Do take note that it all depends on toilet size as well, a typical toilet re-waterproofing work that involves hacking would take up at least a week, the time consuming part are hacking and tiling and can get quite messy. I wouldn't recommend those non-hacking waterproofing as it only delays the problem but not solving the root cause of it.

a friend was sharing a water leak problem

- 5 storey walk up apartment
- bought the 4th floor unit

apartment has several 'stalactite' mineral deposit from the roof. several inches from ceiling coming down.

- found that the problem comes from the toilet upstairs.
- owner upstairs refuse to repair their toilet

my friend did PU injection however water flow now to a wall. the wall looks like coloured. if look carefully, probably got fungus / mold.

any suggestion how to fix the problem without upstairs help ?

tks so much

Nothing.

Water will find its way to other areas .

Repair for the neighbour foc if he wants to solve the problem.

24 hours or less for ponding test is good enough
The ponding test required 24 hours practice is good enough to determine good waterproofing or not.
The idea is like this, nobody showering more than 24 hours with the water ponding the whole floor. Each time ppl shower, the water discharge to the downpipe and dry within an hour.

2 days is possible with 2 coats waterproofing + 24 hours ponding test
Due to less ventilation in toilet, the 1st coating waterproofing may take longer to dry compare 1st coating at outside exposed to the hot sun.
It depends the your shower ventilation condition. To speed up the process get a standing fan blow it.
If your contractor able to time this work well, he can apply 1st coating on late evening (same day he completed concrete hacking), let the overnight 1st coating cure and proceed with 2nd coating the next day. In the end it just took 1 day only.

4 days (waterproofing + ponding test ) is possible subject to factors.
2 days (waterproofing + ponding test) with 2 coatings and 24 hours ponding test is possible too but with good planning.

Curious can you share what waterproofing solution did you use previously and the leaking return again after few months? You mention dripping, is it a continuous dripping even without using the shower?



This is true, depend the toilet size, overall complete process it takes 6-7 days averagely for a typical size toilet.

Non-hacking waterproofing not recommended as it delays the problem and not solving the root cause.
This is also true especially the water repellent waterproofing, sealing between the tile joint, and other marketing gimmick waterproofing products.
why?
Most of the chemical will eventual wear out, less effective after months or 1 - 3 years (depend the concrete structure, how frequent usage of shower area). It only serve as temporary solution.
Imagine the rain repellent chemical you apply on car windscreen.

It also subject to the contractor knowledge method how to solve the given problem.

Only PU injection can fix from below.

Always be ready that PU injection might need 2 or 3 times to fix the leaking. This is important when you discuss the warranty term. Best to have the contractor to warranty the whole area. Example your leaking area is toilet, ask the contractor to give warranty the whole toilet area in the event new leaking appear.

I like to share a more technical knowledge about PU injection chemical. PU injection chemical has two types i) the common contractor use is Epoxy injection chemical (very rigid), ii) Flexible polyurethane PU injection (flexible and able cushion concrete movement)

The chance of a highly skilled people handling of PU injection could solve in one time is in fact high. It takes into account using the right chemical PU and able to analyze the hollow concrete while they see the PU foam (yellowish thing) appear.


This post has been edited by Daang: Jun 22 2020, 06:26 PM

Thanks for the feedback and explanation.

I can't remember the name of the solution. I bought it from the Hardware store. I use a brush to paint/lay the solution on the floor.

Hi Daang,

Thanks for all the good advice you've given here. I wish I actually found this thread or did some studying on roof repairs before I hired my contractor, but I've made many noob mistakes and is suffering now because of it. I trusted my contractor on everything he said - and yet now have serious doubts on his guarantee.

Initial problems:
1. There were ceiling holes and water leakage and yellow patches on my car porch and master room toilet ceiling at the front of the house.
2. there are further 3 random spots on upper floor ceiling that has yellow patches

My contractor came and review and advice me since the leaking are at different locations, to waterproof the roof to prevent future and more serious damage from the leakages. He also patched the ceiling holes.

Day 1 & 2 : Applying the bitumen coat. He did this during a cloudy and occasion rain condition. He mentioned that the little bit of rain will not affect the waterproofing.
Day 4 : He patched the ceiling holes.

My problem came 1 month after the repair with the patches that he did on the 2 biggest holes - they started cracking and big "flat" bubbles start forming.
My contractor said this is not a problem of leakage (because he said his warranty only guarantee any further leakages, but not the patching of ceilings), the cracks/holes he patch is already done to their best capabilities - he cannot guarantee that the patches will last.

I would like to ask your advice what are the possible cause of these cracks + bubbles - is there any way to proof that the issue is because of his bad handiwork so that he will fix the problems as part of the warranty? I have found out that i seriously overpaid him compared to market rate and felt deeply unsatisfied that issues are already popping up in just 1 month after the repair and he is now saying his warranty does not include fixing the ceiling patches, but only repairing the roof if it continues leaking.

Thank you and sorry for the long post.

Happy to help around. Happy to share what i know.

Your question what is the possible cause of these cracks + bubbles. There is dampness / moisture in the plaster ceiling he patches.
If his patching of ceilings has (crack + bubbles), there exist "trapped moisture" within the ceiling patches. As trapped moisture drying process and this will be the result of crack + bubbles.

[u]Few scenarios[/U]
1) The previous dampness plaster ceiling he patches over it (if it is damp, should not patch) instead replace new plaster ceiling?
2) the small leakage return (try touch it if there is any dampness)
3) he did not scrap off the old damage plaster fully and patches over it? (lower possibility)

It is true that many waterproofing contractor only do waterproofing and they are not so good in rectification work like plaster ceiling, skim coat, painting work.

eyes sore
Cracks + bubbles in plaster ceiling is really eyes sore, sorry to hear that, hopefully you can solve the matter.

Best Waterproofing contractor for home owner
To solve waterproofing problem at home, best to find the waterproofing contractor who has experience in all kinds of waterproofing chemical products AND also good in rectifying the plaster ceiling, painting works. You will experience less headache.

This post has been edited by Daang: Jun 24 2020, 10:45 AM

Hi, I am living in a Mid floor Condo, the affected area is the wall near my 2nd toilet. I am facing some issue where paint started to bubble and in certain areas Mold started to grow, at first i thought it was a water leakage, but when I look at the water bills it seems fine( RM 12- 15) per month. When I touch the walls, it seems very powdery even the steel door frame started to rust a bit from below. FYI There is no pipes in the Left wall.

My WC Drain Pipe connection when I flush some water will splash out from above the connection will that be the problem? But it is kinda a far away from the affected area.



======================================

THESE ARE THE AREA AFFECTED


THIS IS THE WALL IN THE OTHER ROOM ON THE LEFT


THIS IS THE WALL IN THE STORE ROOM ON THE RIGHT


THIS IS THE STORE ROOM


THIS IS THE OTHER SIDE OF THE WALL OF THE STORE ROOM THAT I HACKED UNDER THE SINK CABINET



What do you think ?
What should I do ?

This post has been edited by gordon12334545: Jul 21 2020, 10:24 PM

Wow, so ugly....really pening to fix this. Will be a permanent issues for life.
Maybe the only solution is hack the whole wall down and redo...hehe.

GG man if that is the case, Now I am kinda broke to do that.

any diy PU injection or it can only be done with whole set of non diy method?

I haven't try PU injection yet

Do people put sealent on their windows? In Western countries there's a tape you can put between window and frame. In Malaysia?

Lately heavy rains in Penang and it's like a fireman standing outside my window with a water house on the 14th floor

Water supposing should always flow down, it is unlikely that it is caused by WC Drain pipe. One way to eliminate that is WC issue is stop using this particular toilet for 1 week and see if the problem reduce.

Hi all, was checking out a landed house recently and saw these stains on living hall ceiling.
The walls were painted so couldn't see any flaws. And as usual owner/agent insist no leaking problems.

In this case what should be done to rectify and cost estimation?



Sorry for the potato cam

This post has been edited by gordonchin: Jul 23 2020, 02:03 PM

Hi sifu, I just received VP for my new condominium and found there's a big crack on the structural beam wall that leads to the water leaking. They have used some chemical to seal it up like on this picture. Any advice that you can provide to me to double check if the leaking will be completely fixed or the developer is just using some cheap solution and buying time?

Thank you

temp solution. havent address where is the source of the leak. those are structural cracks and not the normal shrinkage cracks. Weird it goes all the way down as supposed to have lintel above the windows. Try to check next door neighbors, above and below if can to see if it is a common problem.

Hi sifu,

My house roof slab is leaking and have approached contractor to inspect and give quotation, 2 contractors provide 2 different options,1 suggest to touch membrane water proofing, and 1 suggest with chemical coating.

Both pricing are about the same, which one you think will be better to take?

Go for torch on membrane.

Anybody tried Pye Waterproof Flexy Seal?
Since all waterproof cant last forever...why not yearly maintain it using this cost saving product and easily applied?