Water to neighbour or living space
Cracks in the balcony surface let rainwater through. Damage often only shows up months later as water stains on the ceiling below — by which point the insulation is already soaked.
balcony
Balcony waterproofing
Balcony waterproofing
with liquid rubber — under tiles or walk-on
Elastic coating for balconies and terraces of concrete, screed or tiles. Walk-on after 24 h, frost-resistant, with optional anti-slip effect. Stops water ingress into the living spaces below.
summarize
At a glance
Liquid rubber for balconies and terraces forms a seamless, elastic protective layer — crack-bridging, waterproof and UV-stable (−20 °C to +50 °C). Apply in 2–3 coats over concrete, screed or existing tiles. Walk-on as a finished surface, or use as a bonded waterproofing layer (ETAG 022) beneath new tiles.
What happens with leaky balconies
Balcony damage shows up at the neighbour below first — water stains on their ceiling. By then your own building fabric is usually already affected. Refurbishment without a specialist firm gets expensive.
Frost destroys tiles & screed
Water that has penetrated expands by 9% when it freezes. Tiles lift, screed crumbles — typically at the edges where the balcony meets the house wall and at upstands.
Road salt & freeze-thaw cycles
Road salt destroys untreated concrete in winter. The salt solution seeps into pores, crystallises on freezing and spalls the material from the inside. After 5–8 years the substance is often completely worn out.
Why liquid rubber for balconies
Walk-on after 24 h
Back in use quickly — you can walk carefully on the balcony one day after application. Full load-bearing capacity after 28 days.
Anti-slip option
Adding quartz sand to the final coat creates a slip-resistant surface — ideal for balconies used by children or exposed to winter frost.
Freeze-thaw resistant
Water no longer penetrates — so there is nothing to expand and shatter the surface when it freezes. Tested for British and Central European weather across hundreds of freeze-thaw cycles.
UV-stable, no embrittlement
Stays flexible even in full summer sun — no embrittlement, no cracking. Unlike traditional bitumen coatings, which go hard and brittle in the heat.
Step-by-step guide
Step 01
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05
Prepare the substrate
Clean existing tiles or concrete.
Pressure washer (min. 100 bar) — remove old algae, moss, road-salt residue and loose particles. Fill cracks in screed or concrete with elastic repair filler — cracks > 0.5 mm become leak spots later. Renew defective tile joints with sanitary silicone; re-glue any loose tiles first.
For heavily damaged substrate: re-lay the screed and let it cure for at least 28 days — residual moisture must be below 4 % before coating.
Pro tip: Test absorbency with the water-drop test — if water soaks in within 30 seconds, the substrate is ready.
Step 02
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05
Reinforce upstands with fleece
The critical transition to the house wall.
Pre-bend polyester fleece (60 g/m²) into a U-shape: 5 cm on the balcony floor, 10–15 cm up the house wall. Embed into the wet first coat, press flat with a roller — no air bubbles. Also reinforce around drains, skylights and balustrade fixings — these detail points cause 80 % of all leaks.
At the wall-to-floor transition work the fleece carefully into the inside corner — the coating should run up seamlessly.
Pro tip: Pre-condition fleece for 24 h before use — unroll at room temperature so it doesn't shrink back later.
Step 03
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05
First coat — base waterproofing
Diluted with 5 % water.
Apply with lambswool roller (short nap, 10 mm) or wide brush. Consumption 100–200 g/m², thin layer in a single pass. Particularly careful on upstands and in corners — these must be sealed without gaps. Press fleece-reinforced spots repeatedly until the fleece is fully saturated and shows through.
Above 25 °C or in direct sun: work before 11 a.m. or after 4 p.m. — otherwise the coat dries too quickly on the surface.
Pro tip: Start on the side opposite the balcony door and work backwards — that way you never walk on a freshly coated area.
Step 04
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05
Drying — wait 4 h
Let the first coat cure.
At 23 °C and 50 % humidity at least 4 hours, longer in cooler weather (up to 8 h). Test: the coat must no longer be tacky to finger pressure. Protect the balcony from rain and direct sun throughout drying — stretch a tarpaulin over the railing if the weather is uncertain.
The first 24 hours are critical — precipitation can soften the coat and leave water marks.
Pro tip: In high humidity (above 70 %), set up a dehumidifier or apply the next coat the following day — patience delivers the better result.
Step 05
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05
Second coat — load protection
Undiluted, with anti-slip option.
Apply undiluted, cross to the first coat. Consumption 100–200 g/m². For a slip-resistant finish: sprinkle fine quartz sand (0.3–0.5 mm) evenly into the still-wet coat, let dry for 24 h, sweep off loose grains, then a third thin coat as a sealer. Slip rating reaches R10 (recommended for residential balconies).
Fully load-bearing after 28 days — don't place heavy furniture or planters before then.
Pro tip: Apply quartz sand evenly through a flour sieve, not straight from the bag — otherwise you get clumps and uneven slip resistance.
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Pro tip
Upstands and transitions to the house wall are the weakest spot of every balcony — 80 % of all leaks start here. Embed polyester fleece (60 g/m²) into the wet first coat, pull it at least 15 cm up the wall. This prevents cracks from differential movement between balcony and house wall. (Processing recommendation from RubberPaint — not part of manufacturer specification.)
Technical data
Consumption per coat
100–200 g/m² (0.1–0.2 kg/m²)
Recommended coats
2 (3 with anti-slip)
Drying time
2 h dust-dry · 4 h recoatable
Rain resistance
after 6 h (manufacturer specification)
Walk-on time
after 24 h (carefully)
Full cure
28 days
Application temperature
+10 °C to +30 °C
Service temperature
−20 °C to +50 °C
Elasticity
highly elastic (Class A0/C0 to EN 1062-1)
Load capacity
Light foot traffic (residential use) · not for vehicle traffic or industrial floors
Binder
Acrylic latex (solvent-free)
Tool cleaning
Water, immediately after application
How much material do I need?
Measure the floor area plus a 50 cm upstand against the house wall. For the anti-slip option you will need a third coat.
m²
Standard: 2 coats. 3 for heavily exposed surfaces.
info
Consumption: 150 g/m² per coat. +10 % buffer for offcuts and uneven surfaces. For larger projects (> 80 m²) contact us for individual advice.
Recommendation
6,6 kg
needed
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06 / Bestsellers
Recommended colours for balconies
Graphite and grey dominate modern balcony refurbishments — they hide dirt and match any house colour. Beige and brown for a Mediterranean look, black for an industrial-loft feel.
Bestsellers
Sale
Sale
Sale
Sale
Liquid Rubber Paint Graphite RAL 7024
from £22.00
£69.00
incl. VAT, excl. shipping
Liquid Rubber Paint Grey RAL 7046
from £22.00
£69.00
incl. VAT, excl. shipping
Liquid Rubber Paint Black RAL 9005
from £22.00
£69.00
incl. VAT, excl. shipping
Liquid Rubber Paint Beige RAL 1015
from £22.00
£69.00
incl. VAT, excl. shipping
Liquid Rubber Paint Brown RAL 8017
from £20.00
£69.00
incl. VAT, excl. shipping
Balcony Waterproofing — Walk-On or Under Tiles
Leaking balcony tiles and water running into the flat below — and ripping out the tiles costs thousands. With liquid rubber / liquid rubber paint you seal straight over the existing tiles. Walkable after 24 hours.
Conventional balcony renovation is expensive
- Removing the tiles means taking up the screed, new waterproofing and new tiles — easily £170–350/m²
- Bitumen tanking and felt membranes need a professional and limit the finish
- Re-doing the silicone joints is only a short-term fix — water gets in through cracks in the tiles
- Tile adhesive as a barrier is not elastic and cracks with movement
Seal over the tiles
Liquid rubber (also called rubber paint, rubberised paint or flexible coating) bonds to tiles, grout, concrete and screed. It forms a waterproof, elastic membrane directly over the existing surface. With quartz sand worked in, it becomes slip-resistant and walkable even without a new floor covering.
Step by step
- Clean. Clean the balcony thoroughly with a pressure washer and degreaser. Remove all loose grout, old silicone and algae.
- Fill joints and cracks. Fill cracks of 3 mm or more with an elastic sealant. Renew defective silicone joints, or seal them with reinforcing fleece and liquid rubber.
- First coat. Thin with 0–5 % water and apply over the whole area with a lambswool roller. At the wall-floor junction, take the coating 10 cm up the wall.
- Optional: slip-resistant with quartz sand. Scatter fine quartz sand onto the wet first coat. Once dry, sweep off the loose grains.
- Second coat. Apply undiluted over the top — this binds the quartz sand in. Walkable after 24 h, fully loadable after 28 days.
Pro tip.
The door threshold is the most common leak point. Embed reinforcing fleece here and take it 15 cm up onto the threshold. On a sunny balcony, let the heat ease off first — paint before 11 am or after 4 pm.
How much do you need?
For 2 coats: 0.3 kg/m². For a 10 m² balcony ≈ 3 kg (one 3.5 kg tub is enough).
Which colour?
Grey (RAL 7046) for a modern neutral look, Graphite (RAL 7024) for a classic dark finish. Both go with any furniture.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Painting onto wet tiles — no adhesion, the coating peels
- Not taking the coating up the wall-floor edge — water runs behind it
- Putting the furniture back too early — no walking before 24 h, no heavy loads before 28 days
- Direct sun during application — cracks from drying too fast
FAQ
Can I walk on it?
Carefully after 24 h. Fully loadable (furniture, plant pots) after 28 days.
Is it slippery when wet?
Plain liquid rubber, yes; with quartz sand worked in, no (R10–R11 slip resistance).
Does it really hold without removing the tiles?
Yes, on intact and firmly bonded tiles. Loose tiles must be fixed first.
UV-resistant?
Tested to DSTU ISO 16474-2. At least 7 years.
Ready to start? Choose your colour and tub size.
Go to the shop → · Application overview · FAQ
Related terms: Our product is sold in DIY stores and the trade under several names — liquid rubber, liquid rubber paint, liquid membrane, rubber paint, rubberised paint, flexible coating, elastic exterior paint or polymer coating. They all mean the same product: a waterproof, highly elastic coating based on acrylic latex.
FAQ — balcony waterproofing
- Can I paint over existing tiles?
- Yes — RubberPaint bonds to tiles if they are clean, sound and degreased. Re-lay loose tiles first, renew joints with silicone. Roughen smooth tiles with sandpaper (grit 80–120) for better adhesion. Test on an inconspicuous spot recommended.
- How does the anti-slip option work?
- After the second coat (still tacky): sprinkle fine quartz sand (0.3–0.5 mm) evenly, dry 24 h, sweep off loose grains. A thin third coat seals the sand, giving a slip- and abrasion-resistant surface. Quartz sand available at any DIY store, costs < €10 per 10 m².
- How long must the balcony stay off-limits?
- 24 hours after the last coat — careful walking with soft shoes. Full load capacity (furniture, planters, regular use) after 28 days. Avoid standing water during the first 28 days — the layer continues to cure.
- How do I handle drains, rooflights and thresholds?
- These detail points are the most common leak spots — mandatory to reinforce with polyester fleece (60 g/m²) here. Cut circular around drains, work in U-shape into the upstand. Connect thresholds (e.g. living-room door) with a 15 cm pull-up. Detail work pays off — no later water ingress.
- What happens in winter with frost and snow?
- RubberPaint stays elastic at −20 °C — snow, ice and road salt don't damage the coating. Key: remove snow mechanically (plastic shovel, no metal blade), rinse off road salt before spring. On properly prepared balconies the coating lasts for years without maintenance.
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Got a technical question?
Our technical team advises on complex applications, substrate analysis and film-thickness calculation.