Water in the wrong place causes most of the building defects we repair. We investigate where it is getting in and install waterproofing that is designed, detailed and built to last.
Concrete cancer, rising damp, mould, drummy tiles, stained ceilings and cracked render almost always trace back to water getting somewhere it should not. That is why waterproofing is at the centre of our remedial work.
Remedial waterproofing is harder than new work. The membrane has to tie into existing structures, doors, drains and walls that were not always built with water in mind. The details, not the product, are where most failures happen: upturns, laps, penetrations, outlets and terminations.
We investigate first, then specify the right system for the location: liquid and sheet membranes for balconies and roofs, tanking and drainage for basements and retaining walls, and root-resistant systems for planters. External above-ground membranes are installed to AS 4654.2.
If any of these sound familiar, it is worth a free site visit. We will tell you straight what your site needs.
On ceilings under balconies, roofs and planters, or on walls next to wet areas.
Water seeping through basement or retaining walls, especially after heavy rain.
Persistent mould in one area usually means a persistent water source nearby.
Efflorescence shows water is moving through the wall and carrying salts out.
Tiles lifting or sounding hollow over a membrane that has let water in.
Water reaching the steel reinforcement, the start of concrete cancer.
Got a leak you cannot find? Tell us where the water shows up and when. That is often enough for us to narrow down the source.
Each location needs a different system and different details. We match the membrane to the job, not the other way around.
Full strip and replace, with correct falls, upturns, door waterstops and outlets.
Trafficable and non-trafficable membranes for concrete roofs and podium slabs over living areas and carparks.
Negative and positive side tanking, crack injection and drainage to stop water entering below ground.
Waterproofing and drainage behind walls that back onto habitable rooms or have started to seep.
Root-resistant membranes and proper drainage for planters built over slabs and living spaces.
Water testing and moisture mapping to find the actual entry point before we quote the fix.
A selection of recent waterproofing projects across Sydney.
View all projectsEvery waterproofing job follows the same five steps, from finding the leak to handover.
We attend site, inspect the defect and its surroundings, and identify the cause rather than just the symptom. Where needed we take photos, moisture readings and cover measurements.
We coordinate a remedial or structural engineer where required and agree a written scope of works that fixes the cause, not only the visible damage.
You receive a clear, itemised written quote with methodology, materials, access, programme and any approvals. No vague lump sums.
Our crew carries out the work to the engineer's specification and Australian Standards, with progress photos and hold-point inspections at each critical stage.
Final inspection, clean-up and a handover pack: photos, product data, engineer sign-off where applicable, and your statutory warranty under the Home Building Act 1989.
Photos of the membrane before it is covered, product data sheets, and flood testing where appropriate. The part that gets covered up is the part we document most.
Remedial waterproofing is detail work. We get the upturns, laps, outlets and terminations right, because that is where leaks start.
We diagnose why the defect happened. Patching over the symptom is why so many repairs fail twice.
DBP General Unrestricted (BUP4254812). Qualified for Class 2 apartment remedial work under the Design and Building Practitioners Act 2020.
Builder Licence 384697C, $20M public liability, workers compensation and HBCF cover where required.
We work with remedial and structural engineers from diagnosis to sign-off, so the fix is designed, not guessed.
Photos, product data, hold-point records and certification. Exactly what strata committees, insurers and buyers ask for.
Hands-on remedial and heritage work across Sydney since the 1970s, including jobs other builders turned down.
Real reviews from homeowners, strata and builders.
Constatine and his team did an excellent job repairing and waterproofing our garage ceiling and walls, which had been affected by concrete cancer and sandstone erosion. Constatine is highly experienced in remedial works and provided clear advice, transparent costings, and recommended the best products available to ensure a long-lasting result. We highly recommend METCON for specialist remedial works.
I couldn't be more pleased that I found Constatine and his team to assist our strata building with landscaping, waterproofing, and concrete cancer repairs. He was knowledgeable, reliable, patient, and deeply committed to achieving the best result for everyone involved. I am 100% confident that the work completed will stand the test of time. He will absolutely be my go-to moving forward, and I have no doubt we will work together again.
Excellent communication throughout. Constatine and his team were able to assist us immediately on an urgent government project, improved the plans we already had, and provided multiple options to suit our needs. Highly recommended.
Straight answers from the builder. Anything else, just ask.
Remedial building is the repair of defects, damage and deterioration in existing buildings, such as concrete cancer, leaking balconies, failed waterproofing, rising damp and cracked facades. The aim is to fix the underlying cause and restore the building's performance, not just its appearance.
For Class 2 apartment buildings in NSW, remedial work is regulated under the Design and Building Practitioners Act 2020. METCON holds DBP General Unrestricted registration (BUP4254812), so we can carry out that work and lodge the required declarations.
It depends entirely on the defect, its extent, access and the specification. A small concrete cancer patch is very different from a whole-building balcony programme. We inspect for free and provide an itemised written quote so you can see exactly where the money goes.
Residential building work in NSW carries statutory warranties under the Home Building Act 1989: six years for major defects and two years for other defects. We provide full documentation at handover.
Remedial problems rarely come alone. Leaks cause concrete cancer, damp causes render failure. We fix the whole chain.
Back to Remedial BuildingPlain-language guides from our team on the questions we are asked most.
Apartments, houses, terraces and commercial buildings right across Sydney and surrounding NSW.
Where the leak appears, when it happens and a few photos is usually enough for an initial view. We will book an inspection to confirm the source.
