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What happen? care to share here?

you mean the id intro his sub con to you? isn't this undercutting his own company? Is this professional?

Precisely that it is a professional work and not 2 panels together. The process is important to ensure it is vacuum thoroughly. Indeed you have already answer to frosting problem. If the work is not done properly, there will be chances of frosting with the residue air. Besides, if the sealing process is not done properly, air may seep in too causing frosting. So since paying so much already, must really go for a good professional to do it.

Yes double glazed window do reduce noise and cut heat transmision. This is due to the construction itself where the window come with 2 glass panel and in-between the panel, suppose to be vaccum. By creating different medium of density (ie glass - vaccum - glass) the noise level can easily be reduced by 90% and heat level about the same. Still some noise can be penatrated through the edge of the window and frame. However, it is quite expensive and subject to their workmanship; if finishing is not so well done, change of weather may cause frosting effect around edge of glass panel and there is no way to clean it as it trap in between the glass panel.

Granite do not need polishing nor waxing no matter new or old. The lust if well maintain last very long time. Reason for your neighbour's using wax is to patch minor chip so that it give the shine when handing over. There is no special chemical require for granite cleaning even when stain penatrate into it. But there is a skill with some cheap solution to clean it back to original. Take not that most acidic chemical will damage the surface of granite as the nature stone react to acid. PM me if you need to know.

This is really too cheap to believe. On average, each toilets cost $3K and above. With your work scope to toilet, costing should be around $6300. Your kitchen should easily cost you $6600 also. Even you are using postform top for your kitchen cabinet, the cost of your cabinet is about $2,100. The cost of Wall tiles (without measurement) easily about $2K floor tiles $1K, cabinet, fridge, w/m base $300, Copper piping $500, Wiring $200, Haulage + debris + Chemical cleaning $500.

Replacement of sink and the tap for over-mount is much easiler than undermount. Esp the tap area which have space constraint, when you need to replace in future, plumber may not be able to access due to space constraint when the bottom of tap is block by the sink; in such case, work top got to be remove before removing the sink to gain access to the tap. Hence, plumber usually advise over mount since it can be remove and restore back easily and cost of replacement is cheaper. Compare if you need to replace a tap that cost you $50 but you have to remove the worktop that cost you $1000+. Is it worth? Talking about water leaking, firstly its dependent on workmanship and secondly dependent on maintenance. I have compare all the consequences between, especially the fungus problem on over mount and under mount and decided to use over mount. For under mount there is 2 method. 1 is over capping which the work top leave a 3 to 5mm gap before the edge of sink and under capping which the worktop is covering over the edge of sink by 3 to 5 mm. For both method, fungus will still glow eventually. Silicon on under capping method can be seen on the surface but equally the fungus problem can be seen and rectify immediately. Whereas over capping method, the silicon is below the worktop. Looks nice initially, but when fungus start growing and cannot be detected, for stake of hygene factor, I'll not advise this method esp for kitchen sink when we are using it for washing our food. Overall, I still feel over mount is the feasible method and have lesser problem in future. We must always think about the future esp the hygene part should not be compromise. Water seepage is common after long use as part of wear and tear on silicon. Everyone also want the best look, but weigh between the plus and minus.

Sound more like excuses than any other thing. If he gets a better discount, honestly, do you think he will revert the difference to you? Labour cost is calculated base on area and not the tiles; unless you are using something different like granite or marble. He should know and highlight to you initially when you have selected the tiles or he can also talk to his sub-con then you. Not everything come easy. Since he didn't advise you initially, and that you have opt for it and now worse....laid. Don't think this is a good reason to ask for more money. Once he start laying, it mean he had accepted the fact. Else, he should talk to you first if not acceptable, then he still can ask you to change tiles. Just lame excuse. If you give in this time, I believer he'll ask for more later. Better make clear everything now else stop work first till agreement made

Since you are engagin a renovator, why not you check with your renovator so that there will not be any crash with his work. But Generally sequence is as follows subject to site condition: a. All dismantling work first, including air con b. Tiling work c. Installation of Air Con d. Painting to whole house e. Chemical wash f. Touch up paint g. Delivery of electrical app and furniture last

Firstly, why is there a discrepency of $900? Is it part of tiling? If you are not comfortable with the price, as a owner, you can don't sign on the contract. If he is not sure of the quantity, he can always request to re-confirm again on site, he also have the right not to offer till he is comfortable. If he had made a mistake than he have to accept the fact and not to ask for more. By misleading the customer that their price is reasonable, and later ask for more, do you think this is fair to the owner and other proposing competitors? I think you just stay firm and see what he got to say. If he play punk, it really tells his attitude and I think you better stop him early than later when all your money is swing away. Insist on stopping work if necessary and sort out things with him first. Really cannot ask for third party opinion and challenge him that you will engage other contractor to do his work if he fail to proceed since contract sign already. Such proceed such claim from him in full

There are more tile suppliers in the market than white horse. Price, design and quality is the concern. That's why all the more you should compare between. Market rate for labour and cement material is $2.50 psf. Haulage may differ dependent on how much work you need. Some charge a sum for haulage for small job to cover their labour which is reasonable and for those with bigger amount of workscope, they give FOC.

Possible but need to remove a much bigger area for work access; eg if you need to replace 1 pc at the middle of the room, probably 5 pcs on both left and right and 1 pc from front and back of the affect pc. Don't ever expect the finishing of the completed rectification work to be perfect unless you relay the whole room

Depend on what you want. Niches are recess on wall whereby you can use in for display or like you say Altar. You can look from your neighbouthood furniture shops where they sell with photo for those wall mount type but look very traditional. If you want something to your taste, you should ask you ID to design and construct for you. If you are burning incent, then you should go for laminate finishes with glass top which is easy to maintain. PM me if you not sure what I mentioned.

You should insist your ID to put down all quantity as any discrepency, the rate can be easily computed and discrepency can be determine irregardless of more or less. This will be fair to both parties. Same goes to material used. The final measurement on plan as compared to site should be within the limit of 5% which is acceptable. Anything more than that is a discrepency and should be rectify immediately with you ID to prevent arguement

Contract signed and work scope not finalise? Have they started work? I think you better sort out everything, point by point again before you allow them to start work; encounter sign every words they mentioned during discussion seen they did not want to honour their words. Else, they will think you are easy to deal with. Most services oriented ID/Contractor will not count till the last bit. Your tiles diff is not really that much, I think they can absorb it. How much can hacking of wardrobe? I think you better check thoroughly before they tell you to add this add that again....then you $$$ gone with the wind else you will get half done work.

Yes acid cleaning and chemical wash is the same thing. Those product sold in DIY shop are very mild, can't really help for stubborn cerment and paint mark. I think the rate is very reasonable. But now to engage another party to do for you will surely be much more than that. Easily between $350 to $500. Sometime, you just can't delete items esp those esential items just because you feel exp. There is always a reason behind. Indeed, you should neg for the total contract sum than deleting it since you have already paid so much and what's the point of saving coupling of hundreds and you have to bear with the dust for few months. You really have to put in alot of daily cleaning till it's clean; at least few months.

That's sad to hear that. Have you paid them everything? Suggest you engage a third party or qualify surveyoe to gauge the damage which might help your claim

To be precise, ID are interior designer that does only designing and giving ideas. Contractor are those doing on hand work. Sub-contractor are those who sub contract part of the work scope from ID or contractor. However, nowadays, ID also does contractor work and some contractor do the same, except the extend of the work; that means, ID will sell you alot of ideas but contractor will sell you more of the work. Price wise, usually contractor are cheaper. Service wise will depend on your luck lor. So eventually, it depend very much on what you want - pay a little more for getting idea from ID or essential items at cheaper rate from contractor.

Without company how is he going to enter contract with you? With his sub contractor? or what? Who will be responsible if there is any problem? If you sign the contract with the sub contractor, they will tell you dun know this dun know that cos they are not in charge. Neither can you go after the Freelancer cos you have no contract with him. Even you sign a contract with him, it is not a valid one cos he cannot trade in his own name; need to register a company or at least a firm. 1 suggestion is that if he is good,, you can ask him to do up the design and pay him some token then get register and reliable contractor to do it lor. Isn't it safer for you and he also get paid for his work done?

Don't think you need a ID for that. By splitting the work, you will ended up pay more. Get a experience contractor, esp those who can handle all your items in house to do your place. It will be much cheaper and save up your co-ordination work. Besides, you will not face problem of 1 contractor blaming the other

Very risky to do it yourself as the acid may burnt you in no time. This is a very concentrated acid which I think only selling to contractor only. You should not save on this but to neg with your contractor if you find it exp. Indeed, once all the firnishing is done, its too late to do the chemical cleaning now as usually its done after all cement work and before carpentry work commence. This is due to the discharge "smoke" and splash over of the chemical can easily damage your furnishing including stainless steel material. Not worth the try. I do not know to what extend of your reno is. Some contractor give free but some charge for this item. Overall, the price quoted is reasonable.

This design was used for many years already. It will be easiler to us plywood to do it the plasterboard. Maintenance wise also easiler as you can wipe the laminate but not on plasterboard.

Firstly, inspect what kind of dust is it. Suggest you use a clean dry cloth to mop thoroughly for 1 round, then use "MaMa Lemon" mix well with water to mop again. It should goes well after few round.

No really true. Depend on the design of your false ceiling and L box. If they are fully sealed up, it should not trap any insects. The good thing is that, not only it hold lights, but cover up most of the casing and piping, and as part of design to the house, you should not have too monotonous ceiling; it is usually used for creating different level of ceiling to bring out the space

Skirting sit directly on floor and bonded to wall side. Usually, there is no problem removing and replacing it. Just need a little care and protection on the affected area to prevent tools or hard material from scatching the floor. Your ID should be able to help since it is still new