Worried Singaporeans Share Similar Poor HDB Renovation Experiences; After Newspaper Stuffings In HDB Sidewall Video Goes Viral
After a video showing newspaper stuffings in the side walls of a HDB flat emerged, the Housing Development Board (HDB) came out on Sunday afternoon to make clarifications on this potential safety issue. HDB confirmed that there were no structural safety concerns and shared more information pertaining to this incident.
They made clear that the use of these newspapers stuffings in the side wall was done by contractors engaged by the home owner over 19 years ago. These stuffings were only discovered when the owners wanted to replace their windows recently. Investigations are ongoing and the contractor will be punished if found to have engaged in errant practices.
Surprisingly after HDB’s clarification, Singaporean netizens began to share similar sub-standards practices being used for their own home renovations. Below is a sampling of these worrisome experiences shared by fellow Singaporeans.
May Ngway: Yes. I had the same experience and I managed to discover in time by demanding the workers to remove the newspaper.
Some even made accusations that contractors responsible for HDB’s upgrading programs were also guilty of such irresponsible building practices.
Bill Ng: HDB, 2 years ago, my house toilet upgrading, the workers also stuff newspaper into the wall. They even ask us whether got any newspaper.
Another netizen Eric shared his unpleasant experience with a bochup HDB officer responsible for checking on the safety of his HDB flat.
Eric Cheng: totally agreed what u highlight. 2 years ago when I purchased this current flat,my casement window are suppose to be inspect by HDB officer before I can purchase. The HDB officer make an appointment to inspect but didn’t turn up so I called him, he told me just proceed with the sale and purchase.
After I gotten my key and my contractor did a checked. Found out that all the casement window rivet is not stainless steel and warn me to changed and inform to HDB officer why is this so? Shouldn’t it has to be deem safe and stainless steel if not previous owner have to changed. The officer was in shock that I took pic as evidence and ask me to settle privately by not reporting up this case to HDB.
Last,to those HDB owner who’s getting resale flat with casement window,make sure officer has acknowledged the window rivet is stainless steel and the window arm is safe. Many of the old timer officer just browse around the house without really did a check. Apologise for being lengthy. Just sharing my experience with u guys.
Why then does such malpractice takes place? Netizen Kevin Goh explained that this was most likely due to laziness of the workers to make another batch of cement to fill in the gaps. Instead, they use the lazy method of stuffing newspapers, thinking that the home owner wouldn’t know any better.
Kevin Goh 1)They would hv to fill in a lot more cement & sand.
2) Its easier to stuff papers rather than mix another batch of cement for only that little bit more.
3)Cement run out, they hv to go down to pick one bag up from downstairs. ……all these boils down to laziness and irresponsible attitude…
The other reason I’m not so sure, but it has to do with weight issue. but then there is another proper contruction light weight material to stuff in but definitely not newspaper.
What is HDB doing to clampdown on such poor building practices? Sharing more about their procedures will go a long way to allay Singaporeans’ concerns over such incidents. We shouldn’t have to wait till a poorly built window falls off a HDB block and injures someone before taking serious action against these errant contractors.
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