Waterproofing · Paving · Drainage · Railings · Pergolas
A terrace is the part of a Costa Blanca home that gets used most and punished hardest. We waterproof, re-tile, drain and finish terraces and outdoor areas so they last through the summer sun and the autumn storms.
Most terrace problems start underneath. Tiles lift, joints open, a stain appears on the ceiling of the room below, or water pools by the door after rain. Replacing the surface alone rarely fixes any of it. The cause is usually the waterproofing, the falls or the drainage beneath the tiles, and a lasting repair deals with those first.
Dragon Reforms has worked across the north Costa Blanca since 1999, from apartment balconies in Benidorm to large villa terraces in the hills. We take on the whole job: lifting the old finish, repairing the base, waterproofing, drainage, new paving, and the finishing work around it such as railings, lighting and shade structures.
Many of our clients own a second home and are not here for most of the year. We plan the work so it can be agreed and followed from abroad, with progress updates by phone and photos, and we speak English and Spanish. The quotation is free, and the work is guaranteed, with the scope set out in the quotation.
What is included
The visible finish is one layer of several. A proper job looks at the whole build-up, from the structure up to the last joint.
Why it matters here
Sun, rain and salt all work on the same surface.
A terrace on the Costa Blanca spends most of the year in strong sun and a few weeks of the year under heavy rain. Hot days followed by cool nights make a floor expand and contract, and that movement finds any weakness in the tiling or the waterproofing underneath. Then a storm tests whatever is left.
Near the coast, salt in the air adds to the wear on metal fixings, railings and joints. Inland, the same terrace may face less salt but more exposure to temperature swings. Either way, a terrace is a working surface rather than a decoration, and it needs to be built with the weather in mind.
The buildings vary as much as the climate. Apartment blocks have shared structures and balconies over other people’s homes. Villas have large terraces on made-up ground, often with a pool nearby. Older village houses and fincas have stone terraces that have settled over decades. Each needs a different approach, and we look at the building before we suggest the work.
Waterproofing
Tiles do not keep water out. The layer beneath them does.
When a terrace leaks, the instinct is to re-lay the tiles or seal the joints. This sometimes buys a season or two, but water is usually getting in at edges, upstands, door thresholds or drain connections, and a new tile over the same fault will fail in the same way. We find where the water is entering before we propose a fix.
In most cases that means lifting the existing finish, checking the base and repairing it, and then applying a new waterproofing system across the whole surface and up the adjoining walls. The detailing at the edges, around the door and at the drain outlets matters as much as the main surface, and it is where most failed jobs show their first problems.
We also look at what is below. If the terrace sits over a living space, a garage or a neighbour, the cost of getting it wrong is higher, and we take extra care over testing and sequencing. Damp that has already reached ceilings and walls below can be dealt with as part of our damp proofing work, so the cause and the damage are handled together.
Tiling and paving
Porcelain, natural stone, sandstone and travertine each behave differently outdoors.
Porcelain is the most common choice for terraces we renovate. It is dense, resists staining and frost, needs little upkeep, and comes in finishes that look like stone or timber. Outdoor porcelain is made with a textured surface, which is important for grip. It suits busy family terraces and rental homes where low maintenance matters.
Natural stone, sandstone and travertine give a warmer, more individual look, and they suit older houses and fincas particularly well. They are more porous, so they need the right sealing and a little more care over the years, and the colour and veining vary from one slab to the next. Some stones are better suited to shade or covered areas than to full sun, so the choice depends on where the surface sits.
Whichever material you choose, the laying matters as much as the product. A good job needs a stable base, the right adhesive for outdoor use, movement joints in the right places, and grouting that suits the material. We will talk through the options with you, and where it helps, show you samples before anything is ordered.
Safe and comfortable
A terrace should be safe when wet and bearable when hot.
A floor that looks fine in a showroom can be dangerous by a pool or at the top of outdoor steps once it is wet. Grip depends on the surface texture of the material, and the right level of texture depends on where it will be used. Areas around pools, steps and ramps need more than a dry sheltered corner of a terrace.
Heat is the other practical question. Dark, dense surfaces in full sun can become too hot to walk on barefoot in July and August. Lighter colours stay cooler, and some natural stones are noticeably more comfortable than others. If the terrace is used by children, pets or people with limited mobility, this deserves attention at the choice stage.
Texture also affects cleaning. A very rough surface grips well but holds dirt and can be harder to keep looking fresh, while a smoother finish is easier to clean but less forgiving when wet. We help you find a sensible balance for your terrace rather than choosing on appearance alone. For homes adapted for reduced mobility, we can link the terrace work with our disability living services.
Drainage
Water that has nowhere to go will find somewhere.
A terrace should slope gently away from the building, towards a drain, a gutter or the edge. Many older terraces have lost that slope over the years or never had enough of it, and water sits in low spots, finds its way under tiles and stains walls. Correcting the falls is part of the base work, and it is far easier to get right while the old floor is up.
Drains and outlets need to be the right size, in the right place and connected so that they do not become the weak point. We check them for blockages and damage, and where needed we fit new outlets or channel drains, particularly across wide openings and at the bottom of steps.
Repointing is a smaller job that often makes a large difference. Open joints in stone walls, steps and paving let water in and weaken the structure behind them. Repointing in a suitable mortar, matched to the original stone and the look of the property, closes those gaps and tidies the whole terrace. It is common on fincas and older village houses.
Pool surrounds and railings
The finishing details are where a terrace is judged.
We renovate pool surrounds and the paving around existing pools. We do not build pools, but if the coping, paving or surrounding terrace has become cracked, loose or slippery, we can lift it, repair the base, and relay it with a finish suited to wet feet and strong sun. Drainage matters even more here, as water must run away from the pool edge and the house.
Balustrades and railings protect people on raised terraces, steps and balconies, and they are exposed to the weather all year. Materials and fixings need to cope with sea air and sun. We can repair or refix existing railings, or install new ones in a style that suits the building, whether that is glass, metal or masonry.
Where terraces are part of a wider project, such as a villa renovation or a finca renovation, we plan the outdoor areas alongside the interior so that levels, doors and finishes line up from inside to outside.
Shade and lighting
Different buildings call for different handling, with the same standard of finish.
A pergola or timber shade structure can change how a terrace is used, giving shade for dining or a sheltered corner for the evening. Posts need proper fixings into a sound base, and timber needs the right treatment to cope with sun and weather. Our carpentry team can design and build timber structures to suit your terrace, with the terrace work and the structure planned together.
Outdoor lighting and sockets are best decided before the new surface goes down. Cable routes, conduits and junction points can be placed under or beside the paving, and the finished terrace stays clean with no surface cabling. The electrical work is done by our own electricians, and the way it fits the terrace is planned in advance.
If you are not sure what you want, we can talk through the ways the terrace is used, from morning coffee to evening meals with guests, and suggest a layout that suits how you actually live. The decisions are easier to make at the start than once the floor is laid.
Apartments and managing from abroad
Different buildings, different rules of thumb, same standard of finish.
Apartment terraces and balconies often sit over other homes and form part of a shared building. That affects how we work: noise, access, storage of materials and the effect of a leak on neighbours below all need thought. It is sensible to check with your community of owners before work begins, and we can help you work out what to ask.
Many of our clients live in the UK, Scandinavia, the Netherlands or Germany and visit their Spanish homes only a few times a year. We work with that. After the quotation is agreed, we arrange access, keep you informed with photos and progress updates by phone, and aim to have the terrace ready for your next visit.
Because we also handle plumbing, electrics, carpentry, painting and the other trades, a terrace project does not need several contractors. One firm plans it, carries it out and stands behind it.
Signs of trouble
These are the problems we are most often asked to look at.
If you recognise any of these, a visit will tell us whether the problem is the surface, the base or the waterproofing.
Areas
Eight towns with their own pages, each covering the types of property and terrace we most often see there.
We work in Benidorm, Altea, La Nucía, Finestrat, Calpe, Alfaz del Pi & Albir, Polop and Benissa. Choose your town to see how terrace work differs there.
Waterproofing and re-tiling for Benidorm balconies, roof terraces and apartment blocks.
View Benidorm →Hillside and old town terraces, roof terraces and villa paving renovated in Altea.
View Altea →Villa terraces, pool surrounds and drainage on sloping La Nucía plots.
View La Nucía →View terraces, balustrades, pergolas and paving for Finestrat hillside villas.
View Finestrat →Salt-resistant seafront terraces and hillside villa paving renovated in Calpe.
View Calpe →Apartment balconies, villa terraces and stone finca patios in Alfaz del Pi and Albir.
View Alfaz del Pi & Albir →Village patios, roof terraces, stone paving and repointing for Polop homes.
View Polop →Finca terraces, natural stone, pergolas and coastal villa paving in Benissa.
View Benissa →Questions
If water is reaching the room below, if tiles keep lifting, or if damp returns after a cosmetic repair, the waterproofing is almost certainly the problem. We inspect the terrace and tell you what we find before suggesting any work.
Outdoor porcelain is the most durable and lowest maintenance choice. Natural stone, sandstone and travertine are also good when properly laid and sealed, and many people prefer their appearance. The best choice depends on sun exposure, use and style.
In many cases the safest solution is to replace the surface with a textured, non-slip material. For some surfaces there are treatments that improve grip. We will advise which is realistic once we have seen the terrace.
No. We renovate pool surrounds, paving and the terraces around existing pools, but we do not build pools themselves.
Yes. Our carpentry and electrical teams work with the terrace team, so a timber pergola, outdoor lighting and sockets can be planned and built as part of the same project.
Not necessarily. Many of our clients live abroad. We agree the work in advance, arrange access, and send photos and updates by phone while the job is in progress.
It depends on the size, the condition of the base and the finish chosen. Waterproofing needs time to cure before tiling, so a full job takes longer than a simple re-tile. We give you an expected timeline in the quotation.
Yes. Our work is guaranteed, and the scope of the guarantee is set out in the quotation.
We cover Benidorm, Altea, La Nucía, Finestrat, Calpe, Alfaz del Pi & Albir, Polop and Benissa, and the surrounding north Costa Blanca. If you are nearby but not listed, contact us and we will tell you whether we can help.
Get in touch
Tell us about the terrace, send a few photos if you can, and we will arrange a visit and prepare a free quotation. We speak English and Spanish.
Customer reviews
Genuine Google reviews from Dragon Reforms customers.
Apartment Renovation
Original Spanish review
“Hace poco reformó el apartamento. Ha quedado espectacular. Además sin imprevistos, cumpliendo los plazos y muy formal.”
English translation
“They recently renovated the apartment. It looks spectacular. What's more, there were no unexpected problems, the agreed timescales were met, and they were very professional.”
Professional Collaboration & Complete House Renovation – Calpe
“We have been collaborating for many years on projects both large and small, with excellent results. Our latest collaboration was the complete renovation of a house in Calpe. Thanks to their professionalism and reliability, they were able to handle all phases of the project. We hope to continue working together for many years to come.”
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One firm for the whole job, from the first survey to the finished room.
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Describe your terrace and the problem. Photos help, and we will come back to you to arrange a visit.
