We’ve all heard the saying, “Expect the unexpected,” and it couldn’t be truer. In a world filled with surprises, one might never anticipate their own living room becoming a scene of chaos and destruction.
Such an unusual event unfolded when Facebook user Teddy Ho shared two videos in the Singapore Home DIY group. On the afternoon of October 8, 2023, around 3:20 pm, his otherwise peaceful living room experienced a sudden and shocking turn of events.
The Unfortunate Incident
Mr. Teddy Ho was going about his day when, suddenly, his floor tiles seemed to have a mind of their own. The tiles below his dining table and living room cracked all of a sudden and “exploded”.
This startling occurrence left him baffled and his living room in disarray. Some tiles were cracked, while others were dislodged or completely shattered, turning his cozy home into a mess of broken ceramic.
Possible Causes
Naturally, when such an unexpected event occurs, one cannot help but wonder what might have caused it. There are a few theories that could potentially explain the tile explosion.
Sudden changes in temperature, structural issues, or even improper installation might be to blame. This bizarre incident serves as a reminder that even seemingly stable and permanent fixtures in our homes can sometimes act unpredictably.
Netizens’ comments
- Old flats in toa payoh after 30yrs… Still solid as a rock. Where got such problem with popping tiles. Nowadays… workmanship and product quality is sub standard.
- Sorry this happened to you. I do not think this is DIYable, and would not recommend given that there may be issues underneath the rest of the unpopped flooring.
Assuming it is original floor tile, some options for you:
If HDB, you should surface to them as this can be (i) poor workmanship, (ii) wear and tear or (iii) both, depending on age of property. I believe HDB does tile repairs for up to 15 years, but not sure if there are conditions to the repair/timeframe.
If condo, unless you are within the warranty period, you are likely to have to swallow the repair costs yourself. That said, if you have other neighbours with the same problem with original flooring, there might be a basis to raise with MCST for a potential defects claim against the developer. But even then you will have to foot the repair costs first. - Flat owners are responsible for the maintenance of their flats, including repairs for general wear and tear. Nevertheless, HDB will help flat owners repair dislodged tiles originally provided by HDB for a period of up to 15 years. This is beyond the current industry standard of 1 year.
For flats more than 15 years old, flat owners will need to engage their own contractors to carry out the tile replacement. HDB can provide owners with a list of repair contractors, whom they can then engage on a private basis.
So if your floor still original from HDB within 15yrs, inform them. But if more than 15yrs or if you reno replace floor tiles before, you have to engage your own contractor.