Waterproofing split-level homes on the Panorama hillside
Panorama’s homes were designed to make the most of the Tygerberg slope. Built mostly between the 1970s and 1990s, they step down the hill in split levels, with rooms dug into the bank, decks over garages and pools on terraced gardens. All those changes in level create junctions where water collects, and waterproofing contractors in Panorama spend much of their time on exactly those joints.
NPC works across Panorama and neighbouring Plattekloof, on family homes around Mediclinic Panorama and up towards the ridge. Whether the problem is a damp lower-level bedroom or a stain beneath a balcony, we start by tracing the water to its source.
Because many of these homes have been extended or remodelled since they were built, it is common to find two or three generations of roofing and waterproofing on one property. Knowing which parts are original helps us predict where the next failure is likely. It also explains why a leak sometimes appears in a part of the house that has never given trouble before.
Retaining walls that form part of the house
On a sloping erf, the back wall of a garage, playroom or downstairs bedroom is often also a retaining wall. Groundwater from higher up the hill presses against it after every winter front, and without a sound barrier on the soil side it eventually soaks through. The signs are familiar: a tide line, peeling paint, efflorescence and a damp smell that lingers into spring.
Where the outside face can be exposed, we treat it directly and check that drainage behind the wall is working. Where it cannot, a cementitious system on the inside face can hold the moisture back. We explain which option is realistic for your property before quoting.
Waterproofing contractors in Panorama: other common jobs
Split-level design means flat roofs where one level steps over another, and parapets or upstands where a flat section meets a pitched roof. These transitions are among the most leak-prone details on any house. The work we are asked to do most often in the suburb includes:
- Flat-roof waterproofing where levels step over one another
- Balconies and decks above garages and living areas
- Box gutters and flashings at roof-to-wall junctions
- Planters and water features on terraced gardens
- Rising damp on lower walls close to garden level
WHY US?
Some great reasons to choose NPC Painters & Renovators for your next project
Why Panorama homeowners call NPC
Our consultants inspect every level of the house and put the findings in a written specification that follows the supplier’s requirements, so you can see exactly what is proposed. We install systems from Sika, a.b.e., Optima Coatings and BASF and are approved by several waterproofing manufacturers. The owners of NPC oversee every project personally, and our crews are police-cleared, which matters when you are letting people work around your home for several days. Read more about how we handle waterproofing on homes and commercial buildings, or browse our waterproofing and damp-proofing photo gallery.
Damp downstairs or a balcony that drips into the garage? Call 021 981 0864 to book a Panorama site visit.
RELATED SERVICES IN PANORAMA
Residential
Painting
Commercial Painting
Renovations & Alterations
Roof & Airless Spray Painting
Roofing & Roof Repairs
HOW IT WORKS
After a prospective client contacts NPC, we will set up an appointment with one of our consultants at a time that is convenient to the client.
The consultant will come out to your premises to conduct a thorough site inspection. This will also give you the opportunity to discuss any pertinent details with him.
A personalised specification and quotation will be drawn up and submitted to the client for their approval. All the specifications will be based on the relevant supplier requirements.
For large projects, we can request the client’s preferred paint supplier to compile a comprehensive specification.
Upon acceptance of the quotation, a proforma invoice will be sent to the client. Among various other details, it will indicate the deposit required before the project start date can be confirmed.
QUALITY CONTROL
For our clients’ peace of mind, NPC can request one of our suppliers or an independent consultant to do a site inspection and compile a site-specific specification that clearly indicates which products are most suitable for the project and the precise preparation procedures that should be followed.
Regular site inspections by the supplier or consultant and the client can then be scheduled at various stages of the project to ensure that all procedures and standards are being adhered to.
Did You Know?
We can bring our own non-potable water
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Why is the downstairs room of my Panorama split-level always damp in winter?
If the back wall of that room retains soil, groundwater moving down the slope is likely pushing through it. Blocked weep holes or missing drainage behind the wall make it worse. We check the wall, the drainage and any planters or paving above it, then recommend treating the soil side or the inside face, depending on access.
Can you waterproof the flat roof where my Panorama house steps down a level?
Yes. These step-down sections are common on split-level homes and often leak where the flat roof meets the higher wall. We check the falls, the upstand detail and the flashing into the wall above, then specify a membrane and edge detail that handle water running off the upper roof as well.
Do you waterproof raised planters built against Panorama homes?
We do. Planters built against a wall or on a terrace often leak into the structure behind or below them once the original lining fails. We empty and clean the planter, repair the substrate, apply a suitable flexible membrane and protect it before soil goes back in, so the plants and the wall both stay healthy.
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