Balcony Concrete Cancer in Newcastle

A balcony slab is where concrete cancer is most often seen from the inside of a home: a rust stain, a flaking edge, a bare bar. In a strata scheme the NSW Government says the owners corporation is responsible for common property repairs, and any contractor doing building or trade work over A$5,000 in labour and materials, including GST, needs a NSW contractor licence.

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What balcony concrete cancer in Newcastle actually involves

If there are cracks or pores in the concrete then water may seep in and react with the steel reinforcing to form rust. Concrete cancer is therefore a problem because the corrosion product is bigger than the metal from which it formed and also because the portion of the material that provides the strength is corroding. A balcony is exposed to weather on more than one face, which is why the damage is looked for at the edge and underneath.

The corner of an older apartment balcony slab with a rust-stained broken corner and a bare bar — balcony concrete cancer, Newcastle. Illustrative example.

Who deals with it in an apartment block

The owners corporation is responsible for maintenance and repair of common property – owners repair anything in their own property. The owners corporation plans and pays for repairs to common property, including fixing defects. If you can’t find the answer to who should make a repair, check your strata plan and by-laws. Which parts of a balcony are common property depends on the scheme, so this page says no more than that.

Ask the strata manager or committee before arranging anything on a balcony, and ask the provider what the quote assumes about the slab edge and the steel under it.

Flaking concrete at the base of a balcony balustrade upstand with a bar showing — balcony concrete cancer, Newcastle. Illustrative example.

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