HDB RENOVATION GUIDE

HDB RENOVATION GUIDE | The ecstatic is real when you are at the phase of planning for your new house interior design renovation. It’s a huge and massive project to renovate your house into a comfortable dream nest. However, it ain’t fun if you’ll be penalized if you do not follow the regulations of HDB flats during your renovation phase. It applies to all area HDB flats in Yishun, Jurong East or even Bedok. The regulations are standardized for all HDB owners to comply with. Here are some guides that all HDB homeowners need to know before your renovation begins.

THREE-YEAR RESTRICTIONS PERIOD ON WALL AND FLOOR FINISHES REMOVAL

Though you may prefer something fancier for your bathroom like sexy bathtubs, double sinks, rain showerhead and marbles, there’s a restriction to it. The new Build to Order (BTO) flats come with waterproofing membranes laid between the cement screed and floor tiles for wall and floor finishes. This HDB’s waterproofing effort is to prevent water leakage through your flooring to the flat below. The tiles come with a three-year warranty which will become void if you remove it. So, before you tell your contractor remove everything, please take note on the waterproofing system. However, if you insist to change the flooring, your contractor can still fulfil your wishes by using adhesive to tile over the existing tiles. Not only you can achieve your flooring style but the HDB regulators approve this method without voiding warranty.

CHECK BEFORE RENOVATION BEGINS

Before you start your renovation, HDB will need to assess if your renovation or your interior design will affect the main structural walls of the building. If your design needed to remove or hack involved reinforce concrete wall, pillars, beams or even staircases within an executive maisonette are not approved. You will need to submit your design for approval even if you intend to build arches or rounded corners. Permit will be granted for renovation as long no hacking or removal is done on the concrete or structural walls. Your contractor will help you to submit your application to the HDB when applying for renovation permit.

SUPERVISE YOUR RENOVATIONS

Once you have gotten approval or permit for your renovations, you may begin your renovation. Prior three days before your commencement of your renovation, do inform your neighbours. When renovation starts, it is important to remember that the demolition works can only be carried out from 9am to 5pm daily on weekdays. During the demolition works, there should not have more than two handheld power tools are to be used concurrently for wall hacking and removal or floor finishes. Hacking is required to be finish demolish within three days, be sure to plan ahead before your demolition gets delayed. This is to avoid any disturbances to your neighbours. Be sure to engage professional like Professional Engineer (PE) for Civil or Structural to inspect and supervise your house demolition works.

BE MINDFUL CHOOSING WINDOWS AND GRILLS

Whether it is a resale unit or new BTO flats with different designs in Yishun or Bedok, the windows and window grilles should be installed by BCA-approved window contractors registered with HDB. When you gotten your unit and keys, your in-charge HDB officer will hand you the detailed guidelines for standard grilles that you can use for your service yard. There are restrictions on the windows size, colour and type which have to be similar with HDB’s windows. For example, the size of the casement windows are only allowed to a width of 500mm to 700mm.

THE FACADE OF THE BUILDING

Avoid changing the HDB’s façade, this includes applying paint anywhere outside the flat like the common corridor walls, ceilings and window ledges. You’re not supposed to install any external grilles on the air-con ledge or utilise the space.

ENGAGE ONLY HBD-APPROVED CONTRACTORS OR INTERIOR DESIGNERS

Be mindful when engaging or appointing your contractor or interior designer that has been approved by HDB as they are familiar with the rules and regulations of the HDB housing structure guidelines. Besides, this will give you assurance for them to build your dream house. There are couple of bad apples out there that has since been blacklisted from the board, be sure to check before engaging them as your contractors or interior designers. You may click here to check the list of registered renovation contractors.

I hope this guide will help you guys out there to implement when you want to renovate your building / premises or else.