Incidence of Cracking or Popping of Floor Tiles in HDB Flats in Woodlands Town

Mr Vikram Nair asked 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.

The Senior Minister of State for National Development (Mr Desmond Lee) (for the Minister for National Development): Mdm Speaker, a question in almost identical terms was asked yesterday and a response was issued in written form. I would point both Members to that. I would be happy to take supplementary questions.

Mr Vikram Nair (Sembawang): I apologise because I have not seen the answer yet. I would like to ask the Senior Minister of State, what was the answer to the first two questions that I had: the number of units and, as a percentage of the total number of units in blocks 685 to 690.

Mdm Speaker: If the Senior Minister of State can just summarise.

Mr Desmond Lee: For the blocks in question, because they were built more than 15 years ago, HDB does not keep track of the data.

Mr Vikram Nair: Anecdotally, from what I understand from residents, I have been told that over the course of 15 years, more than 50% of the units have had their tiles popped. The view is that that is because of workmanship issues. I understand HDB has been very kind. It has actually been replacing the popped tiles for about the last 15 years. Because I think this issue will continue to rise and continue to come up, if it is a workmanship issue, rather than HDB incurring the cost of replacing it each time, my suggestion would be for HDB to give a one-off grant to the residents to replace at their own cost and their own choice of the type of tiles. The issue, the residents tell me, is that when the same tiles are put in by the same contractors, they pop again. This may be one way to just close the issue off, for upcoming cases that arise.

Mr Desmond Lee: Madam, as set out in the reply yesterday, there are many causes for popping tiles. Most developers would give a one-year Defects Liability Period (DLP), while others may give more, for example, three years of DLP, on a goodwill basis. HDB's practice goes way beyond that to 15 years. We do so for all such cases that are surfaced to our attention within the 15-year period, without us necessarily looking at the cost of it. As for the Member's suggestion, we take note of it.