Built by hand. Backed by fire.
Sydney torch-on waterproofing specialists
Torch-on waterproofing for roofs, balconies, podiums, basements and planters across Sydney and NSW. Every job done by the owners. Every membrane backed by a 20+ year warranty, in writing.
The only trade that works with fire
Torch-on waterproofing. Done right.
Torch-on is a bitumen membrane melted onto your roof with an open flame. The sheet fuses to the structure, every seam welds into the next, and what's left is one continuous skin, millimetres thick, that shrugs off Sydney weather for decades. No cure time. No thin patches. No luck involved.
It's the toughest system in the category, and the least forgiving to install. The torch has to keep moving. The bleed at every seam has to run even. That's why every Top Torch job is done by the two blokes who own the company, and why we're yet to have a single failure.
- Every job done by the owners. No subbies, ever.
- Two-layer systems from six premium manufacturers.
- Flood tested before we hand it back.
- Warranties of 20+ years, registered and in writing.
What we do
Ten ways we keep water out
Waterproofing services across Sydney and NSW, from a single leaking balcony to a full commercial roof.
Torch-on waterproofing
The trade we're named after. Two-layer bitumen membrane, welded with fire, built for decades.
See the work 02Roof waterproofing
Flat roofs, box gutters and leaking roof repairs that hold. Fixed for good, not for now.
See the work 03Balcony & podium waterproofing
Sydney's most common leak, ended permanently. Strip back, membrane, flood test, rebuild.
See the work 04Leaking balcony repairs
Stain on the ceiling below? We find the entry point, weld the fix and warranty it.
See the work 05Commercial & strata waterproofing
Strata, industrial and new construction. Big roofs, same two blokes, same standard.
See the work 06Remedial waterproofing
Someone waterproofed it once and it failed. We find why, fix the cause, end the cycle.
See the work 07Basement waterproofing
Below-ground tanking with one chance to get it right. We treat it that way.
See the work 08Retaining wall waterproofing
Soil-side membrane, protection board and drainage, done before the backfill.
See the work 09Planter box waterproofing
A garden above a room needs overkill. Torch-on, root barrier, drainage, flood test.
See the work 10Membranes & products
The honest guide to membranes, and the six manufacturers we trust with our name.
See the workThe work
Roofs we drive past and feel proud of
Every photo on this site is a Top Torch job, taken by the blokes who did it. No stock, no renders.
The standard
What the badge means
Owner operated
Every Top Torch job is completed by a Top Torch owner. No subbies, no cheap labour hire, no learning on your roof. If our name is on the quote, our hands are on the torch.
Forty years of proof
Trade lineage from England and Malta, tested on Sydney rooftops since 2023. The technique is heritage. The conditions are Australian. The standard is non-negotiable.
Warranty spec, not cheap spec
SOPREMA, Sika, Ardex, Enduroflex, Fatra and Bayset, installed to the manufacturer's full specification. That's what keeps a 20+ year warranty worth the paper.
The seam runs straight
A torch-on membrane is half engineering, half craft. The selvedge bleeds even. The drain looks like it was always there. We photograph our work because we want to look at it.
Who calls us
Builders. Strata. Homeowners.
Three kinds of client, one thing in common: they can't afford for it to leak again.
A waterproofing sub that hits the programme
Torch-on packages for new construction and renovations, sequenced with your trades and finished without a defect line at handover.
- SWMS and hot-works permits before we start
- Owners on the tools, so dates hold
- Photo record and warranty registration at completion
Defect reports, quoted line by line
Podiums, roofs, balconies and planters on occupied buildings, staged around residents and documented for committees.
- Fixed, itemised quotes with photos of the fault
- Work staged so the building keeps functioning
- One accountable contact from quote to warranty
The last time you think about it
Leaking balconies, flat roofs, planters and retaining walls fixed once, properly, by the people whose names are on the quote.
- Straight answers on repair versus replace
- Flood tested before the tiles go back
- Warranty in writing, 20+ years
Rated 5.0 on Google
What clients say
From time to time, one is lucky to deal with a company that outperforms and delivers well above expectations. Top Torch with Chris and Zach falls easily within this description after a recent membrane replacement project at St Columba Uniting Church, Woollahra. They are truly an exceptional company and team, delivering a top-tier service with world-class products. Working throughout a long weekend to complete the project due to weather constraints, just showcasing their true commitment. Top Torch and its team are highly recommended and certainly worth your consideration!
After having our roof redone three years ago by another contractor, we suffered through constant, frustrating leaks. We brought Zach in—who came highly recommended to us by the material supply company—and the experience was a total breath of fresh air. Zach and his team were professional, timely, and completely trustworthy from start to finish. Their work was competitively priced, and the standard of their craftsmanship was exceptional. Beyond their technical skill, the Toptorch team genuinely care about the quality of their work and take real pride in the result. Zach also showed a lot of empathy for the fact that we had been misled and poorly treated by the previous roofer. He and his team went above and beyond to ensure our roof was completely redone before the next round of forecasted storms. Most importantly, since they finished the job, we haven't had a single leak. We cannot recommend Zach and Toptorch Waterproofing enough.
Chris and Zack from TopTorch Waterproofing did an outstanding job. Their attention to detail was second to none, and it was obvious they genuinely care about getting everything right. No matter what challenge came up, they always had a solution and took the time to explain the best approach without cutting corners. The quality of their workmanship is exceptional, they left everything clean and tidy, and the whole process was stress-free from start to finish. It's hard to find tradespeople who take this much pride in their work. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend Chris and Zack to anyone looking for waterproofing done properly.
Both myself and a very seasoned Builder researched different waterproofing options for a very unique project for almost two years before we met Chris from Top Torch Waterproofing and we wish we met him at the very beginning! Chris was by far the most professional, knowledgeable and experienced person we both dealt with in this industry and he made the whole process from start to finish so easy for everyone involved in our project. His product and application knowledge is vast and his ability to communicate effectively throughout the project with multiple tradesmen across different disciplines was most appreciated. Everyone who spoke with Chris and saw his work independently told me how impressed they were and how solid and thorough his work was. I look forward to recommending Top Torch Waterproofing in the future to everyone!
Top Torch Waterproofing provided excellent service with professional workmanship. The team was punctual, efficient, and delivered high-quality waterproofing results. I would definitely recommend them for reliable waterproofing solutions.
How a job runs
Four steps. No surprises.
Inspect & quote
We look at the actual job, photograph what we find and give you a fixed, itemised quote. Straight answers about repair versus replace.
Prep & prime
Strip-back, surface preparation and priming. The unglamorous half of waterproofing, and the half that decides whether it lasts.
Torch-on install
Two-layer membrane, welded seams, hand-detailed drains, corners and upstands. Waterproof the moment it cools.
Test & warranty
Flood test where it counts, photo documentation throughout, and a manufacturer-registered warranty of 20+ years in your hand.
Two tradesmen. One torch. Forty years.
The blokes on the patch
Zach Smith
Twenty years on roofs, trained in a country where it rains two hundred days a year. If a membrane can survive the English Midlands, Zach knows how it was installed. He's on the torch at every job that carries the badge.
Call Zach 0435 254 303Chris Xuereb
Twenty-one years of torch-on membranes and fifteen of tiling and remedial work, learned on Mediterranean rooftops where the sun is the enemy and shortcuts don't survive a summer. Chris details the drains you'll never think about again.
Call Chris 0427 207 670Membranes the manufacturers stand behind
Where we work
Sydney-wide. NSW-ready.
Based in Sydney, on the tools across the metro every week, and travelling for the right jobs from Newcastle to the South Coast.
Straight talk from the trade
Guides
How much does waterproofing cost in Sydney?
Most waterproofers won't put numbers on a web page. We'd rather you understand what you're paying for than get a nasty surprise from a quote that started cheap.
Torch-on vs liquid membrane
We're named after one of these, so you'd expect a biased answer. Here's the fair one, including the jobs where we'd tell you to use liquid.
How to choose a waterproofing contractor
Waterproofing is the trade where the cheapest quote and the most expensive mistake are the same piece of paper. Here's how to tell them apart before you sign.
No fluff. No buzzwords.
Straight answers
What is torch-on waterproofing?
Torch-on waterproofing is a modified bitumen membrane melted onto a roof, balcony or deck with a propane torch, fusing the sheet to the surface and welding every seam. It's the thickest, most durable waterproofing system on the market and the only one applied with fire. It's also what we're named after.
What areas do you service?
All of Sydney, from the CBD and Eastern Suburbs to Penrith and the Hills, plus the Central Coast, Newcastle and the Hunter, Wollongong and the Illawarra, and the South Coast. If you're in NSW and the job's right, we'll come to it.
Are you licensed and insured?
Fully licensed, fully insured and hot-works certified. In forty combined years and every job since founding in 2023 we've had zero membrane failures, and we carry insurance as if we might.
How long do your warranties last?
20 years or more depending on the membrane system, backed by the manufacturer and registered on completion. We install to the manufacturer's full specification, which is what keeps those warranties valid, and we put it all in writing before we start.
Who actually does the work?
Zach Smith and Chris Xuereb, the owners. No subcontractors, no labour hire, no juniors learning on your roof. If our badge is on the quote, our hands are on the torch.
How much does waterproofing cost in Sydney?
It depends on area, what has to come up, the state of the substrate and access, which is why we quote from an inspection and never per square metre over the phone. Quotes are free, fixed and itemised. Our cost guide explains what drives the price.
Can't afford for it to leak twice?
Call the blokes whose names are on the patch. Straight answers, a fixed quote and a warranty that means something.
