Delaneaux Apartments Balcony Door Replacement

A Large-Scale Balcony Door Replacement in New Orleans

Riverbend Renovation undertook a large-scale balcony door replacement project at Delaneaux Apartments, a multifamily residential property in New Orleans. What might initially appear to be a straightforward replacement project involved correcting a significant original construction defect, addressing concealed water damage, and coordinating repairs throughout an occupied apartment community.

The work required considerably more than removing the existing doors and installing new ones. Each affected opening had to be evaluated, damaged materials addressed, and the replacement assemblies installed correctly to prevent the problems from continuing.

An Original Construction Defect

One of the most significant findings was that the original builder had installed the exterior balcony doors backward. Rather than orienting the thresholds toward the exterior balconies, the doors had been installed with their thresholds facing into the apartments.

This improper installation allowed water intrusion at the door openings, contributing to deterioration of the surrounding materials. Over time, moisture damaged portions of the wood framing, subflooring, and adjacent interior finishes.

The extent of the damage was not always apparent until the existing doors were removed. In some apartments, what appeared to be a door replacement required additional demolition and repairs to the surrounding construction.

Repairing Concealed Water Damage

Once the existing doors were removed, Riverbend's crews could examine the conditions beneath and around the openings. Several locations revealed deteriorated wood, damaged subflooring, and compromised materials at the transition between the interior floors and exterior balconies.

Where necessary, the crew opened sections of the adjoining flooring to expose the underlying construction and determine the extent of the deterioration. Affected materials were removed and repaired before the replacement doors were installed. This included work around the thresholds, floor framing, and surrounding door openings.

These repairs were an important part of the project. Installing new doors over existing deterioration would have concealed the damage rather than properly addressing the conditions that had developed over time.

Correcting the Door Installations

With the damaged areas addressed, Riverbend installed the new balcony doors in the proper orientation. The installation process required careful attention to the existing masonry openings, door alignment, threshold conditions, flashing, and the transitions between the interior living spaces and exterior balconies.

Water management was particularly important given the problems associated with the original installations. Properly preparing the openings and installing the replacement assemblies helped address the defects that had contributed to the earlier water intrusion. Riverbend also completed the associated interior and exterior trim repairs, restoring the surrounding finishes after the doors were installed.

Working Throughout an Occupied Apartment Community

The project presented logistical challenges common to large multifamily renovations. Rather than working in a single vacant building or isolated construction area, crews performed installations across multiple apartments while residents continued occupying the property.

Scheduling access, protecting residents' belongings, coordinating individual work areas, and completing installations efficiently were important considerations throughout the project. The photographs show furniture and finishes protected during construction, temporary work areas established inside occupied apartments, and crews performing demolition, repairs, and installation work at the balcony openings. Maintaining consistency from one apartment to another was equally important, even when concealed conditions required different levels of repair.

More Than a Door Replacement

The Delaneaux Apartments project illustrates how problems originating during initial construction can become much more significant years later. An incorrectly installed exterior door may appear functional while allowing water to reach materials that were never intended to remain exposed to moisture. By the time deterioration becomes visible, the necessary repairs can extend well beyond the door assembly itself.

For Riverbend Renovation, the work involved identifying and correcting the original installation problems, addressing damaged construction, installing new balcony doors, and completing the surrounding finish repairs. The project demonstrates the importance of careful evaluation and proper construction practices when renovating existing multifamily properties.

Riverbend Renovation provides commercial renovation and remodeling services throughout New Orleans and the surrounding communities, including work for multifamily property owners and managers.