Hotel del Coronado Walkway & Balcony Waterproofing Project Profile

Hotel del Coronado: Waterproofing Historic Walkways and Balcony Decks with ALX Pro 

Historic restoration projects rarely allow for standard details. At Hotel del Coronado in Coronado, California, Westcoat’s ALX Pro system with WP Wrap protected walkway corridors and Victorian private balcony decks throughout the property, including interior-facing areas and beachside locations. The project called for a pedestrian traffic coating system that could support demanding waterproofing conditions while accommodating highly specific transitions, terminations, and tie-ins at a landmark hotel originally built in 1888 and recognized as a National Historic Landmark.  

Project Overview 

The waterproofing scope included hotel walkway corridors and private balcony decks throughout the property. Because of the hotel’s historic character and the complexity of the deck conditions, the project required more than a standard coating application. The system had to address wall-to-deck transitions, threshold conditions, and outside-edge post junctions with custom detailing, while also tying new work into portions of an existing coating assembly in select areas. 

Westcoat ALX Pro was a strong fit because the project team wanted a robust pedestrian traffic coating system over the existing but restored plywood substrates. The selected assembly combined the benefits of the WP-40 Sheet Membrane with added cloth flashing waterproofing through the WP Wrap detail, along with the reinforced membrane build of the system. ALX Pro as a waterproof walking deck system designed for balcony decks, roof decks, and walkways, with a reinforced membrane assembly suited to demanding exterior pedestrian environments.  

The Challenge 

This was not a typical deck waterproofing job. Hotel del Coronado is one of Southern California’s most iconic hospitality properties, known for its Victorian architecture, beachfront setting, and long history. Its status as a historic landmark raised the bar for detail work and coordination.  

Several project conditions made the installation especially complex: 

• Historic construction with detail-sensitive deck conditions  

• Custom wall-to-deck, threshold, and edge-post transitions  

• Multiple waterproofing assemblies required for different spaces  

• Integration of new waterproofing over portions of an existing system  

• Scheduling multiple trades during a long-term shutdown and renovation  

On some decks, the new ALX Pro system had to be tied into an existing coating system before the new assembly could be completed in full. That required careful order and precise field coordination to maintain continuity at critical waterproofing transitions. 

How Westcoat Was Brought In 

Apex Contracting & Restoration recommended Westcoat for the project. After the initial outreach, Westcoat submitted the waterproof deck coating systems and met onsite with Swinerton, the owner’s representative, and the waterproofing consultant to review assemblies and project-specific details. 

That early collaboration proved important. Rather than using a one-size-fits-all approach, the team reviewed each condition and developed assemblies for different areas throughout the hotel.

Why ALX Pro with WP Wrap Was the Right Fit 

For this project, performance was centered on waterproofing strength, reinforced assembly design, and the ability to address critical connection points over plywood substrates.

Key reasons the system was selected included: 

• Reinforced pedestrian traffic assembly for high-use exterior deck areas  

• WP-40 Sheet Membrane a waterproof membrane and reinforcement at plywood seams  

• WP Wrap detailing to help address flashing and transition conditions  

• Resin-rich reinforced membrane build within the ALX Pro system  

• Suitability for balconies, walkways, and similar pedestrian deck applications

In a hospitality setting where deck conditions vary and waterproofing details matter, that layered system approach helped the team address both broad deck coverage and intricate edge conditions. 

Installation and Coordination 

The Hotel Del project took place during an 18-month shutdown, creating an unusual jobsite environment with extensive renovation activity. Two applicators handled different portions of the scope: Apex Contracting & Restoration on the main Victorian hotel decks and MC Contracting on the front entry’s Victorian decks. 

According to the project team, the ALX Pro system installation coordinated effectively with other trades working between coats. That cooperation mattered on a renovation of this scale, where scheduling, access, and sequencing can affect both quality and progress. 

Westcoat also maintained an active onsite presence throughout the project, helping review and create details as needed. That field-level collaboration supported alignment between the architects, waterproofing consultants, Swinerton as general contractor, and both applicators.

Results 

The completed system continues to perform well, with successful waterproofing across the specified walkway and balcony deck areas. Beyond the finished installation, this project stands out as an example of what can be accomplished when manufacturer support, consultant input, contractor coordination, and installer execution are aligned from detailing through application. 

For architects, specifiers, and building professionals, the Hotel del Coronado project reinforces an important point: on high-visibility hospitality work, especially historic renovation; the right waterproofing system is only part of the solution. Early collaboration, field-created details, and condition-specific assemblies are what help turn a technically demanding deck scope into a successful installation.