In the past, the design and construction of these junctions commonly relied on a textured finish and paint coating to keep water out. The top of the balcony walls were also usually textured and flat, which meant that water could not drain off the surface. E2/AS1 only covers walls that are not in the same plane as the adjacent wall.

History has shown that using the cladding without the backup of drainage and flashings was not a good approach. Walls and timber move, plaster can shrink and cracks often formed at the junction of the two elements. Once the crack occurred, water entry followed. A number of steps need to be followed to ensure that any water that gets behind the cladding can be drained out and that the junction between the lower balcony wall and the adjacent taller wall is adequately flashed.

The top of the balcony wall should be sloped and flashed. Under E2/AS1, the top of the balcony wall can be either:

• cap flashed with a 5° cross fall, or
• underflashed and textured (with a saddle flashing) and a 10° cross fall

Construction steps

Steps 1–3.

Steps 4–5.

Step 6.

Step 7.

Steps 8–9.

Steps 10–12.