Injected PU Fillers Into The Ceiling

I dislike stains on the false ceiling. That means there's water leaking in from somewhere. The stain on the false ceiling in the kitchen first appeared in 2023, then 2024. I know this wouldn't be a leak from the pipe. The rate is too slow. Last year, I had newspapers in the false ceiling that I changed every six months. By this year, it would be the third year that the leak came through. I needed to do something about it. Water leaks can't be wished away. It could only get bigger. I don't want anything to burst and collapse. 

The AC crew took a look and declared it isn't a leak from their pipes. My own plumbers came in to take a look in 2023 and 2024. In 2023, they couldn't really pinpoint where the leak came from. They wrapped up the pipes and see if that would resolve a minor leak. In 2024, we were sure it wasn't the pipes. My plumbers finally diagnosed the issues after many checks and elimination. This is in no way explained by humidity and condensation. There are already stalactites on the raw concrete. LOL The seepage is slow. They could attempt to fix it by injecting a PU filler, but if this involves the discharge pipes and concrete ceiling and waterproofing, then this is under the purview of the developer and Main Contractor (MainCon). 

After much procrastination, I sent a query to the MCST in September. I didn't know if it might involve the unit upstairs (co-payment or something) or minimally what the neighbors might need to observe/check on their part. So I wanted it all to be recorded. The maintenance crew and even their contracted plumbers came in to take a look, and the MainCon's plumbers too. Like five times. They arrived at the same conclusion as my plumbers. Of course lah — they're all professionals and they know what they see. The MainCon's plumbers have seen this play out a billion times. 

I am very fearful of leaks in the home. It's like an obsession and it keeps me up at night. I need to get a full picture and see what's going on. Talking to plumbers and the contractor might not tell me the full picture for the situation, viability of the fix and future issues; if I asked more questions, they might get annoyed. I only have a 'SkillsFuture plumbing maintenance 101' understanding. So I checked in with ChatGPT. I'm somewhat assured that this fix will hold for a bit.

The entire estate is still under the developer's 10-year warranty. I'm just relieved that it happened at this time so that I can get it rectified. At this point, this is indeed a matter for the MainCon to sort out. Water is leaking from the concrete ceiling from the discharge pipes somewhere in the stack or from the upstairs unit. The waterproofing isn't holding up. No payment necessary on my part this round, but I get all the fun of cleaning up.

The false ceiling had to be cut open again. Repair works weren't too messy. It was half a day's work. But still. Ugh. I had to laugh. The suggested Saturday date of injecting concrete fillers was right smack on our wedding anniversary. I sent the dog away to her aunties, sent the husband to the gym, and I got a good workout cleaning up. 

There're so many water issues in this flat. Oh well. It could have been worse, really. Ahhh... the joys of owning a home. 

Water Storage Tank Woes

The second (developer-installed) water storage heater tank in the flat split and leaked. The water cascaded down from the false ceiling. A WATERFALL. I looked at the dripping ceiling and didn't even shriek. This is my permanent nightmare. Came to pass. I really dislike water leaks of any sort, and especially those coming down from the ceiling. UGH.

On the bright side, I was home and luckily for me, I knew what to do. (Thanks SkillsFuture courses of Plumbing and AC Maintenance 101.) I could immediately turn off the valve at the pipe to the tank, tried to drain it a little, and cleaned up. Mopped the floor thoroughly for now. I'm beyond thankful that the plumbing crew managed to come in the next day. THANK GOODNESS. 

This was the tank that had its thermostat replaced in 2021. So the tank held secure for a few more years and WHOOSH. This original developer-installed tank is too big for two persons in the flat — 56-liters. In order to remove the cracked tank, the crew had to slice off a giant chunk of the false ceiling, a few railings, and removed two lights hanging off of it. Walaoeh. 

After all the sawing, they had to drain the old tank, which meant another round of ponding on the floor. Which is fine, because it helped to remove this initial layer of dust. I handed the crew old t-shirts to lay over the dust and water. That would do for now. The real cleaning and mopping would come later on. 

I rolled eyes at the 56-liter tank. It was huge. I honestly didn't need such a huge second tank. A 25-liter will do. The installation was painless. That was much easier to handle for any crew. 

And on the same day, at the same time, I also replaced my front door's digital lock. It was oddly not too chaotic. Removing the old lock and installing a new version was surprisingly quick though. My old lock's dimensions and latches complemented the new one.  

The plumbing crew replaced the false ceiling and plastered it up, and had the kitchen lights fitted back. But of course the paint colors don't match. Never mind. As long as the tank is new and properly installed and running fine. The kitchen lights seem to be holding okay for now.

Damn. I cleaned house. I vacuumed thrice, and mopped thrice, alternating. Luckily I also covered up the kitchen counter. Otherwise it would be madness. I also wiped down the counters and table-tops thrice. 

New Room Doors & A Choya Door

You know my flat is this never-ending story when it comes to defects, leaks and random annoying repairs because the developer stinged on every thing. I wouldn't even call my things 'home improvement projects'. These 'projects' are literally repairs and trying to salvage leaks and holes. 

It's the doors this round. Over the years, the room doors had their laminate begin peeling. Squirted industrial glue on the laminate to stick them back. They held for a bit. Then they peeled again. Zzzzzz. The wood used is I duct-taped them into this black and brown fake-Mondrian pattern. LOL 

The developer thought the design would look good if the doors have a few pieces of laminate stuck onto it rather than a 'plain' simple piece. Idiots. They weren't stuck on well, and couldn't beat the humidity. After three years of staring at my duct-taped doors, I decided to replace them all, except for the music room door. That door was already replaced during renovation because we need the room sound-treated. 

Since I was replacing doors, I decided to build a small door to be built for Choya within the bedroom door. Heh. I wasn't going to do a flap door. I didn't like the look of it against wood. So I made a real-wood Choya-sized door with hinges.

These carpenters are super old-school. They do good quality work, but my gawwd, their sense of design is crap. So I had to be very firm about asking to see a prototype before they do the actual fabrication. Please don't stun me with an ugly door. It's a dog door, but it's not just any dog door. Dohhhhh.

With a regular bedroom door that has no opening in it for a dog to come through, I don't close it at all in the nights. I leave it ajar so that Choya can easily push it open wider to come in and out. I was pleased when the bedroom door + mini door were installed. Very nice. It was practical too. The 40cm x 40cm opening is perfect for the lean 7-kg Choya. The door hinge opens inwards to the bedroom along the wall, so there's no worry of being tripped by it. There's no issue about weight of this mini door. There's a latch at the back to close it when it's not in use, especially in the day. 

Choya immediately knew what this opening in the door is for. She tested out while I was very busy cleaning up wood dust and all. (She got chased away from the rooms fairly quickly.) On the very night we closed that bedroom door and opened her little door, she was so intrigued and stoked that she immediately walked in and out like six times just to verify that she could still enter the bedroom. HAHAHAHA. I think she's quite pleased with this special door.

Please Hold And Don't Leak Again, Metal Frame(s)!

When the rains came and the leak came through the joint in the metal frame at the side of a sealed glass panel at the bottom, I was soooo upset. This is the bedroom. HOW TO SLEEP SIAL. The windows held fine. The metal frame didn't. The leak came in from a compromised sealant at the external metal cladding. Of all leaks, this is one leak I couldn't fix and would require professional help. 

I'm so relieved that my paranoia about rainwater and leaks at the windows that resulted in me catching the leak before it went down to the sub-par parquet flooring. This is clearly wear and tear. This entire side of the window plus glass panels face full-on sun and full-on rain with no slates to block. I'm not surprised that the sealant is compromised from the outside and the internal sealant finally gave way after five years.

I HATE LEAKS AND WATER ISSUES. These give me indigestion. This estate and the flat have water issues all the time. I seem to get them once in two years, going by this count. ROARRRRR.

• Before we moved in, there was a giant hole drilled by the main contractor in the water pipe that caused a waterfall in the kitchen. I think I threw up my lunch when I got the call. Major rectification needed to be done over two days. At the same time, I made the plumber re-seal the pipes to the drainage for the washing machine and the dishwasher, and the sinks.

• That damn flood from the Ariston heated water storage tank. Sub-par water tanks that cracked and leaked within two years. When 52% of the estate's units have cracked water heaters within two years, it's obvious that the developer stinged on such fittings.  

• And now, this damn leak from the joint in metal frame, that's obviously structural even though it's a wear and tear. I should be so glad that this leak happened only after five years.

The estate's Management Office's crew took one look at my videos and photos, came over for a quick look (completely unhelpful), and tossed it over to the estate's developer and their main contractor to sort it out. They have obviously encountered these leakages across a number of units, and it's an issue that can be resolved if the leak is minor and controlled to portions of the external cladding.

A rectification date was set, and I didn't argue with them to bring it forward. On hindsight, I was glad it was almost two weeks later so that the weather would hold fair and bright for the sealant to be placed and dried before the next batch of rains come. After the rectification date was fixed, it promptly rained for four days, two of which was non-stop.

Meanwhile, I went bonkers putting a temporary silicone sealant over the joint to manage the leak till the rectification date. It didn't just leak during the storms — that damn leak continued even after the rains stopped. So I knew that there was water pooling inside the metal frame from outside. It was untenable unless I did something. I didn't dare put a metal spray sealant in case that messed up with the rectification works. Silicone is easy to strip.

Four people came to sort out this leak. Two actually workers and two uhhh giving eye power. They stripped and re-caulked the internal seal, as well as added additional sealant. I asked them to check the other frames and re-caulk them too. They also wiped and checked the outside caulking. Whewww.  

FFS, PLEASE STOP LEAKING FOR THE NEXT FEW YEARS.

Choya Was Home Alone!

It was a short trip to Bangkok for the man and I, but it was as long as we were willing to leave Choya, and not exhaust her caregivers. Choya's care required meticulous planning. I knew that leaving Choya at home alone and engaging professional sitters and paying them well for their time and effort to do drop-ins was the way to go. These sitters I've engaged are utterly ethical and have uncompromising values when it comes to caring for dogs. It also helps that they're trained vet techs.

While the sitters are absolutely professional and know how to walk a dog and feed her, I also needed to help them by working out logistics on my side and be very clear and organized. I drafted the AM/PM environment and 10-point instructions, took photos of where things are placed and labeled them, et cetera. We even planned for contingencies of flight delays, because that would mean an extra day of care needed. Choya is completely house trained. She is perfectly fine home alone, till the thunder crackles. Still, this is the first time she was left alone for more than six hours, what more for a few days. There would be some sort of anxiety that I needed to try to foresee, manage and ameliorate. 

Smol Girl is neurotic and has severe storm anxiety. She has a tendency to scratch till her nails and paws bleed. That blood splatter all over can be scary. I needed experienced professionals who know what to do. This isn't a vet emergency unless she tears off a nail. I can't control the weather. I could only pray as hard as I could for weather mercies. Amen. Thankfully, the weather held through the nights, for each of the 12 hours that she was alone. Alexa did her job, and the sitters set the PM environment, with a little help from Gabapentin. No blood was spilled. Thank God.

My neighbors too, were absolutely lovely. They dropped in every afternoon with Maya and Ivy (Choya's childhood friends) to cheer her up. And floof-fwens totally did so. These floofs made her so happy and rode through thunderstorms with her. She counted four sundowns, and then she was thrilled to see us walk through the front door, finally. 🦊

I couldn't believe my ears and luck when O volunteered to be the main human to come check in on Choya. OMG. That was amazingly precious. It's an offer that no money can buy. What a friend! And she did. She really did. I felt so bad that she portioned out so much time for Choya. O has my eternal gratitude. I'll never forget this humongous favor she has done for us.

So many good friends reached out to offer to check in on Choya. They know that sitters can bear the bulk of the work of walking and feeding, but it would be a breeze if everyone rotates to check in on Smol Girl. I'm so appreciative. They didn't need to — these four people got it down pat. But I know that I have many people to depend on in the event of an emergency. I'm blessed, and I can't be more grateful for these friendships. #FriendsForLife All these, gave me a peace of mind to do what I needed to do in Bangkok. 

The man and I came home to a dog who isn't the least bit traumatized by our absence. In fact, she was so cheeky greeting us that night when we stepped through the door. My sweet girl's temperament is still even, and she is herself, all cheek and sass. This, is priceless. 🧡

No Hot Water from the Other Water Storage Heater Tank

The hot water stopped flowing in the other bathroom and kitchen. Haizzzzz. It had to be the other water heater storage tank in the kitchen ceiling. I sighed and climbed up to take a look. No leaks spotted in the valves or on the tank itself. No moisture in the area. No obvious signs of rust lines as far as I could tell. It was likely an issue with the integrated circuit, maybe the thermostat and heating element. (At least I had hoped it was indeed such a simple issue.) Since it wasn't an urgent matter, I ignored it for three months.

This is a three-year-old flat. Gosh, this developer's contractor who installed these water heater storage tanks did a really shitty job. Neighbors have been steadily reporting rust, cracks and leaks in their tanks. I still have nightmares from the December incident in the bedroom bathroom. Yup, this second water heater storage tank in my flat is the same 56-liter Ariston Pro RS 56 SHE SIN3. 

I didn't bother with calling my own contractor. His plumbers can rectify leaking valves and electrical issues, or change out a tank. But they don't have the know-how to check the heating elements in the access panel of the tank or have the spare parts to replace faulty ones. This is a job for Ariston to fix. When the water tank isn't leaking, the brand would carry all spare parts and their outsourced technicians would know how to fix it. At least this second one is located in the kitchen ceiling where there's a bit more space and light for the crew to do their job. The size of the opening is in the same shitty dimensions, which means the crew would have to drill and widen the opening if and when a replacement water heater is required. 🤬

The Ariston technician came to take a look at it. It was a 15-minute job. $160 for diagnosis and replacement of the faulty thermostat. He stayed another 10 minutes to ensure that warm water flowed from the taps. I had two invoices. One from Ariston for $100, and one from the plumber's company for $60. Okaaay. That means this plumber knows Ariston heaters, and probably has access to their parts, unless it's a regulated thing by the brand. I should keep the plumber's details for future needs. The heater is back up and working. I am soooo relieved. I'll just have to keep a ear out for leaks in the future.  

One Water Heater Tank Cracked and Leaked

I'm paranoid about water leakage in the home. I've had enough nightmares about water leakage issues and its ensuing mess. Especially after that wall of cascading water in the kitchen before we moved in. I'm always sensitive to the sound of water in the flat, especially if it makes a rhythm it isn't supposed to at an odd timing. This resulted in me knowing when the neighbors upstairs flush the toilet, shower and use the sink. Hahahah. 

Last night, I heard an odd new sound of water dripping overheard in the bedroom toilet, and decided it didn't sound right. The color of the false ceiling didn't look right either. It was 11.30pm, but I had to get up there to check. WOAH. That damn water heater tank cracked and sprung a leak. OMG. I turned off the valves and immediately soaked up the excess water, and also stuck blu-tack on the crack lines. 

At least it's not the pipes. I'm relieved that I caught the leak in time for it not to turn into a waterfall down the ceiling to flood everything, kill the electricals or the mains, and having to install a whole false new ceiling panel. I was immensely grateful that my contractor answered my SOS at midnight, and sent plumbers over first thing in the morning. He's such a godsend. 

To have a water heater tank crack and leak in two years? Come on. Ariston water heater tanks might be good, but the installation job was crap. The developers in this estate didn't give a shit about possible cracks in the tank during transport and installation. The workers for my unit probably didn't care too. Why should they? I know many units in the estate face this issue of water tanks leaking. One neighbor in my block had theirs BURST, and it flooded the entire false ceiling panel and also the room. OMG. The water leakage issues in this estate are so bad that they had to send out a survey form to ask us about it. 

When I saw the model of the leaking Ariston 56-liter water heater versus the size of the opening in the ceiling last night, I was like 'you fucking idiots.' The developers' instructions were dumb. The workers fixed and wired up everything in the ceiling, THEN layer the false ceiling over it. Without calculating the measurements needed for removal or repair. Even I knew this based on one look. Indeed it was so. I didn't say a thing, and my plumbers regretfully informed me that they had to cut up the false ceiling in order to remove the heater and place the new one in. 

Put a collar on the dog in case she made a run for it when the workmen opened the door to get tools, gear and such. Yup, she tried it twice. Got caught. So she gave up and went to nap at the patio. I had sent videos and photos to alert the contractor to the situation, so the plumbers came prepared with a new water tank, new brackets, cutters, drill, and sufficient equipment to complete the job. Man, this is hard work. They were neat about it though. That was most appreciated. It was a three-hour two-men job. (My funny contractor still hadn't sent me the bill. Alamak.) Thank God that this didn't happen during lockdown. I left the access panel open to air for a few days, and I'd check on water pressure and all that, and slide it shut later. 

That Bloody Hole In The Water Pipe

There I was thinking that all’s fine with the new flat save for a few hiccups. When my contractor and plumber ran a final check through the system, they found a separate, and almost sneakily hidden main switch for the water pipe that led to the washing machine. They turned it on, lo and behold, water came gushing of the cabinets above the washer, including the sides of the electrical sockets. WTF.

That singular water pipe had burst right above the washer, either from an accidental hole drilled into it or from sheer water pressure. From the looks of it, the leak was located right behind the kitchen cabinets. These cabinets were installed by the developer. And this is one side of the kitchen untouched by my contractor. It had to be a defect from the initial installation by the developers. This is a water pipe that doesn't feed any other area; it brings water to the washer exclusively. So when I tested the flat for leaks, it didn't occur to me that the washer is fed by a different water line. I don't know enough about it, but even my plumber said that it's rather peculiar that the washer has a water main all to itself.

Long story short, the estate defects team answered my distress call in record time. Their various technicians (electricals, cabinets/furniture, plumbing) turned up to troubleshoot and managed to resolve the issue over the weekend. I was seriously thankful for that. When the estate defects team and I saw the gaping hole in the water pipe (clearly caused by a drill), we collectively went OMG in about five languages, and hurriedly took many photos. Some idiots (either the previous team's electricians or carpenters) drilled a hole into said water pipe, realized what they had done, and quietly turned off the water supply to that pipe, hoping that nobody would know it till much much later. 🤯🤬

A concealed pipe leak is such a pain. At least it's discovered at this juncture rather than later when I attempt to turn on the washing machine. That entire stretch of cabinets would have to be ripped apart to get to the pipes behind. The developers also put the row of safety switches (for kitchen appliances) within these cabinets. The electrical wires and water pipes sit this tight together. Very silly. While neat and nice, repairing a concealed pipe leak behind these cabinets is a nightmare. Basically you have to rip the cabinets apart. Two days of work by three different teams (shelving/carpentry, electrical and plumbing). Prep for dust and a ton of pain by both homeowners and workers.

Beyond relieved that I didn't rip out this side of the kitchen to rebuild. If my contractor had touched it, the estate defects team would never have agreed to rectify this 'defect' that hadn't been logged. I had thought that it looked fine, and left it stock, figuring that I'd change it out a few years later. Whewwwww. I was more than mildly upset, to say the least. I was already a little ill that day, and literally threw up my lunch and coffee when I saw the videos my contractor and plumber sent. I'm super grateful that my contractor and plumber spotted this at this point of the renovation when the situation hadn't deteriorated into a catastrophe. I really hope that pipe stays fixed. I'd hate to have to rip out kitchen cabinets a few months down the road to do this all over again.

The Renovation Work Is On Track

We didn't need the services of an interior designer. It's a small new flat. I'll sort it out just fine with a contractor. Our renovation permit arrived in record time, and the contractor began work at a speed that surpassed even my expectations. I thought I work fast, he works even faster. He's organized enough, and he's able to communicate very well with us, over phone calls and via text messages. He met us to patiently walk us through the necessary purchases- lights, fans, toilet fixtures, et cetera. He's pretty adaptable to all our last-minute (reasonable) requests too.

Hiring this contractor is a total leap of faith, and very uncharacteristic of me. I knew nothing about him beyond his name, phone number, and the fact that he fulfilled the renovation projects of a number of good friends over the past three years. The friends gave glowing recommendations of his work, and I've seen for myself what he has done with and for the friends' homes. I knew I wanted him as a contractor the moment I finalized the purchase of the new flat. In fact, I chope-d his services months ago before the estate obtained its Temporary Occupation Permit (TOP), and without even asking for quotes. I didn't even know how he looked like! When I finally met him, I instantly knew I made the right decision.

When the man and I took a stroll around the new estate, we were a little stunned by how some units stuck post-its (as an indication of defect/blemish) all over their premises. Our post-its weren't this extreme. We went through our new unit every day for two weeks at different timings and weather, just to spot all possible defects.

We declined offers of getting a 'professional' defects check company to look over our unit. I'm not a noob at this. I drew up our checklist and I was very clear about what I would be willing to overlook and which crucial defects would be unacceptable. I generally obsess over colors and lines and alignment. I'm schooled in basic plumbing science and the logistics of electrical wiring. Also, I'm the one who fixes leaks and things around the kitchen and the toilets. I got this.

Thankfully, by God's grace, our unit seems fine. Either we lucked out completely or the humans assigned to do up our unit are meticulous enough. Either way, we're immensely grateful and relieved. The leaks, cracks, dents, and all have been spotted; not many, really. The odd June rains were complementary to testing the windows and balcony doors. No flooding. All good. Our logged defects barely filled up an A4 page, and the estate team was quick to attend to our concerns. Now that the estate team has rectified all logged defects, it's full steam ahead for renovations.

Don't judge my temporary door mat.

A Home, Not

Forget houses, I've so many paranoia issues with security and stairs that I'll never live in a house that has more than 1 storey. So when it comes to flats, there is a strict policy of no lofts or penthouses. As long as my name is on the ownership papers, that piece of property mustn't have any friggin' stairs.

Flats to me are like, well, just properties. I've come to realize that they don't excite me. I don't go ooh and ahh over them. They're simply utilitarian. To me, renting a flat and buying one has no major difference. I'm not sentimental over a flat. A home is wherever I define it to be. It doesn't even have to be in Singapore.

I don't have a habit of physically going out to view flats. I'm quite decisive about things like location and environment. Those information can be gleaned through paper submissions and viewed in a virtual tour. I demand full details, disclosure and information. This way, it's easy to shortlist 3 properties and then simply make a decision.

When I finally went down to see the empty flats, I was pleased with the fact that they were everything the lawyers and agent declared. If I could pay the Ikea consultant to outfit the entire flat including the renovations, I'd merrily do so.

Hence, it's extremely pleasing to have a professional interior designer to do the entire project, including yelling at people to faster move their ass and hurry up with it already. I honestly don't care if you use crimson or mauve. It's all maroon to me. Or if the teal leans towards blue rather than green. Better still, another professional can sort out the issue of passing it over to the tenants.

I like conveyancing lawyers. They do the thinking and sums to help me achieve the desired objectives and outcomes. :) These aren't my first properties. Investing in them is important, of course. They ensure a continuous stream of happiness. However, the greater realization is, I finally remember that I possess an active CPF account. This kinda happens when I've obediently paid income tax for 4 years. Neither do I want to invest the funds because it'll be the most sluggish performing with the lowest rates of return among my investments. I just want to find some way to use the funds and not let it sit idle. The whole point of this flat-buying exercise is to deplete my CPF to its remaining limits because I'm not convinced of the viability of this scheme to sustain me through to death.

Goodbye Flat #2

Goodbye Flat #1

Moving Out Of Two Flats and Into A New One

Moving Soon

The renovation at the new apartment is chugging along just fine. The painting's been done. Extra sockets and switches are installed. The lights are all up. We only need to give everything a good scrubbing.

We've bought the new furniture, bedding and watnots. Time to pack up the last bits and we're good to go to a new home. Much sooner than expected! Time to terrorise new neighbors.

Moving Day is slated for the last week of January. That will be really exciting. I'm thinking of all the unused stuff I can throw out to make space for new ones!