Hacking
Renovation work that breaks up tiles or screed. It is the noisiest, dustiest part of any Singapore bathroom renovation, and HERA installation involves no hacking at all.
What it means
Hacking is the Singapore renovation term for breaking up the hard finishes of a room: chiselling off wall and floor tiles, breaking up the cement screed beneath them, or opening up a section of floor or wall so that pipes and fittings can be changed. It is demolition work, done with power tools, and it is usually the first stage of a bathroom renovation.
Hacking matters because of what sits underneath the tiles. A bathroom floor has a waterproofing membrane below its surface, so once the tiles and screed are hacked off, the waterproofing has to be redone and new tiles laid before the room can be used again. That is why any job that involves hacking stops being a quick fix and becomes a proper renovation project.
In bathtub terms, hacking is what separates the two formats. A built-in bathtub is enclosed in a tiled apron with permanent piping, so fitting or removing one means hacking that construction open. A freestanding bathtub simply sits on the finished floor, so no hacking is ever involved.
In a Singapore home
For HDB and condo owners, hacking is the main reason a built-in bathtub is a big decision. The tub is enclosed in a tiled apron that has to be hacked off if it ever fails or you want to change it, the area needs a waterproof membrane applied by a contractor, and the drainage is permanently piped into the floor and walls. A built-in install typically requires 5 to 10 days of renovation work and contractor coordination.
A HERA freestanding bathtub avoids all of that. The tub connects to your existing floor trap with a flexible drainage outlet, so no tiles come off, no pipes get cut, and the existing waterproofing is undisturbed. Because there is no structural or plumbing modification, no HDB permit is needed either. A typical installation takes about 30 to 45 minutes and costs $126 to $432, handled by the HERA team as a single delivery and installation appointment. The full process is explained step by step in our no-renovation installation guide.
The range itself covers 14 freestanding models from 800mm to 1700mm, starting at $1,188, and every one of them installs the same hack-free way. You can browse the sizes and shapes in the bathtub guide.
Quick questions
Does installing a HERA bathtub involve any hacking?
No. Every HERA bathtub is fully freestanding and connects to your existing floor trap with a flexible drainage outlet. There is no hacking, no tiling, no waterproofing work, and no plumbing modifications, and the bathtub can be removed at any time without leaving any trace.
Do I need an HDB permit if there is no hacking?
No. Because the installation does not involve any structural modification, plumbing change, or hacking, no HDB permit is needed. You are simply placing a self-contained bathtub on the existing floor and using the existing drainage.
Why does a built-in bathtub need hacking?
A built-in bathtub is enclosed in a tiled apron with a waterproof membrane underneath and permanent piping into the floor and walls. Fitting or removing one means breaking that construction open, which is why a built-in install typically requires 5 to 10 days of renovation work.
Do I need a contractor to install a freestanding bathtub?
No. The HERA installation team handles everything as a single service, so there is no need to engage a separate plumber, contractor, or renovation crew. A typical installation takes about 30 to 45 minutes and costs $126 to $432.
Related terms
A bathtub with no hacking involved
Every tub in the 14-model range installs in about 30 to 45 minutes with your tiles, waterproofing, and plumbing untouched. See the range at the MacPherson showroom, or message us on WhatsApp and the team will help you pick a size, usually within 15 minutes during showroom hours.