Recently, reports flooded from residents of the Jalan Tenaga HDB blocks regarding cracks appearing in their home interior, mostly on ceilings.
In an interview with Straits Times, a resident named Mr. Tan shared how a roughly 2m-long ceiling crack appeared in the bedroom of his top-floor unit. He is one of at least four residents of the same top floor that have noticed cracks appearing in their homes.
What might have caused these cracks to happen in not only one but several flats?
Reasons for Ceiling Leaks in Your HDB
While the ceiling cracks in the units of the Jalan Tenaga HDB blocks may seem to come out of nowhere, it is not without a cause.
Here are some of the possible reasons for ceiling creaks, based on anecdotes from various residents:
Re-Roofing Work
Many residents mention a re-roofing work happening in the said HDB block that started in September to October of last year. According to the Aljunied-Hougang Town Council, this re-roofing is a part of work required to be made every 14 years.
Mr. Tan and other residents of the block mentioned that the re-roofing included hacking on the surface of the roof and replacing the waterproofing membrane.
While the purpose of re-roofing is to prevent cases like ceiling leakage, ironically, the process may also be the cause of cracks appearing.
It is a rare instance. However, there is a slim possibility that re-roofing may cause structural stress to a building. The weight of the workers and materials may cause vibration and physical stress to the structure, leading to cracks.
But again it is rare, and usually happens if there’s already pre-existing structural issues.
Ageing
It is said that the blocks of the Jalan Tenaga were built around 1992 and 1993, thus the maintenance work to preserve the structural integrity of the buildings.
There are people like Madam Huang and her husband who have lived in their flat for more than 30 years. She expressed concerns regarding the building’s structural integrity due to more than a dozen cracks that appeared in her ceiling and walls.
Over time the structure of any infrastructure weakens. It might be caused by material aging; for example, drywall and plasters may lose their elasticity eventually and might become brittle, causing cracks to appear from any pressure.
Also, the more a structure settles on its foundation, the more toll it takes on the building itself. The slight movements may create stress on areas like the ceiling and walls, leading to cracks.
So, the age of the building added with the physical stress may have caused the cases of ceiling cracks in multiple units.
Although this is speculative and it is best to still seek the opinion of a professional on the matter.
Humid Weather
Around the time cases of ceiling cracks were reported and re-roofing work were well on the way, Singapore experienced its wettest November since 1980, when rainfall data collection first began.
In November 2024, it was reported that Singapore had a total rainfall of 419mm, surpassing the record of 390.1mm from November 1992. This is due to the north-east monsoon season. Furthermore, the Meteorological Service Singapore (MSS), mentioned a 47.4% increase in the average November rainfall from the previous years.
Prolonged exposure to moisture and humidity, as well as temperature fluctuation, may also cause structures to weaken. When materials absorb moisture, it has a tendency to swell, sag, or mold, weakening the structure which then leads to cracking. In addition, wet materials are heavier, adding pressure to the structure.
This is also a reason why more damp areas of a house are vulnerable to ceiling cracks over time.
For instance, another resident, Mr. Wee, noticed cracks in his bedroom toilet and patches of mold in his kitchen in recent months. He added how leaks in the toilet have happened on and off, with the leaks getting worse recently.
It might be because of the re-roofing work, the recent rainy weather, the dampness of the area, or a mixture of any of these factors.
The Aljunied-Hougang Town Council stated that the re-roofing work in the Jalan Tenaga HDB blocks is expected to be done by the second quarter of 2025, subject to weather conditions. They have also extended a hand to the residents that have reported cracks and leaks, arranging repair works for them.
The recent case of the Jalan Tenaga units emphasizes the importance of vigilance regarding signs of ceiling cracks, which may be a symptom of bigger structural issues.
However, self-diagnosing your home is not enough. Coordinate with your local town hall and elicit the help of professionals on the steps you may take to keep your home safe.