Water stops that stop short at Clyde North door thresholds
A water stop angle that does not meet the wall flashing leaves a gap at the most exposed point of a wet area or external door.
In short: Twice in 2026 Clyde North handover inspections recorded water stop angles at door openings that ended before they reached the perimeter flashing or were broken at the jambs.
What a water stop does
At a shower opening or an external door, an angle set into the floor forms a small dam. The waterproofing membrane laps up onto it so water on the floor cannot travel under the door into the next room or the framing.
Where it fails
The weak spot is the corners. AS 3740:2021 expects the water stop to integrate with the perimeter flashing up the walls. If the angle stops short, or is cut at the door jambs, the dam has a gap at each end.
What we recorded
In May 2026 the angle was interrupted at the jambs of a Clyde North door. In July 2026 another threshold had a water stop too short to meet the wall flashing, with door jambs and architraves sitting in the wet zone. Both were raised as major items.
Why handover is late but not too late
By handover the tiles are down, so the fix means lifting some of them. That is still far cheaper than replacing a swollen floor and skirtings in a year. Earlier detection at the waterproofing stage costs nothing but a visit.
What to ask for
Ask the builder for the waterproofer's details at each opening and for rectification to AS 3740 before handover. If you are building now, book a waterproofing inspection before tiling.
Written by our local inspection team from work carried out in Clyde North. Licensed building practitioners, Building & Plumbing Commission registration CDB-U 53425.
