anetha

Thanks, alan26. Yes, I considered the wireless option. I have this HAVA recorder (helps record TV shows) that works only with a wired connection to my router which prompted me to think about a concealed ethernet option.

great suggestion on redoing the kitchen, chronograph - It has gotten me thinking. Thanks!

Hi there, We are planning our renovation and seek help / tips from experienced folks here for negotiating with contractors. Thanks a lot! Background: We met with several contractors. Based on our conversations we got a sense that one of the contractor understood our requirements better than others. He also brought his carpenter, air-con and electrician guys before giving quote. But I am not sure if his quotation is competitive, and tried to negotiate with him. I met with him today morning but could not succeed in reducing price at all. I would like to know how to engage in negotiation with this contractor. I had posted his quote in the forum: http://www.renotalk.com/forum/index.php?sh...mp;#entry437002 I am reproducing the original quote for convenience: ------------------------------- Kitchen-Store Room 1.Supply & replace 6 nos. post from door & 3 nos. post from drawer & 1 nos. below oven for existing cabinet 850 2.Provide labor to remove & reinstall new kitchen sink & connection for existing cabinet 120 3.Provide labor to remove & reinstall new cooker hood & hob for existing cabinet 50 4.Alter cabinet to fit hood and replace 2 doors above cooker hood 450 6.Supply & seal up existing Upper cabinet open space using gypsum board finish 350 5.Supply and re-polish existing solid surface kitchen top 380 7.To supply and install powder coated aluminum bi-fold door for store room 170 Living Room 8.Provide marble dry polish for existing hall marble including skirting & entrance areas 580 9.Supply & install 1 nos. wrought iron bar & hook include existing ceiling touch up (for hanging chair) 200 Bed Rooms 10.Hack off existing laminate flooring & cement mortar base for all bedrooms 780 11.Provide labor to remove & reinstall existing 3 nos. build-in wardrobe including touch up & repair work 1750 12.Supply & lay 600mmX600mm polish homogenous tiles including skirting for all bed rooms 4150 13.Provide hand polishing for master bedroom toilet existing marble wall tiles & floor tiles 450 Electrical Work 14.Lay concealed LAN (network) cable 3nos. connecting living room SCV point area to 3 bed rooms 450 15.Lay concealed extra SCV point to living room wall 150 16.Lay concealed 2 nos. LAN(network) cable connecting living room wall 300 17.Replace switches - 17 number 340 18.Install 5 electrical fans 175 19.New fan point installation (1 numbers) in MBR 55 20.Reposition light point for fan installation (2 Bed rooms) 80 21. 7nos. extra double points in living room and 3 bed rooms 700 Painting 22. Furnish whole house wall & ceiling using I.C.I / Nippon 3-in-1 or wash & wear paint 1550 23. Supply & lacquering for existing wooden door & door frames (whole house) 270 Miscellaneous 24. Haulage and clear debris service during renovation work 380 25. Provide lay floor protection covering sheet & thick ply wood sheet during renovation work 250 26. Provide chemical washing & cleaning for all house including window 280 27. Supply & Install cloth lining & wrought iron support 170 28. Repair, touch-up hinges in cabinets + window hinges FOC Discount 285 Total 15100 -------------------------------

Thanks for the tip! I have a related question - We are renovating our old place, and the contractor offered to "polish" the solid surface kitchen topic. I am not sure if solid surface kitchen top can be polished like granite top. Can you please share what it means to "polish" solid surface kitchen top - is it only washing and de-greasing or anything else? thanks for your help.

Dear Friends, Can you please help me with assessing the following quotation I got from my contractor. The renovation is for a 3 bedroom unit (1300sq ft.) which is 10 years old now. Thanks a lot. Kitchen-Store Room 1.Supply & replace 6 nos. post from door & 3 nos. post from drawer & 1 nos. below oven for existing cabinet 850 2.Provide labor to remove & reinstall new kitchen sink & connection for existing cabinet 120 3.Provide labor to remove & reinstall new cooker hood & hob for existing cabinet 50 4.Alter cabinet to fit hood and replace 2 doors above cooker hood 450 6.Supply & seal up existing Upper cabinet open space using gypsum board finish 350 5.Supply and re-polish existing solid surface kitchen top 380 7.To supply and install powder coated aluminum bi-fold door for store room 170 Living Room 8.Provide marble dry polish for existing hall marble including skirting & entrance areas 580 9.Supply & install 1 nos. wrought iron bar & hook include existing ceiling touch up (for hanging chair) 200 Bed Rooms 10.Hack off existing laminate flooring & cement mortar base for all bedrooms 780 11.Provide labor to remove & reinstall existing 3 nos. build-in wardrobe including touch up & repair work 1750 12.Supply & lay 600mmX600mm polish homogenous tiles including skirting for all bed rooms 4150 13.Provide hand polishing for master bedroom toilet existing marble wall tiles & floor tiles 450 Electrical Work 14.Lay concealed LAN (network) cable 3nos. connecting living room SCV point area to 3 bed rooms 450 15.Lay concealed extra SCV point to living room wall 150 16.Lay concealed 2 nos. LAN(network) cable connecting living room wall 300 17.Replace switches - 17 number 340 18.Install 5 electrical fans 175 19.New fan point installation (1 numbers) in MBR 55 20.Reposition light point for fan installation (2 Bed rooms) 80 21. 7nos. extra double points in living room and 3 bed rooms 700 Painting 22. Furnish whole house wall & ceiling using I.C.I / Nippon 3-in-1 or wash & wear paint 1550 23. Supply & lacquering for existing wooden door & door frames (whole house) 270 Miscellaneous 24. Haulage and clear debris service during renovation work 380 25. Provide lay floor protection covering sheet & thick ply wood sheet during renovation work 250 26. Provide chemical washing & cleaning for all house including window 280 27. Supply & Install cloth lining & wrought iron support 170 28. Repair, touch-up hinges in cabinets + window hinges FOC Discount 285 Total 15100

Dear Friends, Can you please help me with assessing the following quotation I got from my contractor. The renovation is for a 3 bedroom unit (1300sq ft.) which is 10 years old now. Thanks a lot. Kitchen-Store Room 1.Supply & replace 6 nos. post from door & 3 nos. post from drawer & 1 nos. below oven for existing cabinet 850 2.Provide labor to remove & reinstall new kitchen sink & connection for existing cabinet 120 3.Provide labor to remove & reinstall new cooker hood & hob for existing cabinet 50 4.Alter cabinet to fit hood and replace 2 doors above cooker hood 450 6.Supply & seal up existing Upper cabinet open space using gypsum board finish 350 5.Supply and re-polish existing solid surface kitchen top 380 7.To supply and install powder coated aluminum bi-fold door for store room 170 Living Room 8.Provide marble dry polish for existing hall marble including skirting & entrance areas 580 9.Supply & install 1 nos. wrought iron bar & hook include existing ceiling touch up (for hanging chair) 200 Bed Rooms 10.Hack off existing laminate flooring & cement mortar base for all bedrooms 780 11.Provide labor to remove & reinstall existing 3 nos. build-in wardrobe including touch up & repair work 1750 12.Supply & lay 600mmX600mm polish homogenous tiles including skirting for all bed rooms 4150 13.Provide hand polishing for master bedroom toilet existing marble wall tiles & floor tiles 450 Electrical Work 14.Lay concealed LAN (network) cable 3nos. connecting living room SCV point area to 3 bed rooms 450 15.Lay concealed extra SCV point to living room wall 150 16.Lay concealed 2 nos. LAN(network) cable connecting living room wall 300 17.Replace switches - 17 number 340 18.Install 5 electrical fans 175 19.New fan point installation (1 numbers) in MBR 55 20.Reposition light point for fan installation (2 Bed rooms) 80 21. 7nos. extra double points in living room and 3 bed rooms 700 Painting 22. Furnish whole house wall & ceiling using I.C.I / Nippon 3-in-1 or wash & wear paint 1550 23. Supply & lacquering for existing wooden door & door frames (whole house) 270 Miscellaneous 24. Haulage and clear debris service during renovation work 380 25. Provide lay floor protection covering sheet & thick ply wood sheet during renovation work 250 26. Provide chemical washing & cleaning for all house including window 280 27. Supply & Install cloth lining & wrought iron support 170 28. Repair, touch-up hinges in cabinets + window hinges FOC Discount 285 Total 15100