Soichiro

Sent u pm. SOrry for the late reply!

Bro, u calculated how much more it'd cost yet? Quite a big difference. If you are having say 16 downlights (thats what I had)... lets say u buy good quality ones, about $30+ (cheap ones can go for $15+). To lay lines and install each light, lets say $10 each. Lets say all the false ceilings and L-boxes cost... $1k. Total damage about $1.6k, compared to maybe 3 normal ceiling lights at $60 each, damage would be less than $300, if we include the wiring and installation.

Also remember to get quote to do piping for toilet in the level 1 wash area if you want a WC but there isn't one there yet. Inexperienced ID/contractors may anyhow quote if they don't know what work is required.

Personally go for whatever u feel is practical. If u go for IKEA just make sure the quality is acceptable for u. Imagine 1 year later, would u still be happy with what u spent on? Money can be spent but must make sure u are happy with it. heh. Consider also the time u spend using that item. That said, bed would be where u spend the most of your time on... should be your most important purchase!

My 5rm mansionette is almost done. Like csingeu, my reno is more like renewing the house, no fancy design. My damage with contractor is from 40-50k. Don't just look at price.. it is very easy for them to tweak the initial quote to look like it is much lower. Go for quality, and go for the one you feel most comfortable communicating with. Remember to request to view some similar houses that the contractor has done before, can give u ideas also. I requested to visit EMs that my contractor had done. At least see if the owner looks happy with the contractor or not. haha.

U will learn from the headaches. Don't worry too much la. haha. Latest headache I got... wrong door design installed. Iron gate installed blocks the eye hole -- peep at the padlock lor. Thats despite reminding the guy who did site survey to measure the eye hole position.. bleh. Kitchen design, drawer become swing door.. etc etc. Things for u to take note now that it's your turn. haha.. I'm graduating soon!

My electrician did the trunking with a cable to pull. Doesnt look flexible? Will see how it goes in 2 weeks when opennet comes!

Sliding glass window! But dunno look nice or not...

yah, i thought it should have an opening! otherwise if it is clogged... game over for the cabinet!

In the base of kitchen cabinets, is there usually an opening where the drainage is? In case it is clogged, we can actually access it?

For the lights, its different model. For the hood, its different colour. In any case, ya.. they should call the owner for such changes, contractor sometimes won't know mah. For me, my contractor helped me to arrange delivery or collect on my behalf, thats why I didn't really see the items before installation. Sometimes he just collect and get it installed immediately. Screwups are expected.. haha. most importantly, it must be resolvable without extra cost or problems. I dropped my carpenter for wardrobe already. The person in charge really jialat.. take measurements 3 times, all 3 times different. Do 3D image, but install already still wrong. Quotation price anyhow change without change in description. @.@ okok paiseh, csingeu's tblog I shouldn't use this to rant too much. keke. But hope he doesn't kena too much of what I had.

Would you be doing alot of cooking? The stove is just beside where your hacked half wall is. If you cook a lot, might need to cover it somehow with glass (but then no wind bonus) so the other areas won't get too oily. Yes, a drawing that clearly shows the size/location of each door/drawer with dimensions is necessary to avoid misunderstandings. Well, even with 3D drawings, the carpenter can screw up. hehe. Mine gave 3D drawings and still installed it differently initially, but at least they would change it because it is different.

Weekend is where the last minute comes in. LOL. Usually go out with wife then when we settle some stuff then will drop by the house for a quick check. We only see our house once a week la.. unless there are things that I really need to attend to. Actually hor... - staircase: i didn't do anything, just going to sand/varnish the wooden banister, repaint the iron - no storage heater, all instant. u can see the pics of the toilets in what i sent u - kitchen layout is a U shape, can see in the floorplan design - storeroom will have L-shape shelves, just buy from shop or ikea. but havent buy yet! - balcony will leave it empty, we like the space. maybe when got mood then bring chair and small table to relax and have wine. lol The shops that I ordered stuff from screwed up more. Sometimes they found they don't have the particular model or colour in stock.. then anyhow replace it without telling me. I only found out after they were installed... each time very pek chek! I had one light... they say cannot find it based on invoice.. then anyhow change to a random one. I had to go down again to point out the model. Contractor helped me dismantle, exchange and reinstall.. then I realize they got the wrong bulbs also -.-"" Kitchen hood.. also.. they found that they can't get the colour that I ordered.. so just suka suka deliver a different colour without telling me. I also found out only after installation..! So now it's mismatched with the cabinets.. might change again. So best if u can be there whenever they install lights, kitchen, sink, toilet bowl, etc. Check every single piece delivered! Coz your contractor/ID did not choose the items with u... they can't verify if it is exactly the one u ordered.

' Yo, should be ok except that the only times I'm at the house is very specific and last minute! Coz current house is more than an hour away from new house la. I should be there around 11:30am to 1pm this Thursday tho. Other days not sure yet. PM me about it.

Good to see you're gonna start your reno soon! Mine should be finishing very soon, such a blood vomitting process. haha.. sent u pm with the photos!

Lucky u!!! haha. congrats on your house! If you are engaging an ID... u can tell them what theme u want for your house. Simplistic? Modern? Country? Resort? Hotel? Bare minimum? Preferred colours? Must tell them first or their first proposal may turn u off. Indicate special requests that you may want, like walk-in-wardrobe, projector room, etc. Or if u have no idea, just tell them the use of each room and see what they can come up with. Don't worry, they may just take from some template if u don't give much info, and you can refine the details from there. First quote will probably be high because they will suggest almost everything possible based on your requirements, then u just decide what u want and don't want, or change anything they propose. After one round, u will have a better idea of what u want.

You can ask your electrician to suggest. You can also ask at the lighting shop for advice. Are you talking about downlights? Or normal ceiling lights? I just did my agaration, draw out and asked my contractor if the light is sufficient, he say ok, so we go ahead lo.

Sometimes... buying mattress + bedframe together will give u a better discount than the promotion u had from your mattress. I changed plan to get off the shelf for mattress + bedframe from the same shop. So kingsize storage bedframe with 10-year warranty on the german hydraulic pumps cost just $800 extra. I opted for a higher profile one (deeper storage) so it cost $1000. Can bargain to waive off GST for some shops. Buying the high profile frame on its own would cost more than $1.5k, low profile maybe $1.1k Of course, there is different quality from each shop. Make sure u are getting a good quality one. I've seen quite a few at $1k on it's own, quality looks quite bad. Note that all these are for storage bedframe. If u want simple one, will definitely be alot cheaper.

Sometimes the toilet can really smell of sewage, as if the WC pipe is open. Any idea how to check and fix? No leaks seen, just smellyyy

Won't that block the light significantly?

Surprising turn of events.. now they say can do! Here's a pic of the completed work:

Dreaded answer.. but thanks anyway! Don't think will replace the portion.. too bad it is right in front of the room entrance, can't put anything to cover except for carpet, etc...

Your sequence seems right. But if you have an ID... you can ask your ID to help you manage the rest of the contractors, so he/she becomes your main project manager. Some of my reno work were from my own sources (kitchen, etc), so I just passed them on to my contractor to settle everything.

Some parts of my parquet flooring has black stuff in between, looks like dried glue but black.. really ugly. I had the floor resanded and varnished hoping they'd be gone, but they are still there! Contractor said it is part of the adhesive and cannot remove... Anyone encountered this before for old parquet flooring? I'm tempted to scrape it off myself but scared that it'll spoil whatever varnish work earlier.

Ok screwed up... electrician did the grouping much earlier and false ceiling already installed, even though contractor was informed early. Now I seem stuck with - 3 - 3 - 3 - 1 --------- 2 1 --------- 2 - 4 - 4 - 4 - Anyone did something like this before? I don't think it makes sense to have just one part of the room bright when I just want a dimmer room sometimes.