Written and Oral Answer by Ministry of National Development on cracking and popping floor tiles

Apr 4, 2017

04 Apr 2017 

Mr Vikram Nair: To ask the Minister for National Development 

(a) what is the number of flats in blocks 685 to 690 of Woodlands Town that have reported their floor tiles cracking or popping from the time the flats were constructed to date;

(b) what is this figure as a percentage of the total number of flats in the area;

(c) what are the causes of these tiles cracking or popping; and

(d) whether HDB will take any steps to assist flat owners who continue to experience such popping or cracking tiles in the coming years.

03 Apr 2017 

Mr Liang Eng Hwa: To ask the Minister for National Development 

(a) in the last two years, what has been the number of reports received on floor tiles popping up or cracking;

(b) what are its causes; and

(c) how can HDB assist flat owners to deal with the situation.

Answer:

Tiles, like all fittings, fixtures and finishes in a flat, are subject to wear and tear over time. They may dislodge due to various reasons, such as differential thermal expansion and contraction of tiles, or the natural deterioration of the bond between the tiles and the screed surface. All these can cause a loss of adhesion between the tiles and the screed surface, and the dislodgement of tiles. In the past two years, HDB received about 2,000 cases of dislodged floor tiles per year. This works out to a nationwide yearly average of about two cases per 1,000 dwelling units, or 0.2% per year.

Flat owners are responsible for the maintenance of their flats, including repairs for general wear and tear. In private developments, developers generally only rectify dislodged tiles during the 1-year Defect Liability Period (DLP). Some developers may offer repair for dislodged tiles for a slightly longer period, for example, three years, but those are generally done on a goodwill basis.

HDB’s practice has been more generous – besides helping flat owners repair dislodged tiles originally provided by HDB during the 1-year DLP, it also offers goodwill repairs for dislodged tiles for up to 15 years. For flats that are older than 15 years of age, HDB will help carry out inspections and assist the owners to remove and dispose of the affected tiles. HDB can also provide owners with a list of registered repair contractors, whom they can then engage on a private basis.