How do I replace a toilet door in an HDB flat?

Toilet door replacement: when it is time

Replace a toilet door when repairs stop working: the leaf has soaked up water, lost its shape or no longer closes. Most toilet doors fail from the bottom up. Shower splashes and mop water sit against the lower edge until the core swells.

Signs it is done:

• Swelling along the bottom edge, often with paint or laminate lifting.
• Delaminated skin that bubbles or peels when you press it.
• Soft, dark or crumbly patches near the floor, a sign of rot.
• Gaps opening at the head or latch side as the leaf warps.
• A lock that will not catch even when you lift the handle slightly.

If your HDB toilet door only sticks on humid days, it may just need its hinge screws tightened, so try that first. If it rubs or will not open at all, our guide to a door jammed in its frame covers the quick checks. Once the core turns soft, sanding and repainting rarely last.

Door types for wet areas

Three styles cover most toilets in Singapore homes.

A swing door is the simplest to fit and closes snugly against its frame, but it needs clear floor space for its full arc. A bifold toilet door folds in half on a track. That helps in a narrow 3-room flat corridor where a swinging leaf would hit a wardrobe. A sliding door frees the most floor space, though it needs a clear stretch of wall beside the opening with no switch, socket or towel rail in the way.

When you choose a material, ask what is inside the leaf, not just what is on its face. A hollow or particle-board core drinks water once an edge is chipped. Solid water-resistant cores, PVC, and aluminium frames with composite panels cope better beside a shower.

Ventilation louvres near the bottom of the leaf let steam out of a toilet that has only a small window. They gather dust, so choose slats you can wipe.

A fire-rated main door for the entrance is a separate product with its own rules.

Measuring and sizing

There is no single size to order off the shelf. Openings vary between flats and old frames shift, so measure your own.

1. Measure the width. Measure inside the frame at the head, middle and bottom, and use the smallest figure.
2. Measure the height. Measure from the finished floor to the underside of the frame head, on both sides.
3. Check the floor. Lay a spirit level across the threshold to see whether the floor falls away from the door.
4. Note the kerb. Record whether there is a raised step and how high it is.

A new leaf needs enough gap underneath to clear the threshold and tiles as it opens, but not so much that splashes escape into the corridor. If you plan to lay new flooring over the old tiles, measure after that work, because a raised floor changes the gap.

HDB rules that may apply

Swapping a leaf in the same opening is the simple case. HDB's renovation guidelines for building works list replacing internal doors among works that need no permit, with HDB's conditions applying. The same list covers installing a sliding glass or PVC folding door at a bathroom, toilet or kitchen entrance.

Moving or widening the opening changes the wall as well as the door. Check HDB's renovation guidelines before anything is hacked, and see our guide to the HDB renovation permit for how applications work.

HDB's important information on renovations page says flat owners are responsible for the renovations in their flat and should comply strictly with the permitted hours: general works 9am to 6pm Monday to Saturday, noisy works such as heavy drilling 9am to 5pm on weekdays only, and DIY works 7am to 10.30pm. Our HDB renovation hours guide sets these out in one place.

Hardware to check at the same time

Check each part of the hardware while the old door is off.

• Hinges. Look for rust, bent knuckles or stripped screw holes in the frame.
• Handle. A loose or corroded lever is easy to change now. Our door handle replacement guide explains how.
• Lock. Make sure the latch meets the strike plate and the toilet indicator bolt turns freely.

Once the door is up, HDB's gate and door care guide advises you to "Oil all locks, hinges, and other mechanisms to keep moving parts working smoothly" and "Tighten any loose screws to the hinges". HDB notes that a door that is hard to open or close usually has loose hinge screws, especially at the upper hinge.

Hiring someone

Many handymen who handle door and window repair also swap toilet doors. Before you agree on a date, ask:

• Is the job the leaf only, or the leaf and frame?
• Who takes away the old door, and is disposal included?
• What finishing is covered: edge sealing, paint, filling screw holes, silicone at the frame?
• What is the lead time for a made-to-measure leaf, and how long will the work take on the day?

Quotes depend on the door, the frame and the finish. A line-by-line breakdown makes it easier to weigh one installer against another.

Questions