Client: Paragon Apartment Management + The Strata Collective
Contractor: ACM
Location: Pyrmont, NSW
Just a short walk from Darling Harbour, Pyrmont’s apartment buildings are designed to make the most of Sydney’s harbour lifestyle. Balconies and landscaped planter boxes provide valuable outdoor space, but they are also among the most exposed elements of any residential development. As waterproofing systems age, moisture can find its way into concealed structural elements, causing damage that often extends well beyond the visible signs. For one owner’s corporation on Pyrmont Street, what first appeared to be isolated moisture ingress had developed into a problem requiring specialist remedial engineering and design.
Planter box before remediation.
Planter box after remediation.
Blistering paint, moisture staining to the apartment below and persistent dampness along the shared balcony walls all pointed to a waterproofing failure that had progressed over time. Partridge’s investigation traced the path of moisture through the balcony and integrated planter box, allowing the team to develop a remediation strategy that addressed the underlying cause rather than simply repairing the visible damage.
Partridge was engaged to investigate the deterioration, prepare a comprehensive scope of works and deliver a Design and Building Practitioners Act compliant drawing package. The objective was to permanently eliminate moisture penetration through the balcony and planter box while restoring the long-term performance of the concrete structure.
Following a competitive tender process, a contractor was appointed and work commenced with the removal of the existing tiles, waterproofing membrane and screed to expose the concrete slab. This provided access for detailed inspection and the repair of concrete spalling caused by corrosion of the reinforcing steel, restoring the slab’s strength and durability.
During the investigation, it was also identified that the existing balcony sliding doors no longer complied with current wind and water performance requirements. Replacing the doors with new high-performance units formed an important part of the remediation strategy, helping improve the resilience of the building envelope.
Once the structural repairs were complete, new screed and waterproofing membranes were installed across both the balcony and planter box before the tiled finish was reinstated. The design also incorporated new cavity flashings to intercept any moisture entering the wall cavity and safely discharge it to drainage, preventing it from migrating into the internal walls of the apartment below.
The project concluded with protective coating systems applied to all exposed balcony surfaces. Alongside refreshing the appearance of the balconies, these coatings provide an additional layer of protection against the elements, helping preserve the repaired structure and extending the service life of the remediation works.
Balcony floor following remediation.
Refreshed balcony with new waterproofing and weather protection.
