I realized the wall specifications for my double storey landed house is a combination of RC + brickwork + precast panels. When I look at the progress pictures, it seems like most of the walls on the ground floor are precast panels. This kinda throws off my plans to extend kitchens / bedrooms.

1) How do I know if a prefab/precast concrete wall is load bearing or not?

2) How do contractors deal with hacking them and how would it differ in terms of cost when compared hacking normal brickwall?

Thanks!

This post has been edited by boyan: Dec 21 2020, 06:48 AM

Meaning which precast concrete walls are safe to hack?

Or are those walls actually brick walls (which would be safe anyway)?

But yeah, it would be helpful to get that! I guess I'll need to inquire more.

This post has been edited by boyan: Dec 20 2020, 09:19 PM

Woops, I forgot to clarify that my house is actually a landed double storey terrace, not actually an apartment.

So am looking at scenarios where I might fully extend to the back both storeys, and even demolish some internal walls to make bigger room.

Here's a drone-flyby showing the construction progress (thanks to a fellow resident! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8l5lN_J5_ms&t=289s)



I don't see any walls built using bricks on the ground floor, so my worry is that both internal and external walls are using precast concrete. For some of these walls I might need to add new power points, or even demolish them outright for renovation purposes.

From the looks of it, I can't quite distinguish the RC structure - and my worry is that the whole of 1st floor will eventually be supported by both internal and external precast walls of ground floor - which would make all walls of ground floor load bearing = hence cannot be demolished like the typical brick wall (at least not that straightforward).

Just asking here if someone's gone thru the same experience (precast landed house slated for major reno), or anyone with construction experience. On the other hand I've also sent an email to the developer to inquire on walls as well.

Wow. How was it when it comes to renovation (effort, cost, contractor willing to do the job etc) e.g

- drilling in to hang fixtures
- hacking to make way for additional power point wiring
- fully demolish a wall to make way for bigger kitchen / room

Thanks!

Exactly what I wanted to do! That wall with doorway and two windows separating kitchen and yard has to go for me to join the dry and wet kitchen. Crossing fingers that kind of wall wouldn't be load-bearing, especially with it having door and windows. But 2-3 days, wow. I'd reckon it'll come off within half a day if it was just bricks.

Indon at 4K? Wow. That's for demolishing only, or inclusive of water proofing and retiling? Wonder what's the estimated cost for just demolishing.

Lastly - curious why the need to waterproof?

It'd be great if I can find contractor who can saw thru concrete I guess.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?t=217&v=-Fflo...eature=youtu.be

Looking at the RC they demolished - glad to see not a lot of steel rods in it, and the ones I could see are quite thin. But yeah, the concrete itself is much tougher than bricks.

Not much of a DIY person when it comes to large projects, but yeah I guess I definitely need to upgrade my hammer drill to rotary hammer now.

For big ones, I'm gonna plan it all out during reno prior to moving in. Just a bit apprehensive in case contractors slay me with huge bill due to having to work with existing precast concrete.

Uh... I need perhaps an architect or a structural engineer to help me...

I'm looking at the floor plan and also the progress photo for my house type, and I'm wondering really if I can extend to the back both stories by tearing down the back walls.

From the progress photo you can see that the walls are prefabricated concrete panels.

So my question is - would there still be the normal skeletal beams + columns for this kind of house that's going to carry the weight?

Or the prefab walls themselves are load bearing - meaning I can't tear them down?

I would like to tear down the walls in red, and build the new blue walls.

Thanks! Definitely will go thru proper flow (architect + council etc etc) but just want to know early on based on other people's experience with houses built with similar approach - is such renovation possible?

I'm more curious about the structural integrity part first. In normal houses (RC beams and columns with brick walls) - ideally those walls marked red can be torn down without any issue.

I have no idea when it comes to houses built using prefab concrete panels.

If it cannot be done without seriously affecting the structural integrity - requiring me to effectively build new beams + columns to support existing floor as I tear down the walls (basically more complications than normal), then I might not go for it and just set aside the money for something else.

Thanks everyone!

Yeah I'm thinking there will definitely be complications. I guess I'll have to wait for the handover and consult the developer.

That being said - care to share existing projects of landed houses built from prefab concrete?

Maybe I can explore around and see to what extent those owners have managed to renovate their houses (although yes, it's not guaranteed to be applicable in my case).

Checked. Seems like the latest one - Ariya, which is still under construction - will have some RC walls. The older ones don't seem to indicate RC walls on their brochures though.

Looking for existing, completed landed housing project examples (non-strata, of course).

Come to think of it, prefab concrete / RC walls would be awesome for strata housing in that case, since you're not supposed to extend anything. Hahaha.

Ah scouring around I found this.

https://www.iproperty.com.my/guides/what-is...you-buy-it-faq/

Gonna look up LBS Alam Perdana

Hahaha it is a strata-titled development (not meant for extensive reno). Went on Google Maps and the only extensions I see are simply single storey extension with roof awnings to the back (definitely no two storey extension, no extended floor slab on upper floor). Pfft.

This post has been edited by boyan: Jun 30 2021, 07:30 PM

All good points!

Thanks! I'm slowly (but reluctantly) accepting the fact that I might not be able to demolish any of the walls (urghhhhhhhh!). I guess it's a good reminder to anyone to carefully check the walls specification especially if one has lofty ideas of renovating further.

So apparently some of the prefab walls can be taken down based on the developer's renovation guidance - but the walls should be cut instead of hacked.

Has anybody engaged a contractor with experience cutting non-load bearing RC walls / prefab walls?

Yup developer has provided some rough drawings, but nothing as detailed as IFC. Trying to get that from them (along with the wiring and piping info).

Anyhow found a few wall cutting services - exploring that now.