A small patch of damp or peeling paint can point to a much bigger waterproofing problem, especially if the source is hidden behind walls or ceilings. (Envato Elements pic)SHAH ALAM: A damp patch on the wall or stain on the ceiling may look like a small nuisance at first - but for some homeowners, it can mark the beginning of a long and costly repair cycle.
A recent Malaysian homeowner survey developed by the Home Buyers Association (HBA) and Nippon Paint Malaysia found that nearly nine in 10 respondents whose defect liability period (DLP) had ended experienced waterproofing problems afterwards.
Among those affected, 42.4% spent more than RM5,000 on repairs, while 14.2% paid over RM10,000.
The bigger frustration is that fixing the problem once may not be enough: more than three-quarters of affected homeowners needed at least two repair attempts or said the problem remained unresolved.
