How to fix balcony gap between tiles and sheeting?

Alex360

We recently discovered theres a gap between the vertical edge of our balcony tiles and the wall sheeting. The height of the vertical tiles is low enough that during heavy rains, water builds up and overflows into the wall and down to the floor below the balcony. It is a cramped or tight space, not easy to access. I can get my fingers in. Is there a sealant or epoxy or something I can use or apply to seal the gap to prevent water overflowing?

Photos below

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MitchellMc

Welcome to the Bunnings Workshop community @Alex360. It's tremendous to have you join us and many thanks for your question on sealing a balcony.

That’s a bit of a tricky one.

Ideally, a balcony should be graded so water flows toward the drain and doesn’t have the chance to build up like that. In heavy rain, you might still get some pooling, but water overflowing into the wall suggests something isn’t quite right. Balconies should also have a waterproofing membrane, so if water is escaping over that edge, it could mean the membrane isn’t doing its job, which is a bit concerning.

You’re right that it’s a very tight space to work in. A flexible sealant like Sikaflex 11FC would be a good option for sealing that gap, as it adheres well and stays flexible. The challenge will be physically getting it in there neatly with a standard caulking gun. If access is too tight, you might have better luck with a squeeze tube version of a similar sealant, which can be easier to control in confined spaces.

Another option could be to apply a bead of Sikaflex along a length of aluminium bar or angle and then stick that over the gap on the vertical tile surface.

Before sealing, try to make sure the gap is as clean and dry as possible so the sealant bonds properly.

It might be worth having a licensed water-proofer take a closer look, as it could point to a bigger waterproofing or drainage issue rather than just a surface gap.

Let me tag @Nailbag and @Dave-1 to see if they have any thoughts.

Please let me know if you have any questions.

Mitchell