tim_chenie

Hi everyone, Haiz, just found another defect yesterday (11 Sept 07) evening, when the a bunch of keys drop on a tile near the main door and the sound is "TOK" rather than "PAK". We used a pole and knock on the tile and turns out that half the tile is HOLLOW. In first place, we wanna relaid all the floor tiles is because the tiles are hollow and now after relaying, some of the tiles (we manage to knock a few areas) are still HOLLOW. Gonna SMS our contractor and see what he says about that. Anyone has the same experience as us? Care to share?

Hi buzz_akm, Welcome to Reno T-Blog! Your house current state is really nice, maybe just need a few adjustments to suit your taste. So you are staying in Tampines Town too? Where are you located? We are at St 82. Your ID Idea is quite an open-concept, which is really relaxing, makes you wanna come home everyday. Hope to see more photo updates soon.

Hi stephen1979, Welcome to Reno T-Blog! Your house looks really modern and cozy! So how much did you spent on your renovation? By the way, which part of Tampines Town are you residing? We are at St 82. Maybe you can take some more shots of your surroundings and different angles of your interior and post them here.

Hi jamez, Thanks for visiting our T-Blog. So have you and your family moved into your new home yet? When is the BIG DAY? By the way, just did a search for electricity consumption for household appliances, here are the links if interested: SP Services Online Nation Average Consumption Appliance typical power consumption As for Fan (Ceiling or Circulating), it consumes 75 - 88 WATTS per hour, according to SP Services, its around 1.54 cents per hour. Hope this helps!

Hi applefreak, Yeah, you can say we are kinda rosewood lover, you too? Seen a lot of antique furnitures in your T-blog. Hi Cantona7, Thanks for the information, we surely consult uncle Mace to maintain our furnitures. Hi jamez, Yeah, long time never log in liao, too busy to sort out the things we moved, still in the midst of putting things in their place. Defects also appeared during these few weeks of stay in our new home. First of all, the Master Bedroom Bathroom was leaking water to our downstairs neighbour. The foreman came down one week ago to check and do some amendments but the water still leaking and seems to get worse from what we heard from our neighbour. He had to used buckets to collect the water, can you imagine that? So 08 Sept 2007, last Saturday, we called the foreman again to rectify the problem and he said he will be coming down on Saturday. We waited till 1pm when his worker came. We were not confident of his workmanship and thought the foreman should come down personally. We called him and he said he was in the meeting and his worker is good enough to settle the problem. We asked him if this time will resolve the problem once and for all, he said he is not sure, thus will not want to place back the floor tiles. Can you imagine empty slots at your Master Bedroom Bathroom? In the first place, if he had done a good job, this situation will not happen at all, right? The worker proceed to rectify the problem, which requires to remove 5 floor tiles and the concrete and waterproofing beneath. The whole house was filled with dust from cutting and removing the floor tiles. It took the worker 2 hours to finish his work and he actually placed back the floor tiles, which we did not know if he had consulted the foreman. When we asked if it will rectify the problem, he said he is not sure, but request ask not to use the bathroom for 2 days to let the cement and waterproofing to dry. Can you imagine having your own bathroom and not able to use it, for 2 days had to go Common Bathroom to wash up and brush teeth? Yesterday, my wife spent the whole afternoon washing the Master Bedroom Bathroom and the cement residue left on the tiles during the rectification was not able to remove. My wife was SO ANGRY! Never seen her that furious before. That's not all, the Kitchen Bathroom Heater and Storeroom Lights were not working, so we ask the electrician to come rectify. We found out that the Kitchen Bathroom Heater was faulty when we are asked not to use the Master Bedroom Bathroom, and when the electrician came and check, it was revealed that the LIVE wire was connected wrongly. The electrician said if the container within the Heater was metal, the heater would have burst into flame the moment we used it. And guess whose work is that? IT'S THE FOREMAN! As for the Storeroom Lights, we are using the old lights left behind by the previous owner, that is still working when they removed it. But when they reinstalled it back, it was not working. At first we suspected the lamp and starter are the cause, so we changed it still doesn't work. Then we called the contractor and request the electrician to come down and check, and the contractor wants us to supply the ballast and wiring, the thing is the lamp is working perfectly fine before it is removed, so why it is us to pay for these faults? We talked to the contractor and he was kind enough to provide us the ballast. Think this is the LONGEST T-Blog we wrote so far, too bad its all about defects and complaints. Hopefully everything will be fine after these. Wish us good luck!

Hi Mr Chong, Thanks for your reply, the NE 25 deg is at our Main Door. Hope to hear from you soon.

Hi everyone, We are back with another set of photos taken on the every night we moved to our new home. 25 August 2007, Saturday (Grand Opening Of Our New Home ) Here's our Living Room, the TV Console with the TV, and the Living Room Set with a Stand Fan box at the corner. Here's our Master Bed with the Classy Comforter, really warm and cosy. Here's our Guest Room and Study Room with all the unpacked things. Last but not least, our Kitchen Dining Table, with the Warm Dining Lights on. That's all for now, maybe will post more photos after we tidied up our home.

Hi jamez, Just visited your Reno T-Blog, your house looks really nice and modern, just like the initial 3D images, CONGRATS to you bro! So when are you going to move in? Got a date already? Yeah, spending one whole day doing our house is really fulfilling, not forgetting very tiring too. After we moved into our new home, we spent the weekends doing another thorough cleaning, also trying to sort out the boxes we just moved. Til now, still had not manage to arrange all the things yet. Maybe will take us another week or so. Hi *magmag*, Thanks for your compliments, my lovely wife is the colour coordinate for our house, she will be so happy to hear that. Apologies for not updating the blog for so long as we are still in the midst of unpacking our things and cleaning our new home, hence not much time to spend online. Here's some photos of our new Bed and TV Console: 24 August 2007, Friday Our new Bed has finally arrived in our Master Bedroom. Here's our TV Console, without the TV yet. That's all for now folks, enjoy your evening.

Hi Jojobie, Here is one website you can try to find out auspicious dates using birthdates : Free 30 Days Auspicious Date for One/Two Person(s) Maybe you can give it a try.

Hi predaking, We like to know where did you get this clock and for how much? It looks really nice and trendy. Thanks and hope to hear from you soon.

Hi predaking, The fridge is placed there as we are concenred about the narrow passageway into the Kitchen and my wife wants a shorter distance from the Fridge to the Kitchen Basin. Kinda unconventinal cos like you had mentioned, most of the households placed their fridge near the Kitchen Entrance. We are also concerned with the heat from the hob so requested for a Wood Partition in between. Hi xiaomumu, Long time no see you, what's keeping you busy? Our Kitchen is also beri small, with the Storeroom occupying part of the Kitchen area. Just curious, is your Washing Machine behind the Kitchen Basin? If yes, then won't it block the Rubbish Chute? Thanks for the congrats xiaomumu, will post more photos once everything is in place. Hi jamez, We got Pledge too, mostly use it for wood and leather furniture. So have you try out the Turtle Wax yet? How's the result? Yeah bought alot of things just for painting one wall, but will need it sooner or later, so might as well buy it now. We got white cement at $2 for filling the grooves, but must warn you bro, it will be a long and tiring process, after finish, the tiles will be dusty again due to the cement residue dried on the side of the grooves. Advice you to get one whole day to do it. The white cement to fill the floor tiles grooves. Our one day effort to paint the Master Bedroom Wall with CopperTone Nippon Odourless Paint. That's the update for now folks!

Hi mitoev91, Yeah, never think of that actually, thanks for the advice. We did a little Googling the found people having this issue too, and one of the solution is to cover the washing machine when not in use, dunno will work anot? Here's some link for those interested to read up on: Stove Vs Fridge Is Your Fridge by Your Stove? Feng Shui Kitchen Makeover Hi eR1c, Our official moving in date is 25th August 2007, Saturday, so not really living in our new house yet, though we are really excited to do so. Hi jamez, Thanks for your compliments on our Kitchen Cabinets, all the effort and designs came from my fashion-savy wife. Just visited your Reno T-Blog, and saw your tinted glass and mirror already installed, really awesome! Wow, look so modern and slick! Thanks for the tip bro, we did saw some Turtle Wax products but did not see the one you recommended, maybe will try to look for it when we are free after moving into our new house. Bought the Easy Off Bang solution, but had not tried it out yet. 19 August 2007, Sunday: We went to our house and paint one of our Master Bedroom Wall with 1 Litre Nippon Odourless Paint CopperTone. Spent almost 5 hours to perfect the painting, 1 hour washing the Kitchen, then spend another 2 hours filling in the groove in our Living Room Floor Tiles. By the tine we are done, its already 9pm. So tiring, but so rewarding, doing something ourselves in our new home.

Hi xiaomumu, Long time never heard from you. Yeah, our house is almost completed, now just left the little painting works need to be touched up. Yeah, so many cabinet space so we can store many many food! Just a suggestion, maybe you can post your kitchen cabinets photos here so we know what you mean. Thank you so much for your compliments, my wife is really happy about the kitchen, just the way she wanted. So I am happy too. Hi jamez and candyprincess, Yeah, our house is almost completed. So happy about it. Can feel like living there already. As I told my wife, we better don't open the box yet, but we are too excited so all the things are out of the box now. How your renovation progress, jamez? Thinks its like 95% completed? We took some photos of our newly completed Kitchen Cabinets with our new Electrical Applicances and here they are:

Hi bernice, Welcome to Reno T-Blog! Really excited to see you sharing your renovation journey with us. Hope to see more photos soon!

Hi ohchinois, Welcome to Reno T-Blog! Really excited to see more members sharing their renovation experiences and photos here. Your house looks really modern and stylish, so guess the price for that should be quite high right? Care to share with us who is your ID / contractor and your renovation quotation? Just for the benefits of those who are still looking for ID / contractors to renovate their house. Hope to see more photos coming!

Hi *magmag*, Welcome to Reno T-Blog! Looks like you almost hack all the walls in the house. Total Destruction huh? Your skill in photo stitching is really good, maybe can give us pointers how to do it? Hope to see more photos coming!

Hi everyone, Our TV Console and Kitchen Electrical Applicances just arrived in our house. But as the Kitchen Cabinets are still in the progress of installation, they are not able to put the them into position. So guess we had to wait till the whole house is completed then we can shift them into where they belong. Here are some update photos : 15 August 2007, Wednesday Our TV Console (still under wraps to prevent dust), the Electrolux Hob and the Delongi Oven. Our Samsung Fridge and Washing Machine near our Living Room Wall Lights. Kitchen Cabinets with IKEA handles, around 90% completed. That's all for now folks!

Hi iamme, Welcome to Reno T-Blog. Seen your house photos, look quite nice, maybe just need a new coat of wall paint to make it more refreshing. Feel free to ask if you have any queries, our members are very helpful and friendly.

Hi jamez, Thanks for your help, yeah, hope you got some time off to go relax and enjoy your new house too, your house looks really nice and modern. Just curious, how much does the whole renovation cost? Looks like there are lots of capentry works so we guess the cost might be on the HIGH side. We just went to our house and just happen that the Kitchen Cabinets also just arrived. The renovation Foreman was there in the morning with his helper to retify the defects and they are really nice to us. Even asked if there's anything else we spotted, can just tell them and they will rectify it. Our downstair Neighbour also came up for a "visit" as he is experiencing some yellowish liquid flowing down along his sewage pipe in his MasterBedroom Bathroom. We are not sure whether its from us as there is no yellow paint in our MasterBedroom Bathroom and the floor is newly laid, so ask the Foreman to go with him to see the situation. Hope everything is OK. Here's some photos of our newly arrived Kitchen Cabinets, still in the midst of installation. Parts of the Kitchen Cabinets outside our house. Kitchen Cabinets partially installed. That's all for now folks, we will be expecting our TV Console and Kitchen Electrical Appliances to arrive today too, so more photos coming up later.

Hi fire-ice, Welcome to Reno T-Blog! Hope you enjoyed your stay here and see more of your renovation photos here. Maybe you can start searching for ideas in our member's Reno T-Blog and ID / contractors' contacts in the other forum topics. Here's your blueprint again.

Hi jamez, So excited to see your renovation going to be completed soon. Hope you don't mind I repost your 3D Designs image against your Current Renovation Photos just for comparison. WOW! Looks really the same as the 3D Designs! Your ID is really something! Hope to see more of your renovation photos soon!

Hi jamez, Maybe you can spend this weekend Bargain Hunting! Hopefully you can find a good bargain. Remember to share your bargain findings too. Thanks, hope to hear from you soon. We already prepared the salt, rice, pineapple and the burning charcoal stove to jump over. Here are some more Lights Photos taken tonight: Bedroom Lights in the Guest Room and Study Room. Bathroom Lights in the Master Bedroom Bathroom. Kitchen Lights and the Bathroom Lights in the Kitchen Bathroom. We had went over the List of Defects with our contractor, whom was also quite shocked to see the quality of work done. He will passed the list to the foreman to do the amendments by tommorow. The Kitchen Cabinets will be installed on 15 August 2007, Wednesday, that is the same day when our Electrical Appliciances and TV Console will be delivered. That's all for now folks, Goodnight.

Hi eR1c and applefreak, Our renovation is about 95% completed, less the defects and the Kitchen Cabinets that is most probably to be installed by 15 August 2007, Wednesday. Must say cleaning the place is really hardwork. My wife and I spent an hour just cleaning the Living and Study Room Windows and we are already so tired. We spent another half an hour just mopping and cleaning the Kitchen, but the house still remains dusty. Think must really throw water on the floor and do a wet mopping to get rid of the dust. Hope to see MORE of your house renovation pix too, applefreak. Hi jamez, Yeah, quite surprising to see our Lights Design are kinda similar, like they said, great minds think alike. Saw your T-Blog and your house is almost completed, think just left with the mattress and Misc eletrical appliciances right? So you are moving in after Lunar 7th month, guess that will be after 10th September then? Got your auspicious date yet? As for us, we are officially moving in on the 25th August 2007, Saturday, which is an auspicious date for both my wife and I. Any matter we should really take note while moving in during the Lunar 7th month? Hi MaCe, Yeah, it has been a GREAT and WONDERFUL journey for my wife and I, learning things along the way from everyone, especially ALOT from the forum members. Thanks Guys and Gals. Hi Cantona7, Thanks for your advice and suggestion, we will definitely take note of that. We will be meeting our Contractor later to settle the Defects we found and hope they will be able to amend them by tommorow. Once again, thanks for the replies and posts.

Hi jamez, Most of the renovation items are done, except for the Kitchen Cabinets and minor defects (such as painting) were not done yet. Today, we are going to do a minor clean-up of our house, so the "Brothers" won't mistake it for a empty house. Heard that they had done the chemical washing, but the house is still dusty. Here are some photos of our lights to share: Living Room Ceiling Lights and Fan, with the warm light Wall Lights. Bedrooms Ceiling Lights and the warm light Ice Cube Wall Lights in the Master Bedroom. Kitchen Drop Lights for our Dining Area. That's all for now folks. Off to clean our house. Have a Good Sunday!

Hi jamez,Thanks for your concern, we had also spotted this issue with the ceiling and asked the opinion of the foreman, whose reply is that the last renovation had used Water-Based Paint for the ceiling, dunno whether it's true or not. He added that if its dripping from upstairs, there will be trails of water marks on the ceiling, which we did not see any. Here's some information on Water-based paint for those who are interested: Water-based paint is generally more permeable, quicker drying, less durable, and shows streaks more readily than oil-based paint. However, today's water-based paints, especially all-acrylic paints, have improved significantly, and are the most commonly used paints because they are easier to maintain, quicker-drying, and do not require thinning agents for clean-up. They are also generally much lower in volatile organic components (VOCs) than oil-based paints, which means they produce less odor during the painting and drying process. Here's one link to the HDB website of the likely causes of spalling : Likely causes of Spalling We went back to our house on the 10th August, Friday and here's some updates: 10th August 2007, Friday All the walls had been painted and here is the different colour walls from the living room.