation that there’s a leak on your balcony. One of the most common reasons for this issue is that your tiles have been applied incorrectly, causing the water to pool instead of drain away from your floor. If not addressed right away, this could turn into a complete disaster that would cost you a lot more money than you would like.
- You start to notice mould and mildew.
Finally, if you start seeing mold and mildew growth in your balcony, it’s a strong indication that there’s a leak that’s causing the moisture to stay in that space and fostering this growth that could be a potential health hazard to you and your family. So before things get worse—or someone gets sick—make sure to have the problem addressed right away.
Having a balcony is definitely a great addition to your home because you have that extra space to relax and enjoy indoor-outdoor living. But you also need to be responsible for maintaining this extra space in your house to make sure that you can enjoy it for a long time and not pose any health and safety hazards to you and your family.