Housing Development Board (HDB) Maisonette in Singapore is a two-story flat with the living, dining, and kitchen area while the second floor can be bedrooms with balcony apartment.
The main cause of HDB Maisonette Leakage especially ceiling leak is the wear and tear of the waterproofing materials and the screed in the floor slab. Roof/ceiling leak are common in HDB flats especially those over 20years old. Ceiling leak occurs when water from the above unit leak through the concrete slab due to the hot/cold climate changes in Singapore.
HDB Roof leakage
If your property is located on the highest floor, you will be experiencing ceiling leaks, likely cause by the wear and tear of the roofing material on top of the HDB flat. It is somewhat similar to HDB Maisonette Leakage issue which normally occur at highest level or at any level, thus you should contact the Town Council in your area for repair, as the roof is part of the common property maintained by them.
Meanwhile water seepage is when water flow from one place to another through the cracks on the wall or a porous material.
If your HDB flat or HDB Maisonette Leakage issue is not covered under Defect Liability Period/warrant, you may lodge a complaint to your town council, if you discover water seepage through the rooftop or walls. They are responsible for the general maintenance of the common properties in the area which include the roof and wall.
If the cause of the water seepage is determined to be through cavities such as window frame, then it falls under the responsibilities of the owner. We can’t stress enough but to repeat that if HDB Maisonette Leakage were cause by cavities of windows, it will be under the owners responsibility to rectify the issue.
Some of the symptoms of ceiling leak include wet water mark stains or discoloured patches on the ceiling which may even spread to adjoining wall.
On the other hand, if your ceiling is leaking due to wear and tear you should reach out to your upstairs neighbour to resolve the issue as both of you share the responsibility of repair. Both owners will need to amicably agree to resolve the issue by hiring a reliable contractor to carry out an inspection and spilt the cost. It is vital that you inform your neighbour upstairs if you encounter early sign of leak so that they can be resolved quickly before the situation escalates. Nevertheless, you should still inform your town council/HDB beforehand as they may help to assist in the investigation to determine the source of the leak and to ensure that repair needed are made.
In some cases, HDB may offer assistance and co-share 50% of the repair costs via the Goodwill Repair Assistance (GRA) scheme. The remaining 50% will be shared between the upper and lower floor owners. However, note that the scheme only covers the cost of repairing the floor slabs, and does not cover damages done to personal fixtures and fittings such as lighting, cabinets, showers screens, etc
There are different methods to solve HDB Maisonette Leakage such as ceiling leak issue. Hacking of existing tiles, re-screeding and relaying of new tiles is the most common solution. However, such repair required replacement of existing fixtures and installation in the balcony. The process requires a few days of hacking of tiles and cause all the dust and noise within the unit.
HDB Balcony Leakage
HDB Maisonette flat also comes with an attached balcony. Balcony is the most neglected part of the house. With the tropical climate all year round, we don’t use this area as often as other part of the house. Balcony is exposed to extreme weather conditions, such as hot and stormy days and other environmental factors. The variation in temperature and exposure to rainwater is likely to create leak and dampness. Rainwater can contribute to the cause of leakage in this area if drainage is not clear or drain well. Even with the hot climate in Singapore, it will cause the expand of the concrete, slab, tiles to crack which will cause leakage to the lower area in the long run. Wear and tear of the waterproofing membrane will also lead to balcony leakage.
Crack in concrete happen overtime due to the environmental issue as well, such as construction work and renovation works nearby. It is not severe to cause an instant issue, but these minor small cracks often become bigger problems such as water damage cause structural problem.
This can be a hassle for homeowner, as it is owner’s responsibility to keep and maintain the balcony from leakage. Therefore, is it important that you have a strong and well-waterproof balcony.
SWC Construction offer chemical grouting, known as Polyurethane (PU) Injection grouting for roof and balcony. PU grouting is a specialised modern technology and technique, that involves the injection of expanding polyurethane, to stop any water flowing through cracks and to fill voids under slab, concrete joint or behind concrete wall and joint to bond permanently. PU grouting will be injected using low/high pressure, the grout will then expand to full fill up the void, crack or gap that is caused by the water damage. This method is useful and effective when used on lower floor ceiling for issues involving upper- and lower-unit neighbours.
Call us now, we provide non-obligation on HDB Maisonette Leakage waterproofing solution and recommendation to resolve your waterproofing needs. We use the best waterproofing material and waterproof membranes that enhance the waterproofing structure.