KiasuParents - Parenting in Singapore

We have a 14yo HDB flat and would like to renovate the bathrooms. We are overseas at the moment, so I'm trying to get info about the current HDB rules in advance before we return. I would be really grateful if someone could answer some of the questions below:

To replace the floor, is hacking the only solution? Is some kind of overlay possible? Pros and cons?

Our common bathroom has only 1 drainage hole which is quite far away from the shower area. It's currently drained through a channel but this is not a very satisfactory solution. Has anyone had the same problem and how have you solved it?

Is it possible to install an air extractor or a wall fan in an HDB bathroom? Can we install a power outlet in the bathroom?

Thanks!

I'm not conversant with reno specifics, but on hacking vs overlaying. I had read before about pp who overlaid their new hdb toilet tiles and seems like in some cases, the tiles may pop out after sometime.

If a flat is 14 y/o, you may want to consider to redo it in case the waterproofing is not as before. My take is that if you are intending to stay long, must do what's necessary. Don't save time/money only to regret in future. I scrimped on flooring years back and now live in regret - to do properly the flooring will cause a lot of work and money.

Yes, water proofing nowadays - like everything else - is not as good as it was decades ago. I remember I stayed 15 yrs in a previous flat with my parents and there was no complaints from our neighbour downstairs nor from us (on our neighbour upstairs). After we moved to another flat, our neighbour downstairs complained of ceiling leaks in the toilets after some years, and we had to re-waterproof it.

Then when I got married and had my own flat, we found our neighbour's toilets upstairs got leak. Asked them to fix it, which they tried to avoid till we got HDB to send them a letter, and within a few years it leaked again...

The contractors for industrial/commercial projects also provides warranty for only 5 yr, as I realised at work previously.

So to avoid inconvenience later, it is advisable not to save the money or trouble and re-waterproof the toilet if you're renovating anyway. And depending on your needs, you might want to choose tiles that are smooth (for easy washing), or has more grip (for safety).

Can neighbor's interior designer continues the work after the expired of the hacking period?

Upstairs neighbour still doing renovation to bathroom after the date stated on the paper, till now water dripping to our bathroom pipe. Have been a few times already. First ceiling cracking, now after the date, the renovation still continues... even now pipe got affected.

I am the one cleaning after the mess.

Www wrote:Can neighbor's interior designer continues the work after the expired of the hacking period?

Upstairs neighbour still doing renovation to bathroom after the date stated on the paper, till now water dripping to our bathroom pipe. Have been a few times already. First ceiling cracking, now after the date, the renovation still continues... even now pipe got affected.

I am the one cleaning after the mess.

Did you call town council? They are supposed to come down to touch up your unit after they have finished. If water dripping, that means their water proofing is not down properly. Better ensure its done properly, else it will be more trouble for your down the road...

Dreamgear wrote:

Www wrote:Can neighbor's interior designer continues the work after the expired of the hacking period?

Upstairs neighbour still doing renovation to bathroom after the date stated on the paper, till now water dripping to our bathroom pipe. Have been a few times already. First ceiling cracking, now after the date, the renovation still continues... even now pipe got affected.

I am the one cleaning after the mess.

Did you call town council? They are supposed to come down to touch up your unit after they have finished. If water dripping, that means their water proofing is not down properly. Better ensure its done properly, else it will be more trouble for your down the road...

Town council got provide such service? The last time when ceiling crack, the upstairs ID sent the staff do for free. Now after the reno period stated on paper send to us, they still ongoing what they call "minor reno". Do not know what they do until now our pipe starts to leak. The staff from ID said they clearing clog basin? Clear until our pipe leaks.

On and off I have to clean up. Could we write to HDB complain and ask the upstairs to stop the minor reno since after the date stated on the paper?

How Town council touch up the unit? Need to pay?

The town council will step in and make your neighbour upstair rectify any damage to your unit, if the damage was due to their make-over

Dreamgear wrote:The town council will step in and make your neighbour upstair rectify any damage to your unit, if the damage was due to their make-over

Don't think it's Town Council's job. It should be HDB, right? Town Council handles the management of the estate.

qms wrote:

Dreamgear wrote:The town council will step in and make your neighbour upstair rectify any damage to your unit, if the damage was due to their make-over

Don't think it's Town Council's job. It should be HDB, right? Town Council handles the management of the estate.

For my case, i call up the town council and they arrange from there.... But could be they looped hdb in... Not sure if thats the case