Last updated: 2026-10-10
Seepwise handles ceiling leak repair across Singapore by tracing water to the floor slab above and fixing it there, rather than covering the stain from below. HDB notes that ceiling leaks are particularly common in older flats, especially under bathrooms and toilets, because the waterproofing membrane and screed in the floor slab wear down over time (HDB).
What happens on the first visit
On the first visit the specialist maps the damp area with a moisture meter, photographs the stain and its edges, and checks the three things that most often imitate a slab leak: an aircon drain line, a concealed water pipe and a window frame. If the unit above has to be checked, the visit is arranged with the upstairs owner, because the repair itself usually happens in their wet area. You get the likely source, the method, and who is responsible under HDB or condo rules before anything is quoted.
Why ceiling leaks start in the floor above
Bathrooms and kitchens are built with a waterproofing membrane under a layer of screed and the floor tiles. When that membrane cracks or debonds, water from showers and floor washing passes into the concrete slab and appears on the ceiling of the unit below. HDB describes the sign to look for: water marks or stains running from the ceiling down the wall (HDB).
A stain that grows after showers points to the wet area above. A stain that grows after rain points to the roof or an external wall. A stain that appears when the aircon runs points to a drain line. That pattern decides which specialist and which method you need.
The methods, and when each one fits
Re-screeding. Tiles are hacked off, the old screed and membrane removed, a new membrane laid and turned up the walls, then new screed and tiles. HDB calls re-screeding "the most effective solution for ceiling leaks" (HDB).
PU injection (non-hacking). Polyurethane resin is injected through small holes into the cracks or joints the water travels through. It avoids hacking, but it does not replace a failed membrane, so it suits localised leaks and buys time rather than renewing the whole wet area. See PU injection leak repair.
Ceiling-side work only. Scraping and repainting the ceiling below is the last step, never the repair. Without fixing the source, the stain returns with the next wet week.
Who pays for a ceiling leak in Singapore
In HDB flats, the upper and lower flat owners share responsibility for the floor slab between them (HDB). Under HDB's Goodwill Repair Assistance scheme, HDB has co-paid 50% of ceiling-leak repairs, with the other half split between the two owners (MND). If the leak was caused by renovation work upstairs, the upper owner bears the full cost (Singapore Legal Advice). Top-floor leaks from the roof go to the Town Council, because the roof is common property (HDB).
In condominiums, BCA's guidance is a joint inspection with the management, with damages settled privately and disputes taken to the Strata Titles Boards (BCA Guide 13). Full detail: who pays for an HDB ceiling leak.
What is included
- Moisture-meter map of the damp area
- Photo record you can give HDB, the MCST or an insurer
- Aircon drain, pipe and window checks ruled in or out
- Arranging access with the unit above
- Method chosen for the source, not the stain
- Ponding test before re-tiling on re-screed jobs
- Ceiling made good after the source is fixed
- Written scope and price before work starts
Painting over it vs a quick fix vs a proper repair
| DIY | Quick fix | Proper repair | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Where the work happens | Your ceiling | Your ceiling or a sealant line | The floor slab above, at the source |
| Finds the actual source | No | Rarely checked | Moisture map plus elimination checks |
| Membrane renewed | No | No | Yes on re-screed jobs |
| Ponding test | No | Skipped | Yes, before tiles go back |
| Paperwork for HDB / MCST | None | None | Photos and a written finding |
What it costs
Published 2026 contractor guides put a toilet waterproofing package (membrane, screed and ponding test) at roughly S$800 to S$2,500, and hacking and disposal at about S$800 to S$1,500 per bathroom (Triton, PRDT, Hock Star). Check whether GST and re-tiling are included.
Try the cost estimator or read the waterproofing cost guide.
Related guides
- Who Pays for an HDB Ceiling Leak?
- Ceiling Leak From Upstairs: What to Do First
- How Much Does Ceiling Leak Repair Cost in Singapore (2026)?
- Water Dripping From the Ceiling: Aircon, Pipe or Slab?
How it is done
- Tell us what you see. Photos of the stain and when it grows: after showers, rain or aircon use.
- Inspection. Moisture readings, elimination checks, access to the unit above arranged.
- Repair at the source. Re-screed or PU injection, chosen for where the water enters.
- Test and make good. Ponding test on re-screed jobs, then the ceiling below is repaired.