Do you have a Condo Ceiling Leak Issue?

If you are in Singapore, you may be staying in a Condominium, Apartment or other private non-landed estates where there is a ceiling leakage issue. This is often an inter-floor leakage problem as ceiling leaks occur when water seeps downwards from the unit above into your ceiling through the concrete floor slab. This may happen due to the wear and tear of the waterproofing membrane and cement screed in the concrete floor slab. This phenomenon is more common in older buildings and typically occurs in wet areas such as toilets, bathrooms and balconies.

Some of the symptoms of condo ceiling leaks include wet water mark stains. You may find discoloured patches on the ceilings which may even spread to adjoining walls. You should fix ceiling leak issues early to to preserve the structural integrity of your apartment and to prevent water from dripping further into your lower floor neighbour’s house as well.

If you are staying in a HDB flat and experience HDB ceiling leakage issues, please visit this link.

What Should I Do?

In the case of water leakage disputes / ceiling leakage for private non-landed estates, the relevant law is governed by the Building Maintenance and Strata Management Act (BMSMA), which is administered by the Strata Titles Board.

Under the Act, the upper floor unit owner is presumed to be liable for the water leakage and thus the repairs and associated cost, unless he can prove to the contrary. This means that the upper floor neighbour will need to repair their waterproofing, given evidence or signs of water seepage, including dampness, watermark, water dripping, etc. The first step is normally to talk to your neighbour or involve your condominium’s Management Corporation or MCST to settle the issues amicably. The next step is for the upper and lower floor flats to jointly carry out an investigation to determine the cause of the leak and proceed with repairs.

If an amicable resolution is not able to be achieved, the flat owner can make an application to the Strata Titles Board to resolve the problem. More than six out of every 10 cases brought to the Strata Titles Board (STB) in the last three years involved water leakage issues between unit owners, said the Ministry of National Development (MND). 

If you have a inter-floor water leakage issue with your neighbour, please do give us a call for further consultation to prevent further damage and possible dispute arising. We are able to provide full diagnosis and professional inspection. Call us for all your waterproofing and plumbing needs at +65 6232 6603.

How to get Condominium / Apartment Ceiling Leak Issue Fixed?

There are different methods to solve ceiling leak issues, depending on the severity of the leak and the needs of the upper floor. Hacking of existing tiles, Re-screeding and relaying of new tiles is the most common option. However, such a repair will require sacrificing existing fixtures and installations in the toilet, bathroom or balconies. Such a method also require a few days of hacking of tiles, which is dusty and noisy.

Our Recommended Waterproofing Method

There are also other methods to resolve a ceiling leak that you can explore. For example, Flood Infusion Method and injection of chemical grout (also known as the Polyurethane (PU) Injection Method or PU Grouting) which our company are able to professionally provide these services, including the repair of false ceiling which is damaged by the water leakage.

To tackle water leakage issues, Prima Seal recommends an innovative Flood Infusion Treatment (Chemical Infusion Treatment) using an advanced waterproofing chemical solution. This method solves ceiling leak issues without the need for hacking of existing tile finish and can be completed within a day.

The solution is a film forming and crystallising sealer for seepage and dampness and can migrate more than 100 mm into concrete under the influence of water. This effectively seals all leakage problems including the tininess of cracks.

Learn more about our waterproofing methods by visiting the links below.