Waterproofing
The membrane under bathroom tiles that stops water reaching the structure. Because HERA bathtubs are freestanding, they need no new waterproofing.
What it means
Waterproofing is the hidden layer that keeps a wet room from leaking into the building. In a bathroom it is a membrane laid under the tiles and screed, so that water landing on the floor drains away to the floor trap instead of soaking through to the structure below. It is applied by a contractor, then covered over and signed off. Once it is buried under tiles, you never see it again.
Because it sits under the finished surface, redoing waterproofing is disruptive work. It means hacking off the existing tiles, applying a new membrane, retiling, and waiting for everything to cure. That is why a built-in bathtub, which is enclosed in a tiled surround, carries a waterproofing job with it: the area under and around the tub has to be sealed before the tiles go back on.
A freestanding tub avoids all of this. It is self-contained, sits on the floor you already have, and drains into the trap that is already there, so the existing membrane is never disturbed.
In a Singapore home
Every HDB and condo bathroom is already waterproofed and already drains into a floor trap. That is the whole reason a HERA bathtub needs no new membrane. The tub connects to your existing floor trap with a flexible drainage outlet and uses the same drain your floor already uses. There is no hacking, no tiling, and no waterproofing work, so nothing about the original bathroom finish changes.
This is what "no renovation" actually means in practice. A traditional built-in bathtub needs three pieces of work that count as renovation: tiling, a waterproof membrane under those tiles, and fixed plumbing. A HERA freestanding tub replaces all three with simpler equivalents, which is why a typical installation finishes in about 30 to 45 minutes and you do not need a separate contractor or an HDB permit. Our guide on how to install a bathtub without renovation in HDB walks through the full process step by step.
The HERA range covers 14 freestanding models from 800mm to 1700mm, starting at $1,188, and each one connects to your existing drainage the same way. You can see the full range in the bathtub guide or confirm your own bathroom dimensions with the Fit Calculator.
Quick questions
Does a HERA bathtub need new waterproofing?
No. A HERA bathtub is freestanding and connects to your existing floor trap with a flexible drainage outlet. The bathroom floor is already waterproofed and the tub uses the same drain, so there is no hacking, no tiling, and no waterproofing work.
Why does a freestanding bathtub leave the waterproofing undisturbed?
Because nothing is built into the room. A built-in bathtub needs a waterproof membrane applied under the tiles by a contractor and signed off. A freestanding tub sits on the existing waterproofed floor and drains into the floor trap that is already there, so the original membrane is never touched.
Do I need an HDB permit or a separate contractor for the waterproofing?
No. Because there is no structural or plumbing modification and no new membrane, there is no permit application and no separate waterproofing contractor. One HERA team handles delivery and installation in a single appointment, and the installation itself usually takes around 30 to 45 minutes.
Related terms
A bathtub with no waterproofing work
Because every HERA tub is freestanding, it connects to your existing drain with no hacking, tiling, or new membrane. Message us on WhatsApp and the team will help you pick a size, usually within 15 minutes during showroom hours.