Services and methods
Six places that leak: signs, causes, how we check, and the quick and full fix with price, time and warranty
- 01
Flat roofs
Ceiling stains on the top floor, dripping after rain; an aged membrane or poor drainage
Common signs
- Stains or efflorescence on the top-floor ceiling
- Dripping from the ceiling after heavy rain
- Cracks, blisters or peeling on the roof surface
- Ponding or leaves around the drain
- Cracks on the inside of the parapet
Common causes
- An aged, sun-cracked membrane
- A blocked drain leaving water standing
- A split where the parapet meets the roof
- Inspection
- NT$3,000–6,000
- Quick fix
- NT$8,000–25,000
- Full fix
- NT$2,200–3,800 per ping
Visual check and moisture readings, a ponding test if needed, to find where water enters the slab
Clear drains and outlets, fill cracks, reinforce the failed patch
Strip the old layer, prime, two coats of membrane with fabric reinforcement, a reflective top coat
Stock photo - 02
Exterior walls
Damp on the inside of outer walls, lifting tiles; water at AC holes and grille fixings
Common signs
- Efflorescence or blistering paint on the inside of an outer wall
- Leaks only in typhoons or driving rain
- Tiles lifting, hollow or falling off
- Seepage around AC holes or grille fixings
Common causes
- Water through tile joints or wall cracks
- Unsealed AC holes and fixings
- Water trapped behind lifted tiles
- Inspection
- NT$3,000–8,000
- Quick fix
- NT$12,000–40,000
- Full fix
- NT$3,500–6,500 per ping
Thermal imaging to map the wet area, a spray test to find the entry point
Seal wall cracks and tile joints, around AC holes and window-grille fixings
Coat the wall or treat every tile joint; upper floors need scaffolding or a lift
Stock photo - 03
Window frames
Leaks at the corners in rain, damp below the sill; aged sealant outside
Common signs
- Water at the sill or corners when it rains
- Efflorescence on the wall below the sill
- Cracked or missing sealant outside
- Cracks in the wall around the frame
Common causes
- Aged sealant
- Voids between frame and wall
- Blocked weep holes
- Inspection
- NT$2,000–4,000
- Quick fix
- NT$2,500–5,000 per windows
- Full fix
- NT$15,000–35,000 per windows
A spray test to tell the frame, the outside seal and wall cracks apart
Reseal the outside and clear the weep holes
Remove the window, reset the frame and joints, finish the outside edge
Stock photo - 04
Bathrooms
Stains on the ceiling below after showers, damp outside the door; membrane or pipes first
Common signs
- Stains on the ceiling below after showers
- Damp floor or wall corners outside the bathroom door
- Black or crumbling grout
- The water meter turns with every tap closed
Common causes
- A membrane that stops short of the threshold and walls
- A broken supply or drain pipe
- Aged grout letting water down the joints
- Inspection
- NT$3,000–5,000
- Quick fix
- NT$6,000–18,000
- Full fix
- NT$60,000–120,000 per rooms
A ponding test and a pressure test on the pipes, to tell the membrane from the plumbing
Regrout and reseal, inject the leaking spot
Take up floor and wall tiles, redo the membrane and falls, retile
Stock photo - 05
Balconies and terraces
Stains below after rain, standing water; falls and the outlet
Common signs
- Stains on the ceiling below after rain
- Standing water and slow drainage
- Lifting tiles or broken grout
- Damp around the washing-machine drain
Common causes
- Too little fall for water to drain
- A cracked seal around the outlet
- A broken membrane under the tiles
- Inspection
- NT$3,000–5,000
- Quick fix
- NT$5,000–15,000
- Full fix
- NT$8,000–15,000 per ping
Check the falls and the outlet, a ponding test if needed
Clear the outlet and drains, fill floor cracks
Take up the floor tiles, redo the membrane and falls
Stock photo - 06
Metal roofs
Drips at fixings, seepage at laps, rusted sheets; an overflowing gutter
Common signs
- Drips at the screw fixings when it rains
- Seepage at the laps or ridge
- Rusted or holed sheets
- An overflowing gutter
Common causes
- Aged screw washers
- Laps that overlap too little
- A blocked gutter backing up
- Inspection
- NT$2,000–5,000
- Quick fix
- NT$8,000–30,000
- Full fix
- NT$3,500–7,000 per ping
Check the fixings, laps, ridge and gutter
Seal the fixings and laps, replace broken sheets, clear the gutter
Re-sheet the roof with insulation, redo the gutter and flashings
Stock photo
| Part | Inspection | Quick fix | Full fix | Full-fix time | Warranty (demo) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flat roofs | NT$3,000–6,000 | NT$8,000–25,000 | NT$2,200–3,800 per ping | 3–5 dry days | 1 yr / 5 yr |
| Exterior walls | NT$3,000–8,000 | NT$12,000–40,000 | NT$3,500–6,500 per ping | 5–10 dry days | 1 yr / 3 yr |
| Window frames | NT$2,000–4,000 | NT$2,500–5,000 per windows | NT$15,000–35,000 per windows | 1–2 days a window | 1 yr / 3 yr |
| Bathrooms | NT$3,000–5,000 | NT$6,000–18,000 | NT$60,000–120,000 per rooms | 7–10 days | 1 yr / 5 yr |
| Balconies and terraces | NT$3,000–5,000 | NT$5,000–15,000 | NT$8,000–15,000 per ping | 5–7 days | 1 yr / 5 yr |
| Metal roofs | NT$2,000–5,000 | NT$8,000–30,000 | NT$3,500–7,000 per ping | 3–7 dry days | 1 yr / 5 yr |
Demo range — the quotation after an inspection is what counts
Tap a part of the house tick the signs, see the range
Prices come in three parts: inspection, quick fix and full fix; signs of water in the structure point to the full fix
Demo price range · Flat roofs
- Inspection
- NT$3,000–6,000
- Quick fix
- NT$8,000–25,000
- Full fix
- NT$59,000–106,000
Tick what you see, or book an inspection
Nothing ticked yet
Demo range — the quotation after an inspection is what counts
How we check
Visual check and moisture readings, a ponding test if needed, to find where water enters the slab
Quick fix
Clear drains and outlets, fill cracks, reinforce the failed patch
Full fix
Strip the old layer, prime, two coats of membrane with fabric reinforcement, a reflective top coat
What moves the price
- Area, and whether the old layer comes off
- Whether a reflective top coat is added
- Getting materials up (is there a lift)
A full fix is rebuilt layer by layer
Drag the slider to see how a flat-roof membrane goes on; a quick fix treats the leak, a full fix rebuilds the whole system
The membrane has cracked and blistered; rain seeps through into the slab
| Quick fix | Full fix | |
|---|---|---|
| What | Treat the leak: seal, inject, clear drains | Rebuild the whole waterproofing |
| When | A new, small leak on a tight budget | Wide damp, dripping, or a repair that failed |
| Price | Lower | Higher, by area |
| Warranty (demo) | 1 year | 3–5 years, on the warranty |
What it often looks like
