The One With The Gargantuan Task

[schiz0id 0]

I must put a very huge disclaimer that I am no expert in this area it's all from observations. Guess you hafta check the "quality" of the peeling paint. The peeling paint for the area that's leaking is usually uneven and has this "bubbly" looking surface, not a flat piece. Hope this helps

Yeah, I know about the horrid looking bubbly stuff.

I noticed some peeling paint in the bathrooms. Shall go "jab" them later. Hope the ceiling don't fall on me...

Thanks silversurf!

[edenstrauss 3]

Hi buddy,

those common areas for ceiling leakages u should keep a lookout for are:

a) toilets

b) kitchens

c) balconies

d) (possibly) any areas jux on the "outskirts" of toilets - that's possible if the unit above has not done a decent job for the waterproofing of their toilets, which was what happened to a relative of our friend. The leakage made its way over a period of 6 months across this relative's ceiling in the MBR where her built-in wardrobe. By the time she detected the leakage, it was a tragic mess

As such, at the first sign of any ceiling leakage, please alert your HDB technical officer immediately. Otherwise, you might be "caught" in such an undesirable situation later on.

Ur ID should know how to deal with it if he is experienced enough. He could get the uncle whose dealing with cement to knock off the "lumps" & scrap it off. After the touch-ups & painting oil-based sealer over it, followed by white paint, it should be ok. However, if any parts started to turn brownish or yellowy after that, it's a sure sign that leaking is persisting. Meaning that the fault lies with the tiling for the unit above yours.

If the owners above ur unit are able to trace the root cause of the leak, and willing to rectify the problem, your ceiling leakage problem would be solved.

I wouldn't suggest that u go & touch, or knock off flakes from the ceiling. Get ur ID to do it, whether he is going to do it personally or assign his worker to do it.

Afterall u're paying for the reno & it's his responsibility, so please "delegate" to him. U jux supervise & make sure that he checks & does a thorough assessment of your ceiling.

[edenstrauss 3]

I also wanted to add that u r lucky to have the chance to count your blessings when the leakage took place while ur reno is on-going.

it'll be horrendous if it came after everything is completed at your end!

[schiz0id 0]

Hey eden,

Thanks for that!

Yes, I think i'm lucky that I spotted it before the ceiling guys came and just painted over it. Then it'll be months later before the problem will literally present itself again.

I called HDB early this morning and spoke with the TO, he said my neighbour upstairs just finished reno so asked me to monitor first. Even after I told him there's algae growing.

Anyway, the ID came up and touched the spot and told me it's wet. He wanted to speak to the neighbour or contractor upstairs but no one was around.

So, I called up the contractor doing the house above ours and the boss is coming down to see the algae spots tomoro. He doesn't sound too nice about it but I'll wait and see tomoro.

I doubt he'll want to do anything about it cos the house above ours took a very looooooong time to complete renovations and they're just about done.

Will update on my meeting with him tomoro.

Edited November 3, 2011 by schiz0id

[schiz0id 0]

Did my check on the ceilings today. Carefully scrutinised every single nook and cranny.

Found lots of peeling paint in the toilets. They weren't from bubbly patches. I suspect it's cos the previous owner didn't paint it at all when they moved in. The peeling paint was at the very most 2 layers, revealing the "raw" grey floor slab above.

Will check it out with the plasterer when they come tomorrow. I'd assume they are the same fellas doing the ceiling. Better to get a second opinion

[schiz0id 0]

FLOOR TILING

The day i've been waiting for has finally arrived!

2 new guys are here today (can't call them uncles cos they're not much older than me). They're a flooring specialist (according to the uncle) and his assistant. I was very very impressed with his workmanship and his speed and professionalism.

First thing in the morning, they had to take measurements of the non-existent door frame (you can see there's no door frame) and carefully lay the first tile in the middle of the entrance. [This is a must and absolute necessity for us.] After using their laser equipment and laying the screed at several points, they were off!

At the top of the picture, you can see the first few rows of tiles have gone on the living room. On top of these already laid tiles, there are small square pieces holding down the 4 corners of 4 different tiles to get them to be on the same level. The looong bedroom tiles are used to hold them in place while they dry.

Next, comes the interesting part. See the middle part of the picture which looks like a zen garden? The guy pours a dry mix of cement on top of the screed, uses his "zen rake" to make this arty pattern. It really looks like a zen garden in the middle of our living room! Anyway, he proceeds to pour just enough water over it and lays the tiles on top. He was so graceful and swift, it was like watching an artist at work!

Can you spot his "zen rake"?

Voila! The finished product for Day 1 [Do you see the arghly pillar that absolutely has to go? They are working around that area and not tiling that part yet.]

Another view on the left of the completed area. The new store room at the back of the living room is eagerly waiting its turn for the tiles too!

They will be doing the tiles right into the walkway outside the 3 bedrooms tomoro. Hopefully it's zoom zoom tomoro!

[schiz0id 0]

FLOOR TILING [bEDROOM]

My parents' room were the first to start on their bedroom tiles today. The looooong wood-lookalike tiles are looking nice!

Hopefully after they finish doing the floor tiling outside the other 3 bedrooms tomoro, we can start tiling the bedrooms on Sat!

[pebbles 0]

FLOOR TILING [bEDROOM]

My parents' room were the first to start on their bedroom tiles today. The looooong wood-lookalike tiles are looking nice!

Hopefully after they finish doing the floor tiling outside the other 3 bedrooms tomoro, we can start tiling the bedrooms on Sat!

Niceee..noticed that the tiles are placed brick-like. It will surely look more like it's parquet rather than tiles

Should be more interesting from now

[schiz0id 0]

Niceee..noticed that the tiles are placed brick-like. It will surely look more like it's parquet rather than tiles

Should be more interesting from now

Yeah.. they actually wanted to place the tiles in straight rows (like equal sign = ) but we decided against it.

The ID concurred that it's better with this layout.

I can't wait to see the finished product!

[silversurf 0]

everything is looking good!

ahh good to know that the contractor from upstairs is coming to take a look. don't let him bully you ya? must show him "the look" heehee! hopefully all goes well before the long weekend!

[schiz0id 0]

Thanks! Yeah hope it gets resolved soon.

So new to all these water leakage problems. Brrrr...

[schiz0id 0]

HDB TO just called me to say the pillar (aka sore thumb) is approved for hacking!!! Yippeeeee!!!

Boy, they really work fast! Application submitted yesterday afternoon and less than half a day later it's approved!! :D

[pebbles 0]

HDB TO just called me to say the pillar (aka sore thumb) is approved for hacking!!! Yippeeeee!!!

Boy, they really work fast! Application submitted yesterday afternoon and less than half a day later it's approved!! :D

Yeahh... so everything should be quite fast moving. Hope they can handover on time

Waiting for more updates...

[edenstrauss 3]

Hi buddy,

everything looks good for ur flat! I love those tiles!

if the renovator for the unit above refused to do anything about ur ceiling or does the minimum, u could feedback the matter to HDB & tell HDB that u r getting ur own ID to clean up the "mess". It's important that everything goes into record with the authority.

depending on the TO, some of these TOs would not hesitate to suspend the renovator's license or give them demerit points for being so uncooperative.

Those grayish cement with steel bards exposed are known as spalling concrete. It's very common among older flats & especially for flats with heavily renovated units above theirs & had been repeatedly renovated... those units below them are really pathetic & their owners have my greatest sympathy!

[schiz0id 0]

WET CEILING UPDATE

Contractor came down with upstairs neighbour to take a look at the spot. Contractor says he will ask his guys to come and scrape it away and re-plaster that spot. I'll make sure they put oil-based sealant on it first before plastering!

Will continue to observe but i'm not counting on the problem going away totally. It seems the neighbour upstairs laid granite tiles for his floor tiles. According to my ID, being natural stone, granite might pose long-term problems. I hope I didn't hear him right.

Anyway, not many pics to show today. They did manage to finish the flooring in my parents' bedroom. Can't take pics cos it was too dark in the evening. Will update with pictures tomorrow when they finish the living room tiles!

ID arranging for hacking of pillar (aka sore thumb) to take place tomorrow!! Looking forward to a wide open space in the living area!!