Balconies are exposed to rain and sun on every side, and in many buildings they have gone decades without maintenance. When water reaches the reinforcement, the steel rusts, expands and cracks the concrete. From then on, the risk of pieces falling onto the street is real.
We repair and refurbish balconies for owners’ associations (comunidades de propietarios), from surface repairs to rebuilding cantilevered slabs.
Warning signs
- Cracks in the underside or the front edge of the balcony.
- Pieces of concrete or render coming away.
- Exposed, rusty steel.
- Damp patches on the soffit of the balcony below.
- Loose or broken floor tiles.
Failing to act in time can lead to material falling onto the public highway, greater damage to the structure, and enforcement notices or fines from the local council. If something has already fallen, see what to do when debris falls from a facade.
Types of repair
Surface repair
For minor damage: sealing cracks, replacing finishes and protective treatments.
Structural repair
When the damage is internal: cutting back the concrete, treating or strengthening the reinforcement and rebuilding with repair mortars.
Waterproofing
So that water does not get in again: waterproofing systems, new floor tiles and sealing of joints and drip edges.
How we work
Inspection
We check every balcony and assess whether there is an immediate risk; if there is, we make the area safe.
Diagnosis and proposal
We explain which balconies need which type of repair, with a detailed quote.
Repair
We cut back damaged concrete, treat the reinforcement, rebuild and waterproof.
Finishes
We replace render, paint and floor tiles so that everything looks uniform.
Balconies in residential blocks
In a building, the most efficient approach is to repair all the balconies at once: the cost per balcony goes down, the result is uniform and the same access equipment is used for all of them. It is also work that the building inspection (ITE) often calls for. From Viladecavalls (Barcelona) we work across Spain and on international projects.
Have a similar project?
We visit you, assess the building and give you a detailed, no-obligation quote.
Frequently asked questions about balconies
Is it compulsory to repair balconies?
If there is a safety risk, yes: the owners’ association has to act to stop material falling onto the street, and the local council can require it. It is also often required by the building inspection (ITE).
What does it mean if the steel in a balcony is showing?
That the reinforcement is rusting. Rust expands, cracks the concrete and makes it spall, so the damage keeps getting worse. The concrete has to be cleaned back, the reinforcement treated or strengthened and the area rebuilt with repair mortars.
Who pays for a balcony repair?
Normally the structure of the balcony and anything that forms part of the facade is paid for by the owners’ association. Anything for the exclusive use of one owner, such as the floor tiles, depends on what the association’s bylaws (estatutos) say.
