Sealants: Small Joints, Major Risk Sealant joints are among the most critical— and most frequently failing— components of the building envelope. Designed to accommodate movement between materials while maintaining a watertight seal, sealants are constantly exposed to ultraviolet( UV) radiation, temperature fluctuations, and differential movement between materials. Over time, they degrade, shrink, crack, or lose adhesion, creating direct pathways for water intrusion. We frequently encounter sealant joints that appear intact on the surface but have lost adhesion throughout— a condition often easy to miss until water has already been migrating into surrounding structural elements.
Railing attachments: Hidden vulnerabilities
Railing systems present a different, but equally important, vulnerability. At many balconies and walkways, railings are attached through the waterproofing system into the structure below. If these penetrations are not properly sealed or maintained, water can migrate into the substrate at each attachment point. Over time, this can lead to corrosion of embedded steel reinforcement, deterioration of surrounding materials, and weakening of the connection itself. In many investigations, what appears to be a localized issue at a single railing post is often found to be present— at varying degrees— across multiple or all railing posts. Proper detailing of these attachments is often overlooked, yet failures at these locations commonly contribute to ma jor structural deterioration.
Thresholds: The risks at transitions
Door thresholds and wall-to-deck transitions are another common source of failure. These areas represent junctions between multiple systems— doors, waterproofing, and adjacent wall assemblies— making them particularly vulnerable to improper detailing or aging materials. When sealants fail or waterproofing is not properly integrated at these transitions, water can enter at one of the most sensitive points in the building envelope. In many cases, this results in concealed damage within framing or structural components long before visible signs
appear inside the unit. These are often conditions boards find most surprising— corrosion that has been quietly active for years with no visible indicator.
What makes these issues especially challenging for condominium associations is that they are rarely isolated. A single failed sealant joint or railing penetration may seem minor, but collectively, these deficiencies create multiple entry points for water intrusion across the building. Over time, this can lead to widespread deterioration that requires not just localized repair, but comprehensive restoration— often at a significantly higher cost than proactive maintenance would have required.
In many cases, these conditions are addressed at the surface level rather than at their source. Applying a coating or sealant over visible symptoms— without resolving the underlying cause— can create a false sense of protection while allowing deterioration to continue beneath the surface.
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Far left: Improper deckto-wall waterproofing transition and unsealed sawcut in masonry allowing water intrusion into the underlying structural system.
At left: Inadequate detailing at an embedded guardrail post allowing prolonged water intrusion, resulting in corrosion of embedded steel reinforcement and subsequent concrete spalling.
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