What to record, when, and how, so new cracks and leaks can be told apart from old ones if damage appears.
When a neighbour is about to hack walls, build an extension, re-roof or pile next door, record the condition of your own house before the works start: every existing crack, ceiling stains, the shared wall and roof joint, wet areas, floors and drains, with dated video and close-up images and a written list by room. Without a record taken before the works, it is hard to show which cracks or leaks are new. ClickBina records the condition of homes in KL & Selangor before neighbouring works and can carry out the repairs if damage appears; a site visit for a repair quote is RM150, waived if you go ahead.
Most homes already have small cracks, old ceiling stains and a few hollow tiles. Nobody notices them until the house next door is being hacked, and then every mark looks new. If the neighbour's works do damage your house, the first question will be: was it like this before? A dated record made before the works answers that question for both sides, and it usually settles things faster than an argument does.
A condition record is not a complaint and does not stop anyone renovating. It is simply evidence of how your house looked on a given date. If you would rather have someone make it with you, our house defect inspection service records homes before neighbouring works as well as checking new and subsale homes.
Any renovation makes noise and dust; only some put your structure, roof or waterproofing at risk. Pay most attention when the neighbour plans one of these:
The right time is after you hear about the works and before any hacking, digging or piling starts. A day or two before is fine; after the first day of hacking is too late for the walls nearest the works. If you are told late, record the rooms furthest from the works as well, so you can show which cracks appear only near the shared wall.
Make a second, shorter record when the heavy works finish, and a third if anything changes afterwards. Each record should carry the date and be kept unchanged.
Work through the house room by room and floor by floor, starting with the rooms that share a wall, roof or floor with the neighbour. The checklist tool lets you list each item room by room so the written record matches the video.
| Area | What to record | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Shared wall, every floor | All cracks, damp patches, stains, gaps at the ceiling and floor | This is where hacking and new structure show first |
| Ceilings | Stains, cracks along board joints, sagging, cornice gaps | Vibration and roof works crack ceilings and open old leaks |
| Other walls | Cracks at door and window corners, between walls and columns | Shows how the house was before, away from the works |
| Floors | Cracked, lifted or hollow tiles in each room | Hollow tiles spread under vibration; you need to know which were there before |
| Roof and gutters | The roof joint with the neighbour, tiles, gutters, flashing | Re-roofing and extensions open this joint |
| Wet areas and drains | Bathroom ceilings and walls, the yard, perimeter and back drains | Shows existing leaks and drain levels before debris and digging |
Cracks are where disputes start, so record them carefully. For each crack, take a wide video that shows where it is in the room, then a close-up image beside a ruler or a coin for scale. Mark both ends lightly in pencil with the date, so anyone can later see whether it has grown past the marks. Note whether it runs diagonally from a door or window corner, along a wall-to-column joint, or straight across the ceiling.
Two ClickBina guides explain what different cracks usually mean: cracks in a house (shrinkage, settlement or structural) and cracks between a brick wall and a column. You do not need to diagnose anything for the record; you only need to show what was there.
In a terrace, your roof meets the neighbour's along the party wall. Record that joint from inside, under the ceiling along the shared wall, and from outside if you can see it safely from the road or the back lane. Note any existing stains or patches. The terrace roof leak guide explains why this joint leaks after works next door.
Who owns and repairs the shared wall depends on your title and, in strata buildings, on whether it is common property. The party wall guide covers that; for the record you only need its condition on both faces you can reach.
Hacking and new floors next door often break waterproofing at the shared wall or the slab edge. Record every bathroom ceiling and wall, the wall behind any wet area next to the neighbour, and the bottom of ground-floor walls for existing damp. Run water in your own bathrooms and note that they drain normally. Outside, record the drains and the back lane, including where water stands after rain, because debris and digging can block or crack them.
In a condo, the risk comes from the unit above (water through your ceiling), the unit beside (hacking and the shared wall) and occasionally the unit below (drilling and vibration). Ask management for the approved renovation scope and working hours, and record your ceilings, the shared wall and wet areas before work starts. The condo renovation hours guide covers the by-law side of noise and hours.
A record helps most when the neighbour knows it exists. Send a short, polite message with the date of the record and offer them a copy; in a strata building, give management a copy too. Keep the original files unedited and back them up. If the neighbour's contractor makes their own record of your side, ask for a copy of that as well.
Record the new damage the same way, with the date, and compare it with your earlier record. Tell the neighbour and, in a strata building, management in writing as soon as you see it. The neighbour renovation damage guide covers your options if they do not respond, and the illegal renovation guide covers works done without approval. Typical repair costs from ClickBina's published guides (indicative 2026, Klang Valley):
| Damage | Usual fix | Indicative price |
|---|---|---|
| New cracks inside one room | Single room skim coat | RM600 – RM1,200 |
| External wall cracks | Crack repair and repaint, per wall | RM800 – RM3,500 |
| A crack in a concrete member | Epoxy injection | RM150 – RM400 per point |
| Cracked or slipped roof tiles | Spot repair | RM500 – RM1,500 |
| A new ceiling leak at one spot | Investigate and repair | RM500 – RM3,000 |
WhatsApp us your house type, size and the works start date for an inspection quote — we reply within the hour.
💬 WhatsApp us to book an inspectionA crack you suspect is structural needs an engineer's assessment first; the crack guide lists it from about RM500. Where water appears and the source is unclear, leak detection by ClickBina is RM300 – RM800 per visit, a separate service from any repair.
We record homes across KL & Selangor before neighbouring works start: the shared wall, ceilings, cracks, floors, wet areas, the roof joint and drains, with a dated written list by room. If damage appears, we can inspect again, compare it with the record and carry out the repairs. ClickBina is an experienced KL & Selangor contractor for defect rectification, whole-house refurbishment and trade coordination. WhatsApp us your house type, size and the works start date for an inspection quote. We reply within the hour, we are registered with SSM, and the price we agree is a flat price with no hidden charges. For repair work, a site visit is RM150, waived if you go ahead.
Methodology: this is a practical recording method for owners. No crack width or movement threshold is given because none is published on the pages above, and whether a crack was caused by the works is for the parties, or an engineer, to assess. Prices are ClickBina indicative 2026 Klang Valley ranges. This is not legal advice.
WhatsApp us your house type, size and the works start date for an inspection quote — we reply within the hour.
💬 WhatsApp us to book an inspectionTell us what you need — we reply within the hour.