angkt

Hi, the company is established in the renovation industry. I remember the boss said that they used another name InspirationID when his children suggested something more up-todate because their quality work was not recognised by the young generation who are seduced by jazzy new ID firms which some were fly-by-night and not established.

Not really... I do get a lot of PMs. Most people not so free or crazy like me to type long posts. I know the new project in Punggol and Sengkang, Mr. Toh is taking in customers and distributing the projects until "leg soft" (Ka Neng). Ha Ha Ha...

Hi, InspirationID == Chng Poh Guan. Not 100% sure if the office is in Yishun, but yeah has impression about it in the Yishun area. They're pretty good, but depends on your needs and the project coordinator. PM me for private advice to be fair to the parties I'm being supportive or critical about.

Is it Mr. George Lee? (There are 2 Mr. Lees at InspirationID) George is a nice guy, like Mr. Toh - he quotes are reasonable - and if you have problems he will resolve within 1-2 days. What I like about him is that he will wraps up things very nicely and will respond even after you make the final payment. He even does it myself if he can (and good at it). Even if he can do it, but he knows another guy can do it better (like touch up using silicone) he would call another of his staff to come. He was supposed to be my project coordinator, but as he had many projects on hand elsewhere, I was assigned Gary. Gary has his strengths, but he is very busy with condo projects at another site. So, I suffered some delays and the final loose ends he couldn't supervise properly and I had to point it out to him and resolution can take sometimes one week for him to arrange his group of staff to come. Finally, after the final payment was made, only George and Mr. Toh was more responsive. So, I think from a sales angle, Mr. Toh is a nice person to deal with, and certainly won't overcharge you. So, is George, but his strength is in the project coordination from start to finish.

Your initial quote is probably going to be S$25 to S$30K, I guess. I've got a few person who PM after reading my own experience and my posts in the forum, and the contractor I recommended gave them a better price. Some still went along with ID for various reasons except cost, but most eventually used a contractor.

Agreed, as long as they get the job done it doesn't matter if it is a contractor or ID. Contractor should be cheaper, but only if you are a discerning consumer and don't let them rip you off too. For me, the IDs are probably more savvy talking to customers and maybe better colour co-ordinated. The person laying the tile or putting up the shelves are not them. End of the day, given the size of our flats or condos these days, how many permutations of laminates and colours can they do? They still follow the current "trend" or what's "in" now, and a contractor can learn those things through working with IDs too. The important thing is the quality of execution and the commitment from the ID or contractor. ID may make you feel good, and you spend you ca$h with them, but at the end of the day you may get more or less the same with a contractor. The only problem is that most of us are newbies. So, we need to learn through hard knocks, or getting advice from others who have walked the path like in this forum. I didn't have money to splash, so after talking to a few so-called ID houses, I quickly realised the value-add doesn't command the additional 30-70% mark-up, and in the end I engaged a contractor.

I seem to recall hearing that some stone materials are porous and allow moisture/bacteria to accumulate. I think granite seems to have that problem. Not sure with Quartz. I just finished my reno, and after reviewing the information back then, I choose solid surface top. Cost wise, it was the most economical (unless you use wood laminates). Suggest you do a bit more googling...

Hi, all. I bought a very good product and want to recommend it, because I think the firm has integrity and they really focus on customer satisfaction. I put up a long post at my blog with pictures, but here's the gist: 1. If you have hot/cold water piping done in multiple points in your bathrooms and wash area, and you want 5-Star hotel-like hot/cold water at the comfort of your home, but you don't want a bulky storage heater, then you should most definitely look at the C600 Multi-Point Instant Water Heater from Bennington. 2. Note its an electric instant heater, and multi-point means you can connect it to hot/cold water pipes for mixer taps and showers. Very much like in hotels where you can turn on hot and cold water on tap. Ordinary instant heaters are "single-point" so you cannot just connect it to the pipes for those new HDB flats or condos if you want the hot water to be available for "multi" bathrooms, e.g. in the master bedroom and the common bathrooms and the wash basins. I like this product because the staff actually came down to do a site survey with reasonable charges if it is not the heater's fault. They even offered a demonstration on how to use it properly when i went down to the factory at Ang Mo Kio to buy new shower heads (see my blog to find out the reason why). This helped to correct wrong assumptions and expectations i had over the C600. The price I bought from their reseller is S$280 and they highlighted all the safety features and functions of the instant heater. I am really impressed that they took pains to explain to me how it works, and why in my case, it didn't meet my expectations initially due to my lack of understanding, but I also solved the problem by getting smaller shower heads. A product that works, and customer service that delivers!

Updated my ramblings on my blog.

Hi, you can contact Mr. Toh from Inspiration ID. They did my 4-room reno, and the worksmanship especially for the carpentry is very good. See my experience here.

Hi, Ken. There were shuffling of some of the original package (which in my opinion one of the best around, especially given the worksmanship of the crew who worked on my place) where I deducted some items coz I mentioned I wanted some other types of air-con for example. I also did not do the flooring as I chose the premium package with the timber doors and all flooring included. I haven't uploaded all the photos to my blog yet, so there are some items you have not seen. That said, the cost of the customized furniture (kitchen cabinets 30+ feet), other carpentry stuff, and some special design changes I wanted, Aluminium grilles, labour, painting, etc, is just over S$20K. Its pretty good, considering I know some folks around my block got "conned" by other contractors or ID firms into similar or worse quality and they paid around S$30+K for it. PM me your quotation if you have, I'd try to advice.

Hi, here's a shot of my living room, or what reminds me of the 80s hit "Square Rooms"... http://www.flickr.com/photos/95261264@N00/5053407277/ http://www.flickr.com/photos/95261264@N00/5054027276/ As usual, the long ramblings at my blog: http://myHDBrenovation.blogspot.com Enjoy!

Ok, guys and gals. Here's the "final reveal!" Many thanks for the kind patience. Actually, the major works finished about 3 weeks ago, but I've been travelling for work, and been down with flu, so I didn't get around writing about it. Here's some pictures of the carpentry and built-in cabinets: http://www.flickr.com/photos/95261264@N00/5053406863/ http://www.flickr.com/photos/95261264@N00/5053407111/ And I've finally started my blog! What else but: http://myHDBrenovation.blogspot.com ;-) Will keep posting pictures the next few nights... The piece the resistance are the kitchen cabinets... Thanks for the patience!

Lights! Sorry for not posting earlier - been a horrible 2 weeks at work. Actually lights were installed 2 weeks ago since I last wrote. I still cannot decide on the final centre piece - the living room lights. But, I managed to find fantastic deals for the lights after roaming Jalan Berseh and nearby locations. Found the best deal for the PLC (down lights) from RAD SON Lighting (contact Stephen Lim) they're just at No. 137 Jalan Besar (a bit further up Jalan Besar after the McDonald's - cross the road). Depending on the number you buy: Start from S$25 to S$22-23 if buy more than 10 PLCs, and total order more than S$400. Their prices are comparable to lightings.com.sg, but Stephen could organise and deliver fast, and customize some thing for me. So, here it is my downlights installed! http://www.flickr.com/photos/95261264@N00/5004456051/ http://www.flickr.com/photos/95261264@N00/5004456051/ http://www.flickr.com/photos/95261264@N00/5005066860/ I got my bedroom and kitchen (4 units) ceiliing lights from another company because they have this fantastic deal. All the other shops I visited start with S$180 to S$120 for these ceiling lights, and obviously they marked up a lot, coz at this shop, they sold me Buy 1 Get 1 Free for S$98. And they use ATCO balasts (everyone says they're more robust and reliable). I immediately bought 4, but I didn't get the PLCs coz they have, but using a different E28? socket type (the screw on type). However, since my contract insisted the PLC with balast is better, I decided to get the PLC downlights from RAD SON. Anyway, this shop is called Venice of Italy trading at New World Centre #01-04A 1 Jalan Berseh road. Alan's the nice sales guy and very experienced with the stuff he sells... I choose the smaller plain one below coz, I think I want the other rooms to be crisp and clean-cut. Easier to match... http://www.flickr.com/photos/95261264@N00/5004455337/ http://www.flickr.com/photos/95261264@N00/5004455179/ Oh! Almost forgot - I got multi-point instant heater from them too. Will post later when I actually installed and use it. Cheers!

Hi, all. Another gruelling week at work, so TGIF! Just a quick update - this week, I'm waiting for the carpenter to get ready all the materials before they start work on the kitchen cabinets, wardrobes and other fixtures. On last Sunday, I met up with Gary for another intense 2-3 hour session - final selection of the laminate colours/designs to be used for the kitchen, shoe rack, wardrobe, TV console/feature wall, and the altar table! It was critical because my family had the most contention with the choice of the laminates for the previous 2 weeks. So, I'm glad we finally got over it. On Tues, InspirationID's carpenter came with Gary to see my unit, so I requested to be there - We went through all the measurements for the items above-mentioned. Wow, this guy has a "magic measuring tape". Why? On one side is the usual inches/centimeters ruler, the reverse side has "fengshui" markings corresponding to each length marking. So, like when we are confirming the internal length and width of the altar table for example, he would check the reverse side to make sure that the reading corresponded with a certain auspicious zone/mark. So, thing like when we decided the internal table width will be 18", he said use 18 1/2" because it was corresponding with the marking that says double auspicous for wealth / abundance. So, Gary and I looked at each other and figured additional 0.5" is not going to be a major problem. Even better coz at first I was debating between 18"(just right, could be a bit tight) or 20" (as it would take up more space in the dining area), so heck, 18.5" it was... Their carpenter is very experienced - ran through a battery of recommendations and marking off each item on his checklist. He also made out instructions for his workers for each room's cabinet/wardrobe, by drawing a picture of the measurements (next to the design for each item chosen) and making special notes of the variation or special feature that we wanted. For example, we decided to give a "built-in" feel for the whole kitchen including the fridge. So, we had to decide if the frame around my new fridge wouldn't or would be flushed against the whole fridge. In the end, he recommended that the frame should be in line with the rest of the cabinets, so that the view from end to end is flushed, and the only protruding element is the stainless steel sides of the fridge. He assures me it will look more professional. So, I took his word for it. In the master bedroom, the built-in wardrobe is going to be covering the aircon ledge access window, so instead of building a "trapdoor" like access inside the wardrobe which will be 2-3 planks thick, he suggested doing up one piece nicely to be screwed in so we only need to remove it once every 6 months for servicing the aircon. I guess it is also more "secure" considering my active nephew/niece might come over, and we don't want them to climb out into the aircon ledge if they were playing hide-and-seek in the wardrobe. Other fine touches: He was explaining the dimensions of the TV console to look sleek and yet ensure sufficient space for Set-top boxes and the DVD players. And also how they will secure the TV console so that I can even sit on it without breaking... Giving a built-in bench next to the shoe-rack a curved finish, etc. Anyway, I am eagerly waiting for this final phase to start soon, and hopefully next week the laminate designs I ordered will come in... Oh, I also selected all my lights (except for the central piece in the hall - I can't decide if to leave it out, or to install a ceiling fan, or go for fancy lights), but anyway all the lights are delivered ready for installation by InspirationID's workers. Oven, cooker hodd and hob will be delivered over the weekend. So, if we start on the carpentry work next week, they will install the lights around the same time. Hope to post more pictures soon, and maybe finally find time to start my blog...

Hi, Winson. I bought the Mitsubishi Heavy Industries aircon because its one of the only 2 brands of 4 ticks System 3 inverter multi-split aircon where the compressor height is less than 680mm tall. Did you know you need to check the clearance height of your aircon through the servicing window to the aircon ledge? For some reason, when HDB designed some of the new blocks (that are being built or just completed), they choose to install windows with 2 different panes and it reduced the height available. For my unit, it would be impossible to take the Starmex System 3, or the Panasonic System 3 (All 4 ticks) inverter aircon compressor as the height is more than 750 to even 800+mm. Would you believe it?! Sheesh! Talk about all the environmentally friendly stuff, and some entire blocks of HDB flats may only accommodate less than half of the 4 ticks inverter aircon brands/models on the market. I think most people will end up installing non-inverter aircon models... I wonder if anyone from HDB is talking to the folks at NEA on their design decisions on energy-saving features.

Latest update: Painters have cometh and gone! Well, they came on the morning on Wed, and actually by the end of the day, they've pretty much painted all the ceiling with one coat of white paint, and the living room, master bedroom, and 2 bedrooms in the different colours we've chosen for the walls. I was there in the evening and managed to catch one of them (two started in the morning, and one left after all the ceilings were done)... So, a word of caution here: I have my folks living together, so we've chosen "safer" colours (or "old people's colours" as my contractor said somewhat jokingly/sarcastically at some point) but "no choice". NO avant garde or film noire inspired colour schemes - nothing to remind you of your stay at Hyatt, Sofitel or Le Meridien. So, there were colours like Lilac white, rose white, lily white and morning dew white for the different areas. Well, when the painters came, the rooms were very bright during the day, so while the paint was wet - their comments were all the "whites" were hardly different, but I understand that the first coat is just a primer and the colours won't come through yet - also we're lucky that the rooms have enough light during the day, so I guess we don't want to rob away the gift of natural lighting unnecessarily. http://www.flickr.com/photos/95261264@N00/4937775449/ http://www.flickr.com/photos/95261264@N00/4937775057/ Tip: Someone told me that Lilac white (for the ICI Dulux) series do reflect more light at night especially, so it would make the rooms more spacious. Let's see if that's true when they apply the 2nd coat. Anyway, the other thing was that after the 1st coat, CreationAir came to install the aircon units. It was a cinch and I told them to try patch up the walls more evenly from the 1st trip they made when they installed the trunking... See the pictures: http://www.flickr.com/photos/95261264@N00/4937835653/ I'm not sure if they could have done the masterbedroom better, but at first the previous guys from the 1st round said that they can just install the aircon slightly lower, and then put another trunking under it, flushed with the 2 existing trunking so that under the beam, there is no small gap left. (Sort of like making the trunkings look like run the entire thickness of the high beam. But here, they've opted to put a small protrusion under the aircon - I didn't notice it initially before they left, but it wasn't something so glaring to me... Maybe someone can comment if it could be done "better"? http://www.flickr.com/photos/95261264@N00/4938362354/ Bedroom 2 was the easiest and the neatest: http://www.flickr.com/photos/95261264@N00/4937775907/ Next up: Unfortunately, even though the painters were very quick and did a decent job to finish on Wed (I think they did some final touch-ups by Thurs morning, but not sure), Gary was on MC, so we could only meet on Sunday again to pick the laminates for the wardrobes and kitchen cabinets... I was also choosing the lights the past 2 weeks, so hopefully next update we have more to show and some night pictures!

Hi, Winson. No problem - glad to share and alleviate the learning pains like what I went through... No expert yet, so if anyone notice anything amiss please highlight... Quick progress update. Last week was very slow - I was travelling, and Gary was very busy with his other projects, so our initial mid-week meeting had to be postponed to Sunday (again!) Bad for him, better for me, although it meant one week of delay - not a problem during the "Hungry Ghost Festival". Since last weekend, the only thing that happened was I confirmed the paint colours to use. It was a necessary pain because my elders have very old-fashioned ideas and bold colours are a no-no. And cabinet colour combinations are worse because I initially can't get a splash of warm or dark colours in to contrast with the whites/light colours. So, I only managed to confirm all the room paint colours on Sunday's 2 hour meeting, and he gave me enough options to go back to discuss with my elders the cabinet design/colour combinations. I informed Gary today I am ready to meet up, and waiting for him to say when (Thurs?) to meet up again. Yeah - its a pain I know, but don't want to get crucified by my elders or nagged on for the rest of my natural life on the "wrong" choice of colours, or choose horrendously outdated combination that make the house look like a designer faux pas or art experimentation gone horribly wrong. So, Sunday confirmed the paint colours and so tomorrow, the painters cometh!

Hi, Winson and all. Sorry for the late posting - work has been crazy... Firstly, yes according to one of their namecards, InspirationID is a subsidiary of Chng Poh Guan Renovation is registered under HDB. They also have a RADAC logo displayed. Ok, so far the renovation has been smooth and surprising fast. It started with meeting up with my actual project co-ordinator, who ran through an intense 3-4 hours of measurements and finalising the details with me. God, this guy is meticulous and systematic. We ran through point by point in the package and on my original quotation and add-on items. Be it measurements, design considerations, or changes in plans (unfortunately due to slight differences on the HDB floor plan versus when we went to survey the actual flat, and horizontal beams - unpleasant surprise! not mentioned in the floorplan), we checked off items one by one. As he took all the measurements, and marked them on the floor using masking tape and drawing or writing on it where necessary to indicate the distance, spacings and where the laminates or tiles were going to be. http://www.flickr.com/photos/95261264@N00/4904445175/ Anyway, I later found out that he has quite a number of condo projects under him, so he is the type that wants to ensure each session is productive and we finish as much as possible because it may be hard to reschedule the next day. Good and bad, depending on your style and if you know enough to make the decision on the spot. (Addendum: Start was okay, execution was okay, but the final touches in the end was not so responsive and not that good. He was too busy. Luckily, Mr. Toh and Mr. George Lee took good care of me even after I made the final payment already and just about to move in). After that, we scheduled another visit where he showed me the 2D drawings of cabinets and designs which I told him I couldn't visualize. So, we (again systematically) went through item by item, design by design and finalised the design - at same session, the electrician came by later, and he also ran through where and what to do - shift a socket, or add another one, where to run the lights in the false ceiling. I would say so far the people I met at InspirationID's renovation team are very professional and experienced. The next day, the electrical works started. Here's some pictures....that I took on the second day - they've finished! - that was quick. 2 days after that, they started on the cabinet base cement base, and the cement sink support... I thought I hit a speed bump this time because when I stopped to checked and inspect the work, his workers actually misread his measurements. Yes, they constructed the refrigerator base 2 inches nearer to the entrance, and also constructed the cement support base at a place where we decided (and marked clearly) there is no support base because we will put a table under it. http://www.flickr.com/photos/95261264@N00/4904445189/ http://www.flickr.com/photos/95261264@N00/4904445183/ Anyway, people make mistakes and to me good professional service if they correct it. My project coordinator said he would tell his guys on Monday (we met on Sunday to survey the place) and true enough, on Tues, they've corrected it... The fridge base is moved 2 inches to the right place, and they hacked away the area that they accidentally added the base. I'm impressed. http://www.flickr.com/photos/95261264@N00/4904989222/ http://www.flickr.com/photos/95261264@N00/4905048192/ Other work done...end of Week 1 & half of Week 2. http://www.flickr.com/photos/95261264@N00/4904989228/ http://www.flickr.com/photos/95261264@N00/4904989214/ http://www.flickr.com/photos/95261264@N00/4904989202/ http://www.flickr.com/photos/95261264@N00/4904989230/ Ok, that's all the details I can manage for now... Will edit and add-on later...

How long is the cement sink support? Mine is about 1.2-1.3M wide, and I was quoted $580. Here's how it looks with the glossy tiles built around it waiting for the wooden laminate to be built around it: http://www.flickr.com/photos/95261264@N00/4901794944/ When they construct the top, it should have steel bars embedded inside.

Ok, here's the pictures I took. It started out like this: http://www.flickr.com/photos/95261264@N00/4901206069/ Here are some of the chipped and cracks: http://www.flickr.com/photos/95261264@N00/4901206715/ http://www.flickr.com/photos/95261264@N00/4901206449/ End result after checking with other contractors/replies from other readers: It's normal for the cement blocks to come cracked or chipped. I guess, I have a right and gotta to ask right? Anyway, here's the prettier end result (at least before the kitchen cabinets surround it): http://www.flickr.com/photos/95261264@N00/4901794944/ Ok, false alarm - at least I put my mind at ease.

Hi, everyone. Advice please... I ordered to have a cement support to be made for the sink area, and I happened to drop by to check out the renovation work halfway. I noticed that the cement blocks used as the side support are not totally intact - some have cracks and some were cemented together. Some are chipped at the corners, but one at the bottom of the support has a corner that is broken off, although it is being "cemented" back together. There is a crack running in the middle of another... When I asked the contractor, he said its normal - they come this way when they buy it. The support will be strong once it is finished. The reason he gives is that it is not finished yet - just to let the first layer of cement dry. Then, they will plaster all sides with the cement before finishing with the tiles. Half of my brain tells me that could be logical - the cement block is also made of cement, and after they apply the cement all around the final structure will be strong. The cement blocks are just to make it easy to start with the rough shape of the support. So, it doesn't matter much as long as the loose or chipped areas are cemented properly. The other half has lingering doubts. IF the foundation is not 100% compact or started with cracks, wouldn't it eventually show over time, albeit after many years? The side support will be supporting the heavy cement top...and I ordered the extra cement support for firmer support... So, it seems weird if it started not so ideal. I will try to enclose some pictures I took as I'm having problems uploading them. Meanwhile those who know, kindly advice please? Thanks in advance!

Yeah, I want to do some blogging about my experience. I can't upload pics here... and I don't want to anyhow put on flickr...Any advice? They came to my new house, and did a very meticulous and professional/exact measurements, and also gave practical advice to me in an intensive 3 hours session because the actual location differred a bit here and there from the floor plan. Especially things like horizontal beams and actual (non-structural support) walls differ and internal dimensions (after taking into consideration tiles). I also had a good experience with CreationAir - I will posted it separately with pictures.

Hi, why don't you call him instead? 81027846. They are practically there everyday at the showflat at the new Bendemeer flats (38C)...

Hi, ye all! Anyway, just collected my keys and I have finally settled on engaging Mr Toh/Chng Poh Guan to do up my flat. I'd post my experience with the various contractors and this company since I find it strange they're not written up much in this forum. I hope my intuition with them, and the months of scanning and deliberation will pay off. Meanwhile, please continue to share with me if you have experience to share. Thanks!