​After experiencing scorching hot weather, especially over the Australia Day Long Weekend, summer is at its peak. Residents need to keep watch over lifting tiles on their property, a common issue which BellMont encounters, especially during hot climates. Lifting tiles, also known as tile delamination, is caused by the tiles not being bonded properly, lack of movement joints and thermal effects. Moisture (weather change or even a leaking or plumbing problem) can absorb through the concrete. The more water is absorbed, the higher risk of the tiles to expand and crack. 

​During summer, the tiles, if not properly installed at first, will start the “expanding state” caused by the moving of the surface below the tiles. The tiles will push against one another, causing strain and pressure, resulting the concrete to crack and the tiles to tent. When the climate is cool, buildings tend to contract and if cold is met with warm substance such as heaters, this creates a lot of pressure, causing the tiles to lift. Suitable adhesives and correctly spaced expansion joints are necessary in order to allow thermal movements to be accommodated. 

​Have your tiles been lifted? Are you experiencing raised surfaces? Get in touch with us today for an inspection on your property. 

There are many reasons as to why water may leak inside from sliding doors. One reason may be due to weep holes. These small holes are meant to drain water out of the door tracks, but, when clogged by dirt or debris they may cause water ingress. Another possibility is that the door frame could be improperly sealed. This deterioration can happen over time. Another reason may be that the frame is improper and not well-fitted to the sliding glass door. This may cause undesirable gaps that water can seep through.

This apartment building has shown significant signs of water damage by the sliding doors of the unit. But, the damage was caused by none of the above. BellMont investigated and concluded that the cause of damage in the old apartment complex was due to a lack of waterproofing membrane. The function of a waterproofing membrane would’ve prevented the water from seeping in from underneath the door.  Not only was there inadequate waterproofing membrane but the ground levels of both internal and external platforms were flush, encouraging water to drain inside rather than off the balcony. There was evident water damage in the swollen floorboards and further damage upon investigation seen in the concrete.

To rectify this issue, BellMont has recommended to remove the damaged flooring and to repair the concrete cancer located in the balcony ceiling. BellMont also advised to install a waterproofing membrane, in compliance with Australian Standards, at an upturn to stop further water ingress.
 
If your building has leaks and is showing signs of water damage, please get in contact with us immediately. Water damage can cause much more sinister structural defects if left too long. Check out our waterproofing services and more on our website today.

In this article we highlight the importance of drainage maintenance. It can take as little as one blocked drain to cause major water damage throughout your whole building.  

This unit has a terrace with a total of three drains. None of which had been cleaned. The drains had a piece of cloth placed over them. The purpose of this fabric was to prevent the pebbles from falling through and blocking the drain. BUT, the cloth hadn't been cleaned and began trapping silt to the point where even water couldn't drain through them and the drain was blocked completely. 

After a bit of rainfall, water began to pool. The only way it could drain was through a tiny weep hole leading back into the inside of the building shown below. As you could expect, this is not a good sign. 

The water seeped inside the building and has flooded the timber floorboards. 

This unit was on an upper floor of an apartment complex. The chain effect of dirty drains had now affected three more units, three levels below. 

So, check your drains people and clean them regularly to avoid this sort of catastrophic water damage. And if you do need some assistance, call BellMont out for an inspection. 

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A large portion of the construction industry relies on trade from China. In the wake of Coronavirus, the products such as joinery, facade materials, and structural steel are becoming harder to attain due to the shutting factories in China. The lack in supply of material is beginning to take a toll on the building supply chain resulting in a trade collapse. Many workers are concerned for their jobs in such an unstable economic climate, especially with high potential of a recession on our hands. 

The Government has responded to the COVID-19's economic threat by introducing a $17.6 billion economic stimulus package aimed "to encourage investment and to keep people in jobs." (Australian Government)