If you are part of the condominium’s management team or simply a homeowner looking for professional water leakage advice, you have come to the right place. In a condominium estate, there are many possible sources of water leakage. They can be present on the walkway leading to the lift lobby, they can be dripping onto your vehicle in the parking lot, or there could be seepages into your home from the immediate unit above.

There has been an increase in the number of water leakage cases in condominiums over the years. It is advisable for homeowners to conduct the necessary self-checks before reaching out to the management team or professional waterproofing contractors for a thorough investigation and inspection.

In this article, we will share more information on the common water leakages in a condominium and their recommended remedies.

 

Leakage areas in condominiums

More often than not, water leakages are only detected when they have deteriorated or caused inconvenience to occupiers or users. For example, water dripping from the false ceiling in the dining room or water dripping onto a car parked in the shared parking lot. It is advisable to conduct regular checks and carry out all necessary preventive maintenance work to prevent potential damage to the property.

 

1.      Inter-floor leakages

When it comes to inter-floor leaks in condominiums, the most common type is water leakage from the upper-unit bathroom to the lower-unit bathroom. As bathrooms are highly exposed to water, especially the shower area, they are more susceptible to waterproofing failure over time. In condominiums, most of the bathrooms have false ceilings to conceal electrical cables, pipes, and water heaters. When the waterproofing system in the upper-unit bathroom floor has worn out, water is able to seep through the concrete slab through cracks and gaps, forming stalactites on the underside of the slab over time. The stalactites will continue to form and drip onto the false ceiling until the lower-unit homeowner starts to notice water stains or water droplets on the false ceiling surface. Leaks in the pipe’s surroundings are a common sight. When the concrete slab is cored to run pipes through, there is a gap between the slab and the pipe, making it the weakest point for water to seep through.

Another common type of inter-floor water leakage is when there are water stains on the underside of the balcony. The balcony is also another area in a home that is exposed to weather conditions, especially rainwater. Over time, it is also common for the balcony waterproofing system to wear out and result in leakages into the lower unit. It is also crucial for homeowners to check if their balconies have been designed with proper drainage systems and a sufficient gradient to drain off the water in a timely manner and prevent water ponding. You can read more about balcony waterproofing here.

One important tip for homeowners is to determine whether the leaks are consistent, regardless of rain. The reason for this is that if the leaks persist even in sunny weather, it is highly likely that the leaks are caused by faulty pipes. The homeowner should then reach out to licensed plumbers to replace the defective pipes and further monitor them. If the leak persists despite replacing all of the pipes, the next step is to contact a professional waterproofing contractor to inspect and trace the possible source of water leakages.

 

2.      Common area leakages

As for common area leakages, the most typical type of water leakage is from the upper-floor area to the corresponding basement carpark ceiling. It is a common layout in a condominium estate where open-air swimming pools, water features, and planter boxes are located on Level 1, which is right above the basement parking space. These common areas carry a large amount of water, making them susceptible to waterproofing failure over time.

Another type of common area water leakage is when water seeps from the condominium’s top roof into the ceilings of the highest-floor units. The roof is highly exposed to weather conditions, especially rainwater. It is common for the roof waterproofing system to wear out and leak into the lower unit if the roof is not designed with a sufficient gradient to drain off the water in a timely manner. It is also probable that the waterproofing has worn out over the years and was not properly maintained.

One important tip for homeowners is to first determine whether the source is from a common area or from a neighbouring unit. If the source seems to be in a common area, homeowners can reach out to the Management Corporation Strata Title (MCST) office for a joint inspection prior to engaging external waterproofing contractors. Should the management team require an external waterproofing contractor to better assess the water leakages, they can reach out to us for a non-obligatory inspection.

 

Recommended Remedies

To tackle the above common types of water leakage, here are some of the recommended remedies often used to help homeowners and management teams resolve their persistent water leakage problems.

 

1.      PU injection grouting

Polyurethane injection grouting, also known as PU injection grouting, is a waterproofing technique that injects polyurethane, a fluid resin, to prevent water leakage through cracks or gaps. When in contact with water or moisture, this fluid resin will react and expand up to 10 times its original volume to fill up the existing gaps until there is no more space to stop water from flowing through structural joints and crack lines. This non-invasive and cost-effective technique is often implemented to repair cracks and stop water seepage in concrete structures.

 

PU injection grouting offers significant advantages, as it is easy to carry out and very durable. When carried out with quality workmanship, PU injection grouting can last from 3 to 5 years. Due to its low viscosity and various other properties, it is commonly used to fill cracks in defective reinforced concrete walls and floors.

 

2.      Fibre-infused Waterproofing Membrane

Fibre-infused waterproofing consists of a primer coat and two coats of top coats that are applied by roller. On some occasions, fibre mesh reinforcement is also incorporated within the waterproofing layers to strengthen the waterproofing membrane and prevent water ingress. This fibre-infused waterproofing offers more flexibility than cementitious types of waterproofing and it cures into a rubbery coating on walls and floors, making it suitable for external surfaces such as balconies, roof surfaces, planter boxes, etc.

 

Identify and rectify

It is always beneficial to identify leaks early because you can tackle the problems before they worsen. We want to help homeowners and management teams avoid going through such situations and have peace of mind while living in and maintaining the beautiful condominium estate.

SWC Construction is a Building and Construction Authority (BCA)-certified and approved BCA waterproofing contractor with more than 20 years of experience in the waterproofing industry. We are a team of waterproofing specialists who are dedicated to providing quality workmanship to rectify all waterproofing problems.

At SWC Construction, we prioritise conducting thorough inspections in order to recommend the appropriate repairs to help stop water leakages promptly. Contact us today for a non-obligatory on-site consultation to solve all your water leakage problems.