How to Apply for HDB Cement Screeding

In this short article, I will briefly outline the cement screeding application process for our HDB flat. This article was last updated on 21 October 2020.

What is Cement Screeding?

Screeding refers to the application of a thin layer of cement over the floor. It is also known as “Smooth Floor Rendering”, and the main purpose is to smoothen the floor surface.

We are using vinyl flooring for our living room and kitchen, so we had to do screeding first. This is because the existing concrete floor is extremely rough and uneven, and it would not be possible to lay vinyl flooring on it.

Note that if you are using tiles, there is NO need to do screeding because your contractor will take care of it for you.

Application for Free HDB Screeding

We submitted a “Smooth Floor Rendering” form at the Jurong West HDB office. You can click here to find out your managing HDB branch.

As instructed by the HDB staff at the office, we used a number padlock to lock our door, and then wrote the padlock code on the form. Note that key padlocks are not allowed.

If you wish, you may use a broom to clean away the dust and debris on the floor before the screeding, though this is optional.

The HDB contractor contacted us about a week later after we submitted the form, and the screeding was completed shortly after. This screeding service is completely free.

Update: HDB Screeding Service No Longer Available

Unfortunately, it seems that this HDB screeding service is NO longer available. According to HDB, if you require cement screeding, you will need to do it through your own renovation contractor.

This new regulation kicked in on 1st June 2015. You can check out this Straits Times article for more details.

I am not sure if it’s possible to appeal to HDB to perform the screeding on a goodwill basis, or if the regulation has changed since 2015. To find out, you can simply call the HDB service line at 1800 225 5432.

Conclusion

It is unfortunate that the complimentary screeding service is no longer available. We were very happy with how our screeding turned out, as it was very smooth and even. Initially we were a little worried because we had heard stories of uneven screeding by other HDB contractors.

The cement thickness was 40mm, which is sufficient to lay vinyl flooring. Our floor turned out beautifully with the screeding! If you are interested, you can check out the review of our vinyl flooring company: EcoPluz.

Do take note that if you want your living room floor to be level with your kitchen floor, the screeding needs to be 50mm thick. This is because for HDB flats, the kitchen floor is 10mm higher than the living room floor.

For our house, we did 40mm screeding so our kitchen floor is higher than our living room floor. Therefore, when walking from my living room to the kitchen, I have to “step up” 1cm. Alternatively, it is also possible to create a gentle slope from your living room to the kitchen. You can consult your ID or contractor on this.

HDB
Branches: www.hdb.gov.sg/cs/infoweb/contact-us
Service Line: 1800 225 5432 (weekdays: 8am to 5pm)
Find out your HDB Branch: https://services2.hdb.gov.sg/webapp

This article is part of our completely free and super informative Singapore Home Renovation Guide. Why spend weeks researching when all your renovation information is simply a click away?