What is a wall, a column or a beam?
Before deciding what to hack, it helps to know which part of the flat you are looking at. These names describe different things, even when paint, plaster or carpentry makes them look like one continuous surface.
Wall
A vertical surface that encloses or divides space. A wall may be a partition or part of the building’s structure; the name alone does not tell you whether it can be removed.
Column
An upright structural support that carries loads down through the building. It may stand out into a room or be incorporated into a wall.
Beam
A horizontal structural member that carries loads across an opening or between supports. It may project below the ceiling, but a visible boxed-in strip is not automatically a beam.
Slab
The structural concrete plate forming a floor. Its underside can form the ceiling of the flat below. Tiles and other floor finishes are separate from the slab.
Simplified illustrations, not HDB photographs. They explain the terms, not which walls can be removed.
Drywall, brick or concrete: what kind of wall is it?
When you hear “partition wall”, you may picture gypsum boards fixed to a frame, often called drywall. But walls dividing rooms in an HDB flat can also be made from brick or hollow blocks.
There are two separate questions: what is the wall made of, and what does it do? A non-structural wall divides space; a structural wall also helps support or stabilise the building. Concrete is not automatically structural, and a hollow sound does not prove a wall can be removed. The actual wall and proposed work need to be checked.
Paint, plaster and tiles are just the surface finish. Changing those is different from removing the wall behind them.
Start with the approved floor plan, not a visual guess
A thin wall is not automatically removable, and a drawing shared in a property listing is not sufficient for construction approval. HDB states that renovation contractors must submit the flat's floor plan showing the proposed work when applying for renovations that require evaluation, including wall demolition.
The practical sequence is to identify the proposed opening or removal, compare it with the relevant floor plan, review adjoining services and structural elements, then submit the proposed work through the required renovation-permit process.
What to check on the floor plan
Begin with the specific change you want: remove a whole partition, widen an opening or change the position of a doorway. Mark the location and intended extent of the work so everyone is discussing the same thing.
- Match the drawing to the flat. Note any difference between the plan and the walls or openings you can see. Ask for discrepancies to be checked before relying on the drawing.
- Ask which element is being altered. A wall, column, beam and surface finish are different things. Have the proposed scope identified clearly rather than accepting “this wall can go”.
- Record what still needs checking. Ask about services in or beside the wall and the adjoining floor, ceiling and walls that will need finishing.
- Separate a proposal from approval. A marked-up drawing explains the intended work; it is not permission to start. HDB requires the flat’s floor plan showing proposed wall-demolition work as part of the application for evaluation.
Do not use a property-listing image, a thin-looking wall or a hollow sound as your go-ahead. Ask for the relevant checks and approval for the actual scope. See HDB’s permit application guidance.
Which parts can be hacked?
| Part of the flat | Can it be hacked? |
|---|---|
| Structural wall, column, beam or slab | No. HDB does not allow hacking or removal of these structural members. |
| Non-structural room-dividing wall (such as brick, hollow block or drywall) | It may be considered, but HDB approval is required before partial or complete demolition or alteration. |
| Non-load-bearing reinforced-concrete part | Do not treat it as an ordinary partition. HDB approval and supervision by a Professional Engineer for civil or structural works are required for demolition. |
| Household-shelter wall | Do not plan to remove it as an ordinary room partition. Check the specific household-shelter restrictions. |
| A wall or feature you cannot identify | Have it checked before planning demolition. A photograph or a hollow sound cannot establish permission to remove it. |
See HDB’s building-work guidelines and disallowed renovation works for the applicable conditions.
What must happen before hacking begins
- Engage a renovation contractor listed in HDB's Directory of Renovation Contractors for HDB renovation work.
- Mark the proposed wall changes clearly on the relevant floor plan.
- Submit the renovation-permit application and supporting information required for evaluation.
- Wait for prior written approval before any partial or complete wall hacking begins.
- Confirm whether a Professional Engineer (PE) is needed. For demolition of non-load-bearing reinforced-concrete elements, HDB requires a PE for civil or structural works to supervise. Check the requirement for your particular scope before work is arranged.
- Use the certified workers and supervision required by the approved scope.
- Keep the approved plan and conditions available to the people carrying out the work.
What is a Professional Engineer (PE)?
A PE is an engineer registered with Singapore’s Professional Engineers Board. For non-load-bearing concrete demolition, the relevant PE supervises the work using the approved plan and conditions. Engaging one does not make structural hacking permissible.
What to clarify before accepting a wall-hacking scope
When discussing renovation services, ask for the work to be described beyond “hack wall”. A useful scope makes the demolition boundary, remaining checks and finished result clear.
| Ask about | What to clarify |
|---|---|
| Extent of demolition | Which wall or opening, how much is being removed, and what is staying? |
| Approval and supervision | Who is submitting the proposed work, what remains subject to approval, and what supervision is required for this scope? |
| Services | What checks are included for nearby wiring, switches, sockets or pipework? If relocation is needed, is it included or separately assessed? |
| Protection and clearance | What protection, debris removal and cleaning are included? |
| Making good | How will the exposed wall edges, ceiling junction and floor where the wall stood be finished? What finish or material is included? |
| Unconfirmed work | What is excluded or provisional, and how will any change in scope and cost be agreed before additional work proceeds? |
These are scope questions, not a fixed price checklist. The answers depend on the proposed work and the conditions found. For the broader application process, use the HDB renovation permits guide.
Think through the finished space before removing the wall
Write down the problem the change needs to solve: an awkward route between rooms, limited storage, a dark corner or a need for privacy. Then consider the interior layout with furniture in place, not just an empty floor plan.
Check where storage, switches and furniture would go after the change, and whether you still want separation between activities. If the main issue is furniture placement or storage, compare a revised arrangement before committing to demolition. Use our layout reconfiguration guide for those tradeoffs; this page focuses on the wall-work checks.
Will removing this wall give you the space you need?
Come back to the reason you started: more room to move, a better connection between spaces or a layout that fits daily life. Identify the exact change, confirm whether it is permitted, and understand the finished result, including the surfaces and services that need making good. If the wall must stay, use that same goal to explore another layout for your resale HDB renovation.
Official references
- HDB: Important Information on Renovations
- HDB: Renovation Guidelines for Building Works
- HDB: Application for a Renovation Permit
Requirements can change. Check the current HDB guidance and the conditions attached to your approval before work begins.
