In short: Upstairs balconies are common on Gables homes and they are waterproofed decks over living rooms. Three of our recent findings show where they go wrong.
The drain was too small
At fixing stage on a Gables home in May 2026 the balcony floor drain was undersized for the area it served. In a heavy storm a small drain backs up, and water looks for another way out, often at the door threshold.
The membrane missed the overflow
At handover on another Gables home the waterproofing membrane did not terminate into the overflow outlet. The overflow is the backup when the drain blocks, and it only works if water arriving at it is still above the membrane.
The tiles were on dabs
On a Gables balcony that same month the tiles had been spot-fixed on dabs of adhesive rather than a full bed. Hollow tiles crack under furniture and foot traffic, and the voids beneath hold water against the membrane.
Why the timing matters
The drain and the membrane can be seen at fixing and waterproofing stages. By handover the tiles cover them, which is why a balcony is worth a look before the tiler, not only after.
Written by our local inspection team from work carried out in Gables. Licensed building practitioners, NSW Fair Trading licence 366177C.
