When a property with a flat roof terrace goes to mortgage, valuers and lenders are increasingly asking a specific question: is there documentation confirming the waterproofing beneath the terrace was not compromised during installation?

For properties where the terrace was installed using a penetrative balustrade and deck system — where posts were drilled through the membrane — that question is difficult to answer. The penetrations were made by a separate contractor. The membrane warranty has in most cases been voided. There is no single document confirming the waterproofing status of the assembly as a whole.

What does a BalcoDeck installation mean for your mortgage valuation?

Well, for properties with a BalcoDeck installation, the answer is straightforward.

What the Certificate of Compliance confirms

Every BalcoDeck installation is completed with a Certificate of Compliance covering structural loads, wind loads, fire rating, building regulations compliance and material specifications. It is issued by Balconette — the company that designed, manufactured and installed the system — and it confirms that the installation was made on top of the finished waterproof membrane without penetrating, drilling or otherwise disrupting it.

For a valuer or lender reviewing a property with a BalcoDeck installation, this certificate provides the documentary evidence they are looking for. The membrane was not touched. The waterproofing contractor’s warranty was not voided. The two documents — the membrane warranty and the BalcoDeck Certificate of Compliance — sit alongside each other, covering different elements of the same assembly.

Why this matters for developers and homeowners

A roof terrace that cannot be evidenced as waterproofing-safe is a liability at the point of sale. Lenders applying retentions, surveyors flagging risks, and buyers requiring specialist surveys all add cost and delay to a transaction that should be straightforward.

The BalcoDeck Certificate of Compliance was not designed primarily as a valuation document — it was designed as a structural and building regulations compliance record. But in practice it answers the lender’s question directly and cleanly.

The specification decision that protects the membrane also protects the asset.

Read the full article on balconette.co.uk