Terrace leaks in penthouses can be difficult because the visible damage may appear in the property below while the source is above, outside or hidden beneath tiles.
In this Żabbar case, the neighbours below were seeing water ingress in a corridor. The penthouse tenant and a representative of the client showed the affected areas so the inspection could start from the actual symptoms.
Indoor checks first
The inspection began inside the penthouse. Thermal imaging was used to check whether there were clear cold patterns inside the property that could suggest active water movement from an internal source.
The internal checks did not point to an obvious indoor leak, so the terrace became the next priority.
Terrace scan and drainage detail
Terraces are common leak suspects in Malta because drainage, waterproofing and tile details all have to work together. In this case, thermal inspection showed cold areas below the terrace tiles, suggesting water was collecting where it should not.
One important detail was the air-conditioning drain. It was not discharging neatly into the intended drain, allowing water to spill around the area and collect beneath the terrace tiles.
Neighbour’s corridor checked against the terrace position
The inspection then moved to the neighbour’s property below. A cold patch was visible in the corridor wall, and the ceiling also showed signs consistent with water ingress. The position lined up with the penthouse terrace area.
The roof also appeared to need maintenance, although direct roof access was limited because of nearby construction activity and safety constraints.
Recommendations from the inspection
The practical recommendations were:
- correct the air-conditioning drainage so water discharges properly,
- seal terrace drains and drainage details,
- inspect and maintain the penthouse roof/waterproofing,
- address the issue before further damage spreads to the property below.
What this case shows
Terrace water ingress is rarely solved from surface symptoms alone. The inspection needs to compare the upper terrace, drainage routes and lower visible damage.
For similar cases, see terrace water ingress Malta or apartment block leak detection Malta.