Upgrading the maisonette balconies
5 January 2026
The Body Corporate is upgrading 22 maisonette balconies at 148 Howe St and 79 Beresford St West to ensure they remain waterproof for the next 60+ years.
Works are being carried out to a detailed specification prepared by heritage architect Salmond Reed, to maintain the original character while meeting modern standards.
The process includes removing old flashings, rebuilding decks with mastic asphalt, installing new flashing and UV-protective coatings, and in some cases adding non-slip porcelain tiles on Nurajacks.
Guidance will be provided to owners on appropriate balcony use to help protect and maintain the upgraded structures.
This summer the Body Corporate is completing the upgrade of Freemans Park’s 22 maisonette balconies.
The upgrade of the 8 maisonette balconies at 79 Beresford St West and the 14 maisonette balconies at 148 Howe St, is to ensure they are waterproof for the next 60 years and beyond.
Each upgrade is being completed to an exacting specification, prepared by our heritage architect Salmond Reed. This ensures that the look and feel of the maisonette remains as true to original as we can get them, while at the same time ensuring they meet the very best modern day standards.
The work has involved removing mortar flashing and aged aluminium flashing under joinery in order to expose the substrate. Specialists then remove the covings at the side and under joinery, and rebuild the deck with mastic asphalt. New flashing is then installed to the short sides of the deck, before UV protect paint is applied.
Those balconies that had wooden or tile decking now have a new non-slip porcelain tile decking, which floats on Nurajacks to protect the physical balcony from any damage.
The Body Corporate will be issuing guidance to owners about the appropriate use of the balconies, to help maintain the integrity of the upgraded structures.