Much of Tamarama’s housing is apartment blocks stacked up the slopes either side of the gully, from post-war walk-ups to modern buildings with large ocean-facing balconies. Most are strata schemes, and their exteriors take more weather than almost anywhere in Sydney.
What the ocean does to a façade
Salt film on glass and frames, which etches if left. Chalking and corrosion on powder-coated aluminium. Tea staining on stainless balustrades. Salt crystallising in render and concrete, and accelerating corrosion of reinforcing steel. Algae and mould on the shaded gully-facing elevations. More: salt on Sydney’s coast.
Concrete and render
Coastal buildings are prone to concrete cancer: salt reaches the reinforcing steel, which rusts, expands and cracks the concrete. Rust staining and cracking on balcony edges and soffits are the early signs. Cleaning makes them visible; repair is a remediation job. More: concrete cancer and spalling.
Painted render is soft washed, not pressure washed. Drummy render comes off under pressure. More: cracked render.
Balconies
Ocean-facing balconies take wind-blown sand and salt. Drains block, membranes fail, and the unit below gets the leak. Balcony structure, railings and soffits are typically common property under NSW’s model Common Property Memorandum. More: balcony cleaning in strata.
Glass
Ocean-facing glass needs cleaning more often than inland buildings. Lot owners typically clean windows they can safely reach; the owners corporation handles the rest where the memorandum is adopted. More: strata window cleaning responsibilities.
Access
Steep sites, limited parking and stairs make access harder and work slower. Rope access is common on taller buildings. Roof anchors must be certified. Wind on the coast stops height work often. More: steep access in Tamarama.
Common areas
Entry stairs, paths and bin areas collect sand and salt. Keep them clean and safe: slippery stairs on a steep site are a liability for the owners corporation. More: slip resistance.
Planning
Ocean-facing glass: two to four times a year. Façade wash: every two to three years on exposed elevations. Gutters: twice a year. Balcony drains: before summer. Concrete and balcony condition: inspect annually. Strata cleaning is searched around 390 times a month in Sydney; committees on the coast need it more than most. More: strata exterior cleaning guide.
The early warning signs
Rust stains on balcony edges and soffits. Cracks running along the line of balcony slabs. Drips or efflorescence on the ceilings of balconies below. Stiff sliding doors and corroded frames. Glass that hazes again soon after cleaning. Owners notice these first; reporting them early saves money.
Sequencing works
If remediation, painting or waterproofing is planned, coordinate cleaning with it. Washing comes first so contractors can see defects and surfaces are ready for repair. Cleaning a facade just before scaffolding goes up for concrete repair wastes money; cleaning just before repainting does not. More: washing before painting.
See the Tamarama maintenance calendar and our strata pressure cleaning service.
