Got another water ingress scenario, which existed prior to my purchase 2 years ago with both EC & SM knowledge and failed to resolve. The timber balcony wall with windows and a hinge door is on a red brick building pre 1974 bylaws. D’OH! Live and learn.
Expert opinions have found that worn away waterproofing on the balcony slab, external to the balcony wall has contributed to the water ingress. As has the way it was built, as per original 1965 design. That is no step between internal and external of the balcony wall to provide a physical barrier and no weep holes so the timber frame and original flashing is exposed with very harsh conditions an additional factor. Experts have highlighted that another possible cause of water ingress may be the cavity/damp course, however this can only be determined once the structure is removed. This aspect is included in waterproofing rectification recommended by builders who have provided quotes to rectify the problem.
We are currently close, I hope, to determining who is responsible and cost for each party (OC and myself). I’m shocked to find that private property includes the brickwork around the cavity, next to the timber balcony wall frame. This is due to the interpretation of a very unclear dotted line on a 1965 strata plan diagram.
Any advice?
Thanks also for the info already outlined, but I’m disadvantaged by our older bylaws.