HDB external wall seepage

[Lucien666]

Any recommendations on how to fix?


Will DIY possible?

If no, call contractor how costly will it be?


Since it's external will calling town council be cheaper?

 

[Lucien666]

This is normal wear and tear not under town council

So this doesn't apply to my case?

Written Answer by Ministry of National Development on water seepage from external walls of HDB flats
Feb 3, 2020

Ms Rahayu Mahzam: To ask the Minister for National Development
(a) in the past three years, how many cases of water seepage from the external walls of HDB flats have been reported;
(b) of those cases, how many are repeat complaints; and
(c) whether HDB works with the town council to help address the water seepage issues.

Answer: The external walls of HDB flats are common property under the Town Councils’ management and maintenance. Town Councils are responsible for keeping common property, including external walls, in good condition by carrying out regular and cyclical maintenance. Residents who encounter water seepage from external walls in their flat typically report it to the Town Council managing their estate. As such, HDB does not have the number of cases reported for water seepage from external walls. Where residents report such cases to HDB, HDB will help to refer these cases to the respective Town Council for follow-up. If Town Councils face difficulties in resolving water seepage from external walls, HDB also works with them to resolve the seepage issue.

 

[halfnode]

Any recommendations on how to fix?


Will DIY possible?

If no, call contractor how costly will it be?


Since it's external will calling town council be cheaper?

use the one service app to report the issue. can or cant they will inform you

 

[vinz]

This is high chance the window which is sitting on the wall is not properly waterproof and water seep in (when raining) to the structure (wall) below it.

wat u can try is DIY, use silicon to block off the exterior side, the part where the window sits on the concrete. This can look ugly if you got no skill , but since its exterior of your wall, I doubt u pop ur head out to look at it daily. Buy those transparent silicon.

another possibility if u done the above and dont work, the water on the window ledge accumulate during rain, and seep in thru some holes. You can test this by using a cup of water and slowly pouring it on the ledge, see water comes in or not.

above is my layman suggestion.

Happen to my family member's unit, HDB and town council all said it's owner reno issue, thus the above DIY method does the trick and solve the issue.

 

[Lucien666]

This is high chance the window which is sitting on the wall is not properly waterproof and water seep in (when raining) to the structure (wall) below it.

wat u can try is DIY, use silicon to block off the exterior side, the part where the window sits on the concrete. This can look ugly if you got no skill , but since its exterior of your wall, I doubt u pop ur head out to look at it daily. Buy those transparent silicon.

another possibility if u done the above and dont work, the water on the window ledge accumulate during rain, and seep in thru some holes. You can test this by using a cup of water and slowly pouring it on the ledge, see water comes in or not.

above is my layman suggestion.

Happen to my family member's unit, HDB and town council all said it's owner reno issue, thus the above DIY method does the trick and solve the issue.

Actually, i alr started to DIY apply sealant on visible cracks still leaks

Since now is sunny i a mirror to check there are other cracks under the ledge of the window so i sealed now hopefully for the best

 

[light84]

This is normal wear and tear not under town council

It’s not. Just call town council, they will send someone to fix.

They will send a contractor to apply a waterproof membrane over the wall and den paint over it to match the facade color

 

[halfnode]

Nop,called b4,town council n hdb are not responsible for this

can share your case? was the window changed before?

 

[light84]

My cases were leaking between window and cement grout wall joint and external wall crack water seepage during rain

Town council arrange gondola to fix but need to wait, especially the wet weather these days.

Anything on the external wall is on town council for older flats and hdb for newer flats within their liability defect period

If windows leakage, is owner problem.

But some type of windows such as full height window or corner windows, town council will do cos there is no way the owner can reach outside safely to repair or silicone caulk it.

If external wall leaking on 35th floor on the outside with no access, only gondola can reach, how can owner fix?

 

[light84]

Nop,called b4,town council n hdb are not responsible for this

No I’m very sure town council or hdb will do. U can search on renotalk forum, many cases but as long external wall leak, town council will do for flats outside of the defect liability period.

 

[Dusky01]

The rain these 2 wks really tested all the workmanship of the building

Quickly go complain to Hdb / town council

External wall / common property are managed by Hdb / town council / developer / must

There is nothing owner can do

 

[belgarathc]

My cases were leaking between window and cement grout wall joint and external wall crack water seepage during rain

Town council arrange gondola to fix but need to wait, especially the wet weather these days.

Anything on the external wall is on town council for older flats and hdb for newer flats within their liability defect period

If windows leakage, is owner problem.

But some type of windows such as full height window or corner windows, town council will do cos there is no way the owner can reach outside safely to repair or silicone caulk it.

If external wall leaking on 35th floor on the outside with no access, only gondola can reach, how can owner fix?

Happened to me too. Glad that the problem is resolved by town council without a penny from me.

 

[Lucien666]

Happened to me too. Glad that the problem is resolved by town council without a penny from me.

i will DIY first if CMI i will seek help from TC.

 

[Cookie Muncher]

Thats the inner wall underneath the window?

 

[JoJoeK]

Contact town council please. It's external wall so they will come with gondola to fix it. There's no way you can fix it on your own. Any fix on our own would just be temporary fix & most likely gotta live with anxiety when these fixed give way with downpour... speaking from experience. Hope this helps

 

[vinz]

you replying to a 5 month old post/thread.

most likely they had taken care of it by now.

 

[manford]

Hi All, saw this thread which is this just year...
I have similar problem with water seepage on the external wall of the master bedroom... the seepage is from the old aircon type that you insert into the hole in the wall (approx 500x400mm). The old aircon is no more there now and the hole is boarded up. I have contacted the Town Council and the officer said that since we have touched the opening before (i.e. installed window aircon previously), they will not repair the seepage. They said we have to engage our own contractor to do the repair. Is this true...?

2ndly, if I need to engage a contractor on my own to do this repair, can anyone recommend suitable contractors that have done this kind of repair before as my unit is on the 23rd floor... and btw, what would the cost be like..?

Appreciate your reply very much and many thanks in advance.

 

[zzzzzzz]

Hi All, saw this thread which is this just year...
I have similar problem with water seepage on the external wall of the master bedroom... the seepage is from the old aircon type that you insert into the hole in the wall (approx 500x400mm). The old aircon is no more there now and the hole is boarded up. I have contacted the Town Council and the officer said that since we have touched the opening before (i.e. installed window aircon previously), they will not repair the seepage. They said we have to engage our own contractor to do the repair. Is this true...?

2ndly, if I need to engage a contractor on my own to do this repair, can anyone recommend suitable contractors that have done this kind of repair before as my unit is on the 23rd floor... and btw, what would the cost be like..?

Appreciate your reply very much and many thanks in advance.

approach those hdb approved aluminum window contractors, they can board up the old hole with aluminum frame and aluminum panel (the pattern is look the same as the wooden frame and board the old hdb flats came with)

my parents flat no install aircon and the old wooden board rotted away after many decades. we found a contractor to do the above

 

[manford]

Thanks, I will try contacting some of those approved HDB contractors

 

[PaperPlane91]

Thanks, I will try contacting some of those approved HDB contractors

Hello. Can check with you what’s the status for this? I encountered the same issue and will like to know which HDB contractor you contacted and was the job well completed?