Your balcony with the tile flooring is much more waterproof than traditional wood or cement, right? You would be wrong. Many home and business owners believe that installing tile on their balcony will instantly waterproof your balcony, but little do they know what is going on underneath that tile. That tile could hide water damage until it’s too late. So, what is a home or business owner to do?
Make sure your tile is installed correctly on your balcony to ensure a water-tight seal.
Water damage on tile balconies in Los Angeles
Tile balconies can fail for a variety of reasons -- from deck design to maintenance to adhesives used in the construction.
One of the most simple design elements is also the most crucial in the success of your balcony: slope. Yes that’s right. You want your deck to have a very slight slope (about 2%) -- just enough for water to flow over the side of the deck, but not so steep that your deck furniture slides down.
In addition to slope, the choice of materials is also instrumental in the success of your balcony. How tiles are fastened together plays a large part in keeping the grout lines from cracking or tiles from popping off. If that happens, you’re looking at possible water infiltration sites. The assembly of the tile also has to be very stiff and flat to reduce the spring or give of the deck surface. Flatness is imperative. Why? If there are any bumps, it is inviting water to the pool, which will cause rot. It also is not very easily corrected. Any flatness issues must be dealt with before the waterproofing membrane is applied.
How to avoid water damage on tile balconies in Los Angeles
Given that tile balconies can have issues with water damage, how can you avoid that? There are steps that can be taken during the design and construction process that can keep your tile balcony safe from water damage.
- Deflection: Tile is pretty rigid and cannot sustain many bands, or deflection. This causes grout lines to crack. Water can then seep into those cracks and undermine the balcony. The flooring materials used must be of a proper thickness to avoid this cracking from happening. The materials must also be installed so as to avoid cracking from deflection.
- Slope: You want the water to flow off the balcony and onto the ground. A 2% slope is recommended for balconies.
- Waterproofing Membrane: A waterproofing membrane should be installed
- Cement Board Overlay: A cement board overlay is recommended. With proper waterproofing or roofing protection, a concrete balcony is suitable for tile application.
- Flatten the Surface: Any dips or depressions need to be taken out of the deck surface before the waterproofing membrane is installed. Since water will not go through the waterproofing membrane, if the dip has been flattened, any water reaching it will be shed away.
How to avoid leaky tile balconies in Los Angeles
Again, materials and design make all the difference in avoiding a leaky tile balcony in Los Angeles.
Balcony Materials
Tile and grout are not known for their flexibility, but balconies do require a little bit of deflection in order to perform. For that reason, you want to pick a higher-priced thin-set mortar for your tile. These tend to have better polymer additives, allowing for more movement. As temperature changes throughout the year, that causes the materials on your balcony to move. All the while, that thin-set mortar is trying to hold the tile in place. The better quality the thin-set, the longer it continues to provide adhesion.
You also want to make sure you choose the right kind of tile for your balcony. Some failures of tile balconies come down to the tile chosen. You would not want to install slate tile in regions with annual freeze/thaw cycles. That causes the stone to flake apart. Porcelain or ceramic tiles make a better choice. Deck tiles also make a good option.
Balcony Installation
The skill of the tile setter is extremely important to the success of your tiled balcony. Any gaps in coverage will provide space for water to collect. Waterproofing is all about the details. Special attention should be paid to corners, door openings, posts, walls, drains, perimeters and railing attachments. While it is almost impossible to avoid pockets of air, the goal is to get at least 95% of your balcony covered.
Are you thinking about getting tile installed on your balcony? Call the experts at Balcony Creations. We will make sure your tile is installed properly so your balcony is ready for your enjoyment year-round.