During Windsor Garden’s AGM in the spring, the owners authorized a project to upgrade more of the balcony membranes throughout the complex. These have now been completed.
These are not the first balconies to be upgraded in recent years. In 2023 and 2024, a number of balconies were upgraded by McLellan and Associates. These had been especially targeted due to their condition. There might be only one or two units in each multi-unit building that were addressed, while others were left because the need wasn’t as critical.
In 2025, because McLellan was unavailable at the time, council chose to go with a different company to complete 10 more balconies that were on the urgent list.
At this point, most of the “urgent” balconies had been addressed. Other balconies were in need of upgrading, but were not known to have significant problems. Going forward it was a case of proper building maintenance.
Only the larger, exposed balconies are targeted. Most of the small ones are somewhat protected by overhanging roof areas, making them less susceptible to the impact of weather. And people generally use the larger balconies more than they use the small ones.
The project consists of stripping away the old vinyl membranes, many of which have become rippled, bubbled, and worn over the past 20 years or so since the last time this was done, checking for any issues underneath, such as rotten plywood which could happen due to water seeping through cracks, checking the slope to ensure it meets the building standards, and replacing the vinyl with a new surface.
For 2026, council received four different quotations and again selected McLellan to address the next 35 balconies on the list. These were chosen primarily to finish off the buildings that had been worked on since 2023. It was unfair for some owners to have a new balcony while the neighboring units in the same building had to continue with an old balcony membrane.
McLellan once again provided superb workmanship, checking the slope of each balcony and addressing shortcomings in previous work. We especially appreciate their attention to small details such as replacing missing bolts and ensuring that the edges are properly sealed, which many other companies never bother with.
McLellan also ensures that they have no seam by ordering vinyl that is the full width of the balcony, thus providing additional protection against future issues.
The crew was exceptionally helpful, even offering to assist owners in moving heavy items off the balcony, and providing large plastic sheets to protect floors when bringing things like planters inside. McLellan’s team worked quickly and took advantage of existing materials to minimize the cost of any unexpected repairs, such as replacing plywood or fixing incorrect slopes.
Owners are reminded that keeping limited common property such as balconies clean and in good condition is required by the Strata Bylaws.
Below are before-and-after photos of the balconies that were addressed. Click on any one to view a larger version.
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