A great many balconies in these towers were enclosed by owners rather than by the builder, some of them a long time ago and most without much thought about drainage. Those are now failing, and they fail in the same way for the same reason, which makes them straightforward to diagnose and worth understanding before repairing.
Why a retrofitted balcony enclosure fails at the base
Rain gets past any sliding track, so an enclosed balcony needs somewhere for water to go.
Most of these were sealed solid at the base, because that looked like the way to keep water out.
So water collects in the frame with no outlet, sits there, and corrodes it from inside. That is why these fail at the bottom rail while the rest looks sound, and it is why replacing the glass alone achieves nothing at all.
Putting the drainage right during a repair
When we repair one of these, the base is the part that gets opened up rather than the part that gets left.
We check where the balcony's original outlet is, clear it, and build a drainage path through the enclosure base back to it.
That is invisible once finished and it is the difference between a repair that lasts and one that fails the same way in three years. It also usually costs less than the glass, which makes it an easy thing to recommend.
Whether to repair or replace the enclosure
Where the frame has corroded through at the base, welding a patch into an aluminium section is not a lasting repair and we would not offer it.
Where the corrosion is limited to the bottom rail, replacing that section and keeping the rest is often possible.
And where the whole thing has gone, it is worth taking the opportunity to fit something with drainage designed in rather than added. We tell you which of the three yours is at the survey rather than quoting the largest one by default.
How the job works
- Tell us about the jobSend a few photos, rough sizes and what you need. Use WhatsApp or the form. For a repair, a short video of the door moving helps a lot.
- We call you back in about 2 minutesWe confirm what you need and a time to visit. Where we can, we give you a rough price on the call.
- We come and measureWe measure the opening and check the walls, floor and ceiling around it. Anything made to size is made to these measurements, so they must be right.
- You get a written priceIt lists each item, with GST as its own line. If anything about the job changes, we tell you before we go ahead.
- We fit itYou approve the price and pay the advance. Our own team fits the work, checks that every door and window opens and closes properly, and clears up. Most jobs are done in 3 to 4 days.
