Communal courtyard waterproofing - Cardigan Street apartments, Carlton
Real results from commercial and multi-residential buildings across Melbourne.
Problem
The Cardigan Street Apartments in Carlton faced serious waterproofing issues with their shared main courtyard and planter boxes leaking into the basement car park below, causing damage to residents’ cars and stored items.
Symptoms identified
- Active water leaks from courtyard into basement car park
- Damage to cars and storage cages below
Efflorescence on car park ceiling - Moisture readings above 15%
- Visual evidence of active leaks
Urgency factors
- Concrete cancer – cracks in concrete columns and rusted reinforcement bars
- Ongoing property damage to residents’ vehicles and belongings
- Structural integrity concerns
- Potential liability issues for building management
Solution
Our team conducted a comprehensive assessment identifying that the planter boxes and courtyard were the primary sources of water infiltration. We diagnosed absence of membrane, improper drainage, substrate issues, and structural problems requiring renovation.
Recommended solution
Demolition of planter boxes, correction of slope to drain, substrate preparation and implementation of a waterproofing system using a polyurethane liquid membrane.
Materials and methods
- Polyurethane liquid membrane (two coats at 600 microns, 1.2mm wet film thickness)
- Reinforcement bars and concrete pour
- Bond breakers and leak control flanges
- Epoxy grout for enhanced waterproofing
- Caulking materials
- Installation compliant with Australian Waterproofing standard AS 4654.2-2012 for above-ground courtyards
- Concrete work following Australian Standard AS 3600 for design and construction of concrete building structures
Implementation process
- Demolition phase: Removed existing planter box walls and addressed structural issues with reinforcement bars below courtyard level.
- Substrate preparation: Corrected slope to ensure 1:100 fall by screeding, removed contaminants through grinding, and ensured clean, dry surface before priming.
- Reinforcement installation: Installed reinforcement bars and filled planter boxes with concrete to create proper fall directing water to drains.
- Waterproofing application: Installed bond breakers, leak control flanges on drains with butyl tape, and applied polyurethane liquid membrane in two coats.
- Finishing work: Tiled with epoxy grout for extra waterproofing security and caulked all tile joints.
- Quality testing: Flood tested entire courtyard using flood test balloons to ensure complete waterproofing success.
Challenges Overcome
- Planter box floors were lower than finished courtyard level, requiring installation of starter bars and concrete construction as per AS 3600.
- Managing waterproofing terminations between private and main courtyard areas to ensure proper system boundaries
Solution
All previous leaks were completely corrected, with successful flood testing confirming the waterproofing system’s effectiveness. The courtyard is now fully functional and leak-free.
Long-term benefits
- Complete elimination of water damage to basement car park
- Protection of residents’ vehicles and stored items
- Restored structural integrity of the building
- Enhanced property value and resident satisfaction
- Improved building aesthetics with restored main entrance
Additional value delivered
As part of our commitment to customer satisfaction, we identified and repaired the damaged timber frame and wall panels at the main entrance that were deteriorating due to water damage – provided as a complimentary service.
Service: Leak detection, courtyard waterproofing
Application: Polyurethane liquid membrane
Solution: Planter box removal, courtyard waterproofing, drain repairs, tiling, caulking
Time to complete: Four months
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