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OnTheRoad

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Posts posted by OnTheRoad

  1. Posted

    Tiling started, which is nice to know for the start of the week...

    There are 3 beefy tilers in my MBRM toilet & 1 skinny one the other common toilet on 2nd floor.

    Common toilet shower area - blue mosaic looking tiles. The effect is much better when seen in person.

    img2535ay.jpg

    The MBRM toilet shower area - got hotel look ma?

    img2533qe.jpg

    The tilers are quite friendly & they sing & chat happily with one another as they work. I like that. Happy workers = good work.

    :dancingqueen:

    I'm also rewiring the entire house to prepare for a possible update to Phase 3 power somewhere down the road. At least then I just need to work on pulling the cables from front door to main gate without having to tear down the entire insides again. The electrical team has been hard at work, working full day on Saturdays as well... :thumbs up:

  2. Posted · Edited by OnTheRoad

    Finally we finished hacking... we've also made the decision to not change the concealed copper pipes because

    i) copper is known to last a long time (25-50 yrs)

    ii) some websites advised that if pipes are not leaking, one shld leave it. in other words, don't fix what ain't broken. that's because new copper pipes will still require soldering at the joints & that is another new road to see if that will leak.

    iii) copper will have algae coated on the insides after awhile, but this actually inhibits the process of slow corrosion. new pipes will probably need to go through that again.

    iv) i don't have confidence that the copper nowadays are better than copper of old. who knows, the old copper might be of better quality!

    v) in the US, many households are replacing copper pipes with PEX, which is easier to install as its more pliable. The only downside to PEX is it cannot be exposed to external environments. So, in 5-10 yrs time, there might be new better technologies. Minister Khaw himself had alluded that our local construction technologies are not as advanced as US.

    vi) it's a good to have but not must have. We decided to save the funds for roof leakage remedies.

    The most important consideration is the plumbers did the test & reported no leakage.

    In times like these, I do wish I'm going with an industrial theme. Don't need to worry about concealed pipes... just paint all the trunkings / pipings black!

  4. Posted

    Solar power panels might be good on the roof top.

    Rebuilding is about $300 psf base on built in area.

    Solar is quite expensive still leh...waiting for government to subsidise renewable energy installations to consider. 300psf ah... that'll take me a long time to recoup from the savings on utilities! :sport-smiley-004:

  5. Posted

    mine also d19, i need wet kitchen in the yard, dry kit inside, wadrodes fpr 6 rooms. lights for the whole place and a raise platform cover maybe in wood for 500 sf.plus some minor stuffs here and there?

    think 50k possible? no hacking and tiling. i dont think there is much to do but when i go id, they seem ready to chop me. stress,,,

    Hi Jenova, hmm...i did rough calculation, assuming ur wet kitchen & dry kitchen are similar dimensions to mine, & wardrobe is 5ft per room, 50k shld be enough. With those IDs you spoke to, did you negotiate?

    U can consider contractor too, paloma, pinkwhale's contractor & May_dream's contractor have a reputation to live up to from this forum... tho they might be very busy now because many people are asking for their contact.

    alternatively, if u've time on your hands, can even engage each one on your own. the wardrobes+kitchen can deal direct, platform deal direct, its only the wet kitchen concret & tile construction that you need masonry works, unless u're thinking of using wood cabinets too. lights-wise, do u mean just lights or incl false ceiling / L-box? I've seen some contacts in this forum tho not sure if they're good.

    let me know if you wanna consider my ID.

  7. Posted

    Hope your reno goes smoothly! Yeah, I've heard of unexpected re-roofing works that really brings the costs up. But on the bright side, you can then install good insulation material/technology that keeps your house cool? Guess if you are planning to stay long-term, then best to overhaul rather than live with rectification works down the road...

    You mean applications to URA/BCA is expensive? Didn't know that.

    I've not really focused on inter-terraces makeovers, but here's one that I really like:

    http://emrenoblog.wordpress.com/2012/04/15/inspirations-the-cambridge-road-inter-terrace/

    The place belongs to the well known food blogger Chubby Hubby btw. Think his reno/re-build? must have cost a bomb...

    Tks for ur encouragement...:) We're believing for things to turn out well. Sometimes its a matter of coming across the right people who can do quality work at reasonable price, worth recommending as & when I come across.

    will check out the blog...maybe can copy some ideas from there...haha.

    Hv a good wkend! :D

  8. Posted · Edited by OnTheRoad

    Hey, congrats on your new place! Seldom get landed T-blogs here. :)

    If you are willing to consider S/S kitchen, have a look at Dwell Kitchens mag (free!) here: Free! Dwell Presents 100 Kitchens We Love

    It seems pretty common in the USA, and many of the featured kitchens look good.

    Just curious what is the ballpark figure for a (i) reno, (ii) A&A & (iii) re-building for a landed place like yours?

    Cos the floor plan/size looks to be a bit bigger than HDB EMs, but I'm guessing with additional stuff like roofing/porch, drainage, termite treatment etc the costs will add up to quite a bit more? How big is the build-up btw?

    Hi adidaem, tks. :) I've seen 2 blogs for landed 1 from here 1 from pte ppties thread...

    Mine is a inter-terrace built in about 2500 sf. But ya, there's the land area to take care of as well. So definitely amount will be more than EM or penthouse typically cos of backyard & front yard. I wld say depends on extent of reno ba. Minimum 130k for old house i think? There are quite abit of unpredictability in old house reno....

    For A&A, the engagement of PE, getting approvals from URA & BCA alone will bring up the figure by abt 10-20k...then it depends on what u wanna do. For rebuilding, depending on how many floors, built in area, what type of professionals engaged & what materials used, I wld think it's in excess of 1mio...?

    I agree with Hin & bys, foundation works impt & must prioritise lor...budget must manage very well... So SS kitchen even if I want wld be low priority! :)

  9. Posted

    Husband watching soccer so wife still on Reno talk.

    Sorry, Hubby just said was $2500. Partial wood cover only. (Top half).

    Silver Builders: Wrought iron gates, steel gates, metal works and auto-gate systems. 540 Sims Avenue, #04-02B Sims Avenue Centre, Singapore

    View/Print/Share full details

    Tel: 6844 1701 / 9117 7222 / 9117 7333 

    They will come round with different designs, the partial wooden gates are package price of about $2500. The full wooden covered gates are more expensive. Not that the workmanship is particularly good or super customer service. Just that their price was within my budget during then. Did call them once about the installation workmanship and they did attend to it promptly.

    Don't think need to change piping lah cause so much pipe all concealed how to change all. As long as no sign of leakage ok already. Got leakage then claim insurance and do at the same time.

    I did my main Reno within 4 weeks but did the trellis and decking after 1 year shifting in and gate 1 1/2 year after shifting in. Do all the important things first.

    I have seen neighbors turn from Reno to A&A and A&A to rebuilding so must really prioritize.

    Previously had NTUC cause it was cheap. Now thinking of changing to Chartis cause don't have to show evidence of

    forceful entry in case of theft. Was thinking of changing cause read one of the forumer experience on high rise

    spiderman thief cause we shifting to a condo.

    Oh champions league ah? My husband cldnt stay awake for it...haha.

    Oki I'll check out the gate, tk u! But haha u're right, I feel I'm just about short of doing A&A, having done so much hacking...we're saving the A&A part for reno round 2. :)

    Isit home protection insurance? I never bought this bef...

    Condo is nice, we will wanna move back to condo after my kids are grown up...which is 2-3 decades later. :)

  10. Posted

    Only did rewiring whole house and major change to kitchen/utility room and all toilets and some extensions to rooms. There were 20 over workers in the house at 1 time.

    Lucky never had any problem to the roof but did have leakage problem from a busted concealed toilet pipe.

    Brochures that people throw in have their use. Changed our steel/wooden electric gate for less than 2k. Heard roof waterproof guys alot "tan jiak" have to just interview a few more.

    Another advice do buy home insurance, cause landed house do have it's problems. Got to claim a bit of money back when the concealed pipe leaked.

    Tks for sharing. I was kept up lat night reading up to decide if we should change whole house copper piping. Now that's been overtaken by having to get 2nd opinions abt the roofing. Really very subjective this one.

    Do u still hv the contact to change autogate (<2k?) can pm me if don't mind...

    Think the insurance is good suggestion. Which company u took from, can share?

  11. Posted

    Hmm...if u're renovating without hacking the ground floor tiles, I believe the pest control co will recommend inspection followed by spot treatment. Or using the bait system.

    That's why for landed, people always do this during reno to avoid more troublesome measures shld termite infestation really occur after moving in.

    U might also wish to check with ur left/right/behind neighbors if they've had termites prob bef...if so u wldnt wanna omit this.

  12. Posted · Edited by OnTheRoad

    Was at expo and spoke to an ID at length about our requirement. Then she asked for $3k deposit so that she can work on the 3D design for us. She wasn't even able to give me a quotation yet and she expects me to put down a 3k deposit? Is this the norm?

    erm... the several quotations i had never required a deposit until they presented they quotation & i signed on dotted line. Deposit also not 30%.

    I also had enquired with a pure ID (ie design consultancy & project management only, no contractor works) that quoted me 10k+ for design & project management alone. Even that he presented me with a quote first.

    So... urs doesnt seem to be norm based on my experiences.

    Don't give in! It's macam like wedding package like that...tsk tsk... there are plenty of IDs & contractors to take ur time & consider quotes on... give them deposit for what, unless u die die want them or need them then need to chope them...

  13. Posted

    Did Reno to my old semi d in 4 weeks. You have 5 weeks no problem....Would recommend you to do termite ground treatment since there is old termite trails. Unless previous owner has done it in the last 5 years.

    Never plant bamboo inside your compound unless you don't mind sweeping dried bamboo leaves everyday. Ok to plant it outside to screen the house.

    Don't forget to repaint or change new front gates. You will be surprise how new gates will rejuvenate the look of the house.

    Hi bys,

    wow 4 weeks for semi-d? did u do the foundation works - rewiring, repiping, reroofing?

    i've already done the termite treatment with rentokil...they checked & confirmed its dead trails.

    hmm...really ah? we were still thinking of keeping the gate, just cut out a side gate & install autogate mechanism...save money cos it seems roofing got surprise costs... hmm this part i'm abit disappointed with my IDs... now looking for recommended roof specialists to look at waterproofing... lemme know if u've contacts ya.

    yesterday & today are low points in the reno journey so far... :help:

  15. Posted

    Hmm..tks Aya & Hin, noted on the trap. Will ensure its a stainless steel one to keep the hotel look...:)

    I checked the pipes but it's all covered by cement, so I guess there won't be exposed pipes?

    For console, u mean remote control signals cant get thru plywood ah? Then don't make sense liao...But I refrain from using glass in my house for childproof reasons... Hmm, gotta think abt that one...

    Good thing I posted here! Missed out all these details...thanks guys. :D

  17. Posted · Edited by OnTheRoad

    Hi,

    Why don't you incorporate a cabinet below your basin in your MBR toilet? It'd be practical.

    You don't intend to have a build-in oven?

    Hi rain,

    Prefer below to be open, don't want to monitor if there's leakage etc into the wood cabinets...I prefer to install cabinets on the wall that I can change & throw when it grows mouldy...it's a peculiarity of mine. Hehe.

    Will put nice laundry bag/basket under the counter instd.

    Initially didn't want to, we don't hv an oven now & only my mum cooks...but i just decided to get a basic one so I can play baking with my children...will hv full height cab after all. :)

    U're very detailed hor, I didn't notice there's no full height in the 3d...

  19. Posted

    I just ordered tat Tom Dixon lights on eBay sgd210. Will post review when it comes next week.

    Im using I think iron wood from supreme. have seen the sample, not too bad..but I place a lot of trust on my contractor, he say good so I take Lo, pricing is lump sum for me, not too bad also

    Sorry to interrupt your conversation, do review the lights k, & if u don't mind can pm me the ironwood price? Tks!

  22. Posted

    better to get it change. everything will be conceal after that.

    i can imagine the night mare if any pipe burst after moving in..

    Ya lor... I also thought to change, but my dad says not necessary cos anyway government dont change their water pipes also... ultimately a good filter more important. Leakage wise the plumbers had checked & its ok leh.

    I wonder how long copper pipes last? 20 years? 50 years? any chemistry experts here? :o

  23. Posted

    Lush has it? Went there a mth ago, maybe that time nv tot,of this lamp yet, but tot their pricing abit off though..maybe will go have a look again,marks!

    Yalo haiku is nice :)

    Rooftop I plan to do a secret project, but not too sure if I wan to post here cos maybe " illegal" :P

    Ya, it's hung at their counter on the upper floor. I'm told Balestier light shops also has...if you find cheaper than 560 share with me oso hor.

    Haha... then share the legal stuff only lor. Hehe... I asked cos I'm doing timber decking, & came across composite wood by Polydeck & real Accoya wood by Evorich. The latter I saw done up in my friend's place & it's nicer than Chengai wood which I have in my balcony now... so if you wan contacts & price lemme know. :) I haven't chosen which one but I thk the quotes given to me are both competitive.

  24. Posted

    Bamboo is elegant! I love! But need to control the spread of bamboo. May not be an easy task. My mom also wanted to plant bamboo in the garden but she thinks that there is lots of effort involve to maintain it and to control the bamboo from overgrowing.

    Haha i'm also not a person with green fingers. But I admire people with great garden landscape.

    Ya hor? nice hor...but oh, hv to maintain often? hmm...ok think twice liao...hur hur...want a neat garden...:)

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