arnold

Woodworks Considerations and Decisions (Part 1) It came to a point when we had to make some decisions on the detailed requirements of the carpentry that we are building. Let's first recap our plan for carpentry: We met up with Boon on-site for further discussions. The discussion was fruitful, with Boon giving us information on typical layouts of cupboards and cabinets, as well as some ideas that he included based on the individual lifestyle. The discussions went on in this manner: TV Console and Toilet Vanity Top We did not require any special customisation in this area. For the 2 items, we decided to go as simple as possible. So in essence, this will be the typical simple type you will see almost everywhere. Kitchen The kitchen is the busiest item to discuss. There were many factors that could affect the overall layout and carpentry requirements of the kitchen. This include Type of Hob and Hood. The questions that he posed were (1) Are we using chimney or slimline hoods, (2) Are we using induction of gas hobs and (3) For gas hobs, are we using SP gas or tanks. The type of hob and hood that we purchase, and the type of gas that we use will impact the carpentry design at the cooking area. It is important that he knows so that he can cater the right amount of space for the installation of the equipments, as well as cater space for the gas tanks if required Ovens and Microwaves. He also asked us whether we required spaces for build-in ovens as well as specific compartments just for microwaves. For build-in ovens, he suggested a few ways that we can install, including (1) building a tall unit to house, or (2) to install below the hob. Size of Fridge. Of course, the size and type of fridge will affect the measurements of the carpentry work in the kitchen. On top of the above discussion points, we also decided that we did not want to have a "Dish Drying Rack Cover" (refer to below image and highlighted in orange) in the kitchen. We did not think it was a requirement. Actually, we found it a hassle to need to open and close the cover so often! Given our characters, we thought that it will eventually remain opened all the way. Instead of it making the kitchen look neat and tidy, The cover will be a sore thumb sticking out.

Tried to PM u but couldn't. how do we go about doing this? and how much credit do u have?

Artificial or Natural? The Kitchen Top Choice! Prior to our renovation journey, we didn't even know that there were different choices for the counter tops in the kitchen! We had all along thought that the contractor will just put a piece of plank on top and that will do! Since there are so many different types of materials to choose from, what are the differences? Granite Type of natural stone. The natural pattern of granite has plenty of character, with unique grains and colours. It also stands up well against knife nicks and heat, However, to ensure the stone is not stained, it must be sealed properly. Once stains are set in, it remains permanent. One of the most popular granite that is being used today will be the Black Galaxy. Solid Surface Made primarily from acrylic and polyester. IT was one of the popular choices in older homes due to its low cost. It is virtually maintenance free due to its non-porous nature. As it is an artificial product, the length and width can be customised to however you want it to be so that you won't have any joint lines to worry about. However, its heat withstanding ability is not as good as natural stones. Quartz Surface Another one of the popular choices today. Crafted of resin and quartz chips tinted with colour, quartz surfacing is a good compromise between the beauty of stone and the easy care of solid surfacing. Marble Luxurious! Marble is usually linked to the higher end of products. The natural lines of marble is exceptionally beautiful and provides sheer elegance to your kitchen! Functionally, marble stands up to heat well. However, marble is extremely susceptible to stains. At the same time, it is probably one of the more expensive products to use. I am pretty sure that I won't want to spend a bomb on the top, and yet I need to take extra care of it. KompacPlus One of the newer entries in the market. It is slowly gaining popularity due to its sleek design and durability. I have seen demonstrations of how it can withstand scratches from knifes and direct heat. Even turmeric (one of the ingredients used in Indian curries. It's stains are known to be extremely difficult to get rid of) failed to stain the thing! Conclusion for Kitchen Top With all the homework done, we decided that we will go for KompacPlus. I trust that with whatever we wrote so far, you can be sure that ease of cleaning sits on the highest priority. We were totally bought over by the demonstrations that we have seen. We thought of the colour theme of what we have, and we decided that the Black (25:20) is the way to go for the kitchen. We also decided to use KompacPlus for our MBR Toilet Vanity Top, and we will be using the one with the Wooden Finish (10:20) so that it is in line with the brown tiles

Sinks, Basins, Taps and All Things That Get Wet! Toilets During the planning phase, we were contemplating whether we wanted to do a full revamp of the toilet. I will start by showing everyone here what HDB provided us with in the toilets: Here are some of the issues that we thought through: 1. Revamp of Toilet. We were contemplating whether we wanted to revamp the entire toilet. Both of us are suckers for nice toilets and it was usually one of the first things we will check out when we go to a hotel for vacations. Before the collection of keys, we surfed around for some of the toilets that we liked and it was usually something like this: 2. Shower Heads. One other consideration we had was whether we wanted rain showers. It's like the in-thing now and it always feels so good when we go under the rain shower during vacations. We were really tempted to go for this until my wife asked me this: "Will you really use it everyday?" Thinking through the lifestyle of ours, it seem unlikely we will be using this often. Every morning was a rush to get out of bed and to work, not to mention we also need to cater time to dress up the little one to go to school. After thinking through, it seems like the rain shower will be another decorative piece eventually and used only once in a long while. 3. Basins. Now just look at how puny and pathetic the basin in the common toilet is! It looks more like a basin that you can find in a child care centre for children's use! HDB, SERIOUSLY???? We decided to be practical and change out only the things that we need and will use, which leads us to making the following decisions: 1. To resolve the basin size issue, we decided to get Boon to build us a vanity top in the MBR toilet. The original MBR basin will be shifted to the common toilet to replace the puny basin. 2. We will use the original shower heads provided by HDB. If required, we will review the decision after we move in and purchase a rainshower again if we thought that we still wanted it. 3. The common toilet will not be used often and we will be doing most of our businesses in the MBR toilet. Therefore, we will only build one shower screen in the MBR toilet. With the decisions above, we came up with the following purchase list: Master Bedroom ToiletBasinTapWall Mirror/CabinetBidet SprayToilet Paper Holder2 x Towel HooksTowel HangerCommon ToiletBidet SprayToilet Paper HangerMirrorWe regret that we weren't able to find most of the pictures of the above items. Therefore, pictures shall not be put up for it. We also classified the kitchen sink and tap, as well as the water heater to be part of the "things that get wet" category. However, we were only able to find the picture for the sink: For things that get wet, we spent a total of $1630.45

Wafdaa: contact sent via pm. Enjoy your reno journey! Glamchic: theres some error sending u the pm. Is ur inbox full?

Fjklrc: I'm sure ur daughter will enjoy the light. My 2 yr old was extremely excited and kept repeating "lights! Lights! So nice!"

Lights - Choices and Purchases To recap, here is my lighting plan. We were contemplating how or where we should buy our lights. The options that we have are: 1. Purchase from TaoBao. After reading how so many people bought their lights from TaoBao (TB) and saving a significant amount of money, we were pretty much tempted to jump onto the TB bandwagon. Reading through the experience, we noted several things that prompted us to reconsider: a. Design. We could only gauge the design based on the pictures shown on the site. As we know, many pictures online are probably photoshopped so that it brings out the best in their products. Without looking at the physical item, it is hard to gauge whether we will actually like the thing. What if the purchase isn't something that we exactly wanted? Does it mean that the money will be wasted? b. Technical Specifications. We have totally NO knowledge on any of the technical specifications that are written on the pages. This mean that on top of being unsure about the design requirements, we were also unsure of whether the lights will be bright enough to our liking. At the same time, we were also unsure whether the technical specifications can be used on Singapore's electricity load. 2. Purchase from Local Stores. This option will be safe, but it might be expensive. After all, store owners need to eat too. Factoring import charges, rental of the shops and all other expenses, we will be paying a significantly higher amount than what we could have purchased from TB. Price aside, we will be assured of quality (the light will confirm be in working condition) and suitability (in terms of both design and technical specifications). 3. Purchase Through Boon's Lobang. Another safe option due to the same assurance as described in S/N 2. However, this will require additional arrangement with Boon so that he can refer us to the correct places. After going through the above options, we decided to purchase the lights locally. We think that the risk of purchasing an electrical item without understanding the technical specifications will be too risky. The last thing we want is a short circuit caused by these items and have the house burned down. We sought recommendations from Boon on the lighting shops that he is familiar with, but somehow we didn't see anything that we liked. Eventually, we bought our lights from different sources. The downlight, however, is supplied by Boon as part of the renovation package. The following picture shows most of the light purchases that we made: We did not include the pictures of the track lights that we purchased, as we couldn't find the correct pictures for it. On top of this, we also bought lights for the dressing table. We took an immediate liking to one of Ikea's lighting! And so, we bought 2 rows of the lights plus a mirror, with the hopes of the effect will turn out stunning! After purchase of the lights, inclusive of all the lights you see above and track lights, we spent a grand total of $3052.55 on lightings!

I can't quite remember how I got it. I believe it was downloaded when it was first released on HDB for BTO purposes.

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The Plan! Now that we have decided on who we wanted to engage, the next step will be to put together a proper plan to make sure that we have not left out anything. We did an extremely rough sketched layout so that we can be sure of what we wanted. The following are what we have: Carpentry Plan Living Room. We will have a minimalist set up in the living room, so that we don't clutter our "front". Both my wife and myself do not usually watch movies at home, and therefore, do not require lots of space for DVDs/BlueRays. We decided that a simple setup of a TV console will be enough for us. We omitted the feature wall, as we think that it is not necessary to spend money on a decorative piece. The excitement will probably die off after 3 months and we won't even notice the feature wall eventually. We see the shoe rack as an essential requirement for storage purposes. At the same time, we did not want a total block of the door from the window as this will affect the air flow within the house. With these considerations, we decided to have a half-height shoerack in front of the door. Master Bedroom. We wanted a place with lots of storage for bedsheets, towels and such. and since we already intended to make a platform bed, why waste the space? we decided to have storage compartments within the platform so that we can maximise the space. At the same time, the missus wanted a dressing table within the master bedroom, and the best place will be beside the wardrobe. Therefore, the set up of the master bedroom as attached. Common Bedrooms. As mentioned previously, we chose to keep 2 of our rooms clean. We decided to keep 1 of the rooms as the children's bedroom, and the other room as a children's playroom. Keeping the room clean will allow us the flexibility to convert it into a study room in future, or to allow the 2 kiddos their own bedroom. Kitchen. We will be doing both top and bottom cabinets for the long side of the kitchen, and only the bottom cabinets for the short side. For a small family, we didn't think we need so much space. Plus we thought that having top and bottom cabinets on both side will make the already small kitchen look extremely cluttered. Lighting Plan There will be no cove lights at all within my place, as described why in my principal considerations. As I like my living area to be bright, we will be doing L-Box in the area. To avoid the hole-in-the-ceiling, we will not be doing any false ceiling at any place. Most of the rooms will be lighted by simple hamburger lights. Track lights will be the feature in my corridor and the wardrobe area, as these places are long and narrow. For entrance lights, we decided to go small with it as only a small area is required for the lighting. Aircon Plan In the above picture, the aircon units are marked by blue dotted lines. The red lines determines the place where trunkings will run. All trunkings will run within the room, and there are no intentions to box up any of the trunking. The only area where trunking will be boxed up is at the living area. Conclusion The main works that will be done by Boon are as such: Carpentry WorksTV ConsoleShoe CabinetTop and Bottom Kitchen Cabinets on Long Side with KompacPlus TopBottom Kitchen Cabinet on Short Side with KompacPlus TopDressing TableWardrobe as partition for Master BedroomStorage Platform BedVanity Top at Master Bedroom Toilet with KompacPlus TopBox Up WorksL-Box ****/Dining RoomBox up of Aircon Trunking ****/Dining RoomBox up of Tracks for Sliding Door at Kitchen EntranceGlass WorksSliding Glass Door at Kitchen EntranceTempered Glass Sliding Shower ScreenGlass Backing at Long Side of Kitchen

The Meet Up! After filtering, we decided to meet up with 2 IDs and 1 Contractor. The following documents the impression we had of each of them during the meet-ups: ID Thomas He gave us quite a good first impression. Soft spoken and well dressed. During the meet up, the first thing he went through with us was the requirements that we set out. He confirmed with us whether the requirements remained the same, to which we affirmed. This was a really good start, to have someone who listens to what you say and even re-confirm that what he understood was correct. He then proceeded to show us a sketch that he drew on our floorplan. That was when the confidence level dropped, drastically. The outrageously glaring mistake he made was that, the location of the entrance of the kitchen was incorrect. How could that possibly happen? Before the meet up, he even said that his firm had a few projects in our development. This was a deadly mistake. This potentially shows 2 things about him: (1) He was inexperienced. This might affect his ability in project management; and (2) He did not check back with his colleagues to ensure that his interpretation of the floorplan was correct. The confidence level dropped from there and we eventually decided not to use him. ID Eddie Eddie was responsive in his emails, quoted the things that we required, and was extremely keen to meet up with us. For people who did not know him, it was kind of weird during the initial email conversation. He sounded extremely friendly, too friendly to be honest. Eventually when I did meet up with him, he was ok actually. The quotation he provided was clear, precise and the pricing was attractive. He even included some optional stuff that he thought we might be interested in (the prices of these stuff was not included into the final amount, as he did not have a confirmation whether we wanted them. The inclusion was purely for information). We had a good impression of him, but we wanted to see how it was like to converse with a contractor. Contractor Boon We got into contact with Boon through a mutual friend. We decided to meet him as we thought that my friend’s place was nicely done up. We have seen other friends’ whose places suffered bad workmanship on some of their stuff and they had to rectify it many times. Our friend told us that with his renovation works from Boon, the only touch up that was done was at the initial stage and after which, there were no problems at all. When we first called Boon, we were surprised that he spoke English fluently. In our impression, we would have thought that contractors usually converse in Hokkien or Mandarin. Therefore, it was a pleasant surprise that we were able to converse in a language that we are comfortable with (he still converses in Hokkien and Mandarin to his workers). His working style is slightly different from the IDs that we met. He requested to meet on-site, so that he can be sure on what he is working with, and at the same time, do some measurements so that the quotation he gives is as accurate as possible. During the meet up, he patiently listens to our requirements first before going around to take the measurements. As he takes the measurements, he will give a brief description on what he understands from our requirements and how things could be done to accommodate our requests. At the same time, he provides some suggestions on how we could improve on the things that we wanted. The meeting with Boon was comfortable. He somehow gives us the assurance that things will be in good hands if the project is given to him. After the meet up, the quotation was given to us in 2 days. The items in the quotation were precise, to the point that even electrical works are included. [Afternote: After sending the quotation, he called us up and requested for another meet up. When asked why he wanted to meet again, he said that he would like to show us some of the projects that he has on hand. This will give us some background knowledge on how he does his work, including protection work and how he installs the things. We met him up and he went around explaining what he will do and showed us some of his completed works.] Decision! Eventually, after much considerations, we decided to use Boon for our renovation! The following are reasons why we decided to use him: Viewing of Projects. The trips to his projects were very educational. During the trips, he showed us around and answered all our questions professionally. Some of these questions were purposely meant to put him in difficult spots. One of them was: "Why does the TV console look slanted?" He took out his level measuring tool and placed it on the console. The tool shows that it is perfectly straight. He further explained that the reason why it looked like it was slanted was because of the slanted ceiling. Not Overly Pushy. While he remained keen in his follow ups, he was not overly pushy in his sales. He gave us space to consider and was kind enough to answer the many questions that we have.Communication. Boon was an easy person to communicate. He is comfortable in English, Hokkien or Chinese. Meticulous. Boon was meticulous when he planned for his work. He tried to understand a bit of my lifestyle before he gave suggestions. One of the things that left the biggest impression was that he asked for my shoe size and the type of shoes that I wear! His explanation was that he wanted to make sure that the shoe cabinet that he makes can accommodate my shoes. The size and type of shoes will determine his planning for the depth of the cabinet and the height difference between the shelves.

Star Search! Contractors or Interior Designers? Now that we have a good idea of what we wanted, the question that we need to answer is: Who do we engage to turn our wishes into reality? Through the good people in this forum, I have the privilege to read through the experiences of people who engaged either IDs or Contractors. Here, we try to sum up what we learnt about these 2 groups of people: Contractors. They are the hands-on people who gets the job done. Contractors generally do not provide design inputs, and therefore, the owner will need to have a good idea of what is required. This will include the colour scheme, position of carpentry etc. Any inputs by the contractors are probably through experience from previous projects, meaning that the ideas are, most of the time, not original. Interior Designers. Provides inputs on the different type of design schemes and can possibly help you design a home to your requirements if you have a theme in mind. At the same time, they provide space planning to ensure that your home is well balanced in all aspects, including sufficient working space in the kitchen and design focal points etc. In short, the impression that we get is, if you have a clear idea of what you want, get a contractor, else have a professional ID to help you. With that in mind, we decided to meet both contractors and ID to see who will be a better person that we can work with. Being a first time house owner, we did not have any contacts of IDs and contractors. We decided to first try using the "Get a Quote" function in RenoTalk. We received a few replies asking for further details on my requirements and I listed the following things: 1. No. of members that will be staying in the property: 2 adults 1 toddler 2. Intended usage of each and every room: Master Bedroom: Adults' room / One Children Bedroom (no build-in required) / Study Room (no build-in required) 3. Floor plan: As attached (pls see first post) 4. Any other specific requirements: a. Only masterbedroom has specific requirements. b. No requirements for tv feature wall for living room c. No cove lights. Pls propose lighting plan d. Soft closing for all hinges. e. Vanity top and shower screens for both toilets. 5. Design concept and colour scheme preferred (optional): Black / White / Grey Eventually, most of those who replied further attached a copy of the standard packages that they have for new flats. For those who did that, we struck them off the list immediately. If they can't even be bothered to reply with something that answers our needs, we don't expect them to able to deliver what we want. After filtering, we eventually decided to meet 2 IDs and 1 Contractor. It was a conscious decision to keep the number of people we meet to be as little as possible. We believe that meeting too many people will cause saturation in ideas and will possibly put us in a more difficult position. The next post documents the experience that we have of the people we met (in the order of meeting time).