joe_ling

Before the renovation or even anything starts, please go down to the premises with the ID / Contractor that you've hired to go thru the place with you together with a notebook in hand & a camera, please take down the pictures & write down where certain cracks or what nots that are already on the wall & all defaults / defects in the house. Pictures have to be taken before, during & after the process of hacking & demolition as proof. Pictures must also be taken during the waterproofing of the kitchen & bathroom Do go thru all contracts terms & conditions before you sign on the dotted line. Check, check, check & double check at all times. Make sure the ID / contractor does goes down on site to supervised the job site and the workers. No short cuts allowed The ID / contractor must paste the notice of renovation at the lift lobby of the void deck between the lifts, at the lift lobby level where you're residing. They must also inform the neighbours that are residing on your left & right side (2 units), downstairs & upstairs as well (2 units) to inform them of the inconvenience caused. Try to work within monday - friday 9am - 5pm only. Saturday the most is before 1pm and no hacking or knocking is allowed on weekends. Observed all rules & regulations from HDB. That's all folks.

I am truly & sincerely sorry if I did offend any one in here. I don't meant anything. I am sincerely sorry abt the whole issue devilaz

dada_go First thing first, you must state down what you intend to do e.g.: 1. Any hacking of existing floor tiles & wall tiles in the unit? 2. Any hacking of wall? 3. Any platform required? 4. Any false ceiling / L-Box required? 5. Any feature wall / tv console required? 6. Theme of the house? Normally in the market, be it is 5 rm EA / 5 rm, S$45K - S$50K max if there's not extreme overhaul required. Beside that, you've to put aside a sum of money to purchased your aircons, your lightnings, your electrical equipments, heaters, basins, taps, sanitary wares, rubbish chute, etc. If you want your house to be the showroom type, then, I am very sure to infor you, the price you to prepared will be at least S$60K - S$80K Cos' I ever knew a house owner, 3rm flat in amk, extreme overhaul, S$80K

Wiredchaos Before you overlay, I would like to check with you, what's the age of the unit you've purchased & how's the condition of the overall tiles in your house? Like what Deilaz had asked you, checked with the previous owner if he / she had over lay the tiles and which part of the house had he / she overlayed. The number of yrs they had overlayed & if yes they had overlayed, hacking is a must !! It cannot be avoided.. Yes, overlaying will be cheaper as you need not pay for the hacking of the existing tiles. Bu the problem with overlaying is that cement does not stick well on a smooth surface even with chemical adhesive added so theres a possibility of tiles popping out prematurely. You've to decide between saving a thousand plus dlooars & risk having tiles popping out here & there in a year or two or paying a fraction more of the overall amount & having the peace of mind. Design is all about aesthetics & practicality. Do what you've to. Make the right choices & don't occur extra costs for yourselves You also have to make sure that if you're going for hacking, you've to find out the area you're staying in, the timing for hacking & laying of new floor tiles from what time to what time. This is to prevent your neighbours calling the town council & getting yourself fined for nothing as certain neighbourhood area only allows wet works / masonry works to be done during 9am-5pm only. Deilaz, I would like to informed you that not all IDs are like that. There're so many IDs out there that don't encourage / practices hit & run cases. There maybe a few bad apples in the market but please do not generalised the rest with those rotten ones.

Buabua & company, The latest info from HDB is that home owners are not allowed to place any form of reflective films outside the house as part of their regulations and it will also endangered the safety of the contractors installing those films as well. I know that at Admiralty drive, there are some units along the corridoor are using the reflective films but just a gentle reminder, during the day time, no one can see into your unit which is correct but when it comes to night day time, you switch on your lights, everyone can look into your house. I would still strongly recommend day & night curtains. If you want to past those anti-UV ray films / anti solar films, you can only paste it on the internal of the unit only. Another gentle reminder is, all external grilles, the colour of your window frames & glass have to comply with HDB rules & regulations which is the original colour of the building window frames & glass, be it whether is sliding / casement. The amendments happened cos' there was one home owner, went to HDB to make noise abt the windows that they intend to fixed and end up the HDB told that particular house owner, one for all, all for one rule which is to comply to the original colours tha is being installed at the blk.

Hi Wirechaos, I would like to check with you, did you hired an ID firm or a contractot to do your house for you? I have checked with the rest of my ID friends, the thing is, the lesser you do, they will tend to mark up the price. It's the standard rate for all ID firms to practice this. You should have sourced around for more quotation before you settle down on the final ones.

If you want something like a zen theme, then my advice is you should look into the Lookbox / Cube / Form magazine and check out the IDs firms on their websites for a modern jap zen theme design. Be'cos there is modern zen, contemperory zen & traditional zen theme. It varies from the different era. From a play of dark tone colours to the subtle ones to light colour tones. 1. Modern zen theme: lots of light pine wood colour, soft earth tone colours comes into plays, platforms with storage. Lightnings & decors are very impt as well. 2. You can try go to Millienia Walk, System mind platform shop to have a feel on modern zen furnishing / MUJI shop to look at their furnitue designs / check out this furniture shop shop call zen tradition 3. Go to Times bookshop at either Marina Sq or Citylink, find the book on modern japan interior design to have a rough idea on what you want. That book will cost you at least S$60 - S$80. As I awlays quoted: Designs is about Asethetics & practicality. Do something that is of easy maintainence & not of high cost maintainence.

Skywolf, As you mentioned that your resale unit is along the corridoor, my suggestions would that you change both the windows as well as the grilles too. Forget abt the lock. For your grilles, I would strongly recommend you to install fixed wrought iron grilles with galvanising & as for your windows, if you don't wish the neighbours to look into your unit, then my advise is to get frosted glass window panels. Go for the 3 sliding track window with the internal lock. You would get both the security & as well as your privacy. The frosted panels would still allow certain amount of natural light into your house while the window is close. Do not go for those reflective films / so call tinted windows. Be'cos alot of house owners are being misled into thinking that once they installed those kind of window, generally they would've a "I can see u in my house but you can't see me along the corridoor" mindset. But when is at night, when you turn on the lights, your neighbours get to see everything that goes on in your room and in your house & theregoes your privacy. Another way to protect your own privacy is to install roller blinds / day & night curtains. But please remember to check with HDB, if you're to follow the same / exact colour code on your window frames & the glass colour. e.g. Admiralty Drive area, all external windows that are exposed to public are to be maintain as navy blue colour frame with blue tinted glass so is the windows that are along the corridoor.

Jet fire, You're welcome. As for the grilles pattrern right, you can approach Wan Sern and get their sample lists. You'll get to see all the different designs that you wants. You can even ask them to tailor made to your likings.

Interior Designs is all about the end product of the renovation. It is not about the quality of the raw material used, it should be abt the quality of the workmanship & the end finish that you see & feel for yourself. Be'cos all IDs firms used the same suppliers or sub con no matter who you approached. Designs can varies but the foundation is always the very basic fundamental. No way to short cut. All you've to make sure the ID firm & their sub cons don't take short cuts while doing up ur home for you. No matter what, the no. 1 thumbs up rules is, check, check, check & double check for yourself. Don't know, just go ahead & ask the contractors when you're on site. Take note book & write down everything or used a camera to take pictures and ask from there. Designs is all abt Asthetics & Practicality.

Mspetite, My advice for you is that call the company that does the flooring for you and seek their professional advice. But as far as I knew, the laminate flooring right, all you've to do is to sweep first, then used warm water to mop over.. please ensure your mop isn't too wet. Cos' when the water seeps into the gaps, it may caused the laminate floor to warp over time. As for vaccuming the floor, I think, it shouldn't be a problem but make sure the flooring is scratch resistent before you used the vaccum cleaner on it. Carry the vaccum cleaner when you go thru the room and don't used too much force e.g. pressing the sucking brush onto the laminate flooring or dragging anythign across the floor.

gumbokins, If your flat is still under warranty by the ID firm / contractor, just tell them that you insist that they come & changed the 4 pieces of tiles for you will do. But the water proofing of the master bathroom floor has to be redone as it is to replaced the damaged sectioned and also to prevent further leakage to the unit below your unit. But you've to make sure you've sufficient extra tiles for the job to be done. Cos' any tiles that is above 3yrs, the tiles are hard to be replaced or have stopped their shipments from coming in anymore. So check with your ID / contractor first..

Attn: dht, No matter whether you're laying laminate flooring / even parquet flooring, You must hack the existing floor tiles first as it depends on the age of the house. Let's say your house is 5yrs & above, my suggestions would be hack first, clear the debris then do cement screeding. In order to cut down the "hollow sound", ask the parquet / laminate company to put the rubber foam under it as it will helps to reduce the hollow sound ups to 70%. But to me personally, my preferences would be using SUPREME laminate flooring. 1. Parquet you have to resand & varnish over the time but laminate doesn't need to. 2. Parquet isn't scratch proof or scratch resistent but laminate is scratch resistent 3. Laminate is easier to maintain. 4. Laminate flooring now has engineer wood which is meant for commercial usage & also comes with termite resistent effect now. Terminate resistent laminate flooring will comes in only after cny

Skyy, Why don't you take a photo and post it up and we're able to see, comment & advice you better. If your crack is very thin & very small & not so obvious, then just used the premium grade paint as mentioned by applefreak to go over it every now & then. Choose those wash & wear & paint that has the ability to cover cracks. Do allow me to remind you, the crack may appear every now & then as it depends on mother nature's weather & the building expand & contract pressure. If you would used the wall paper to cover the crack, my advice is don't. If the wall cracks & chips beind the wall paper, you may find lumps appearing on the wall paper in no time. & in order to get rid of the "bumps", you've to removed the whole wall paper & redo everything all over again. You will waste more money in this way. Do what is right & do what is necessary

My advice for house owners who have a very longish living room, let's say from the main door all the way to the balcony is a long flat wall right 1. You can paint one type of colour, depending on yourself & also depend on your theme of your flat. Note: Avoid using Bright Red colour / dark colours. Dark colours will make your whole house look even such smaller / more compressed. Bright Red colour will make you feel more angry if you've a lousy day. 2. From the moment you stepped thru the main door, you can also hang maybe 2 - 3 huge portraits that doesn't contrast the colour of the wall too heavily / too extremely. 3. And to enhance the height of your living room as stated if you've narrow / longish living room, I would recommend you to do either L-Box or L-Box with Light Holder to make your living room look visually higher. 4. You can also make use of mirrors on both side of the living room or even certain sections of the dining area to enhance the natural lightning in the house. Like what I'll always say to each & everyone out there: "Design is all about Aesthetics & Practicality. Do something that is worth each & every single penny that you're going to spend. Do what is necessary."

Attn: Jet Fire, The HDB regulation is to follow was that anything that is facing / part of the exterior of the building that are exposed are to be of the same colour which was that the balcony have to follow the colour code of HDB which was dark blue colour with blue tinted glass if not fines will be imposed on the couple & the id firm. 1 good e.g. is blk 467A admiralty drive, the balcony windows have to be dark blue frame with blue tinted glass & the screws that are to be used to tighten the grills & frames have to be & must be stainless steel screws. As for "Pot Bellied" wrought iron grilles at the balcony, you can ask your contractor or ID guy to approach their sub con that does the window works is either Central Aluminium / Wan Sern to applied the license on your behalf which is of the standard practised in the market. As for kitchen side, the grills, you can either put white powder coated aluminium window grills / silver/bronze aluminium window grills / wrought iron window grills as well. As for the wrought iron window grills, there're 2 types of wrought iron so please take note. 1. The smooth feeling one is without galvanising. 2. The rough feeling one is with galvanising. Though the white powder coated window grills with colour tinted glass is costly but wrought iron grills will cost you even more. Main function of the wrought iron grills is to slow down the break in process or timing only as it will take a long time to cut thru the grills.

Applefreak, My advice for you is to check with HDB first, if urs is done by ur ID, then, please check with ur ID before proceeding. Always seek for professional advices before heading anywhere.

Skyy, Can I engage you in a pte msg session as I can only provide advices in here & not here to talk about pricing nor to promote anything. I have to abide by the rules in here. I hoped that you can understand me. Thanks.

Skyy, You can try the hardware shops and ask for cornice powder or plastering powder. But one thing before you do anything is to let you know that even if you put the plastering powder then you paint over right.. it will only cover the crack for certain period of time only. Otherwise than that, you can only used the paint to go over each time the crack appears. There's no lasting to it. That's all I can tell you.

To skyy, The cracks are common occurances which are not serious & usually happens around the outline of newly erected walls. Just touch up on the paint work when the crack gets more obvious.

to: vysweetapple & skyy 1st to skyy, I would like to check with you on the location of your Resale HDB apt. 2nd thing is to check with you on the age of your resale hdb apt. If your apt that you've bought over is at least 6yrs old & above, I would strongly recommend you to hack & re-do the floor tiles because: Yes, overlaying will be cheaper as you need not pay for the hacking of the existing tiles. But the problem with overlaying is that cement does not stick well on a smooth surface such as wall tiles even with chemical adhesive added. So theres a possibility of tiles popping out prematurely. You have to decide between saving a thousand plus dollars & risk having tiles falling out / popping out in a year or two or paying a fraction more of the overall amount & having the peace of mind. Design is all about practicality & aesthetics.

1st step flooring have to be done first 2nd step electrical works for whole house 3rd step false ceiling / L-box (if you're doing it) 4th step painting of whole house (3 coating) 5th step aircon trunking & aircon unit 6th step carpentry 7th step painting again (final touch up) 8th step final clean up & wahing up 9th step Final Inspection 10th step Turn Key Session & handover warranty cert.

Gingerbelle, You're able to use the bathroom after 24hrs. No need to removed any toilet bowls or no hacking & waterproofing required. The overlaying of tiles, fastest 1 day, but just incase of any unforeseen circumstances e.g. delivery of tiles is being delayed, etc.. I would take a safe period of 2-3 days. I don't dare to over promised you anything up till this moment.

Miss Gingerbelle, Upon overlay of floor tiles & waterproofing being done. There is no need to remove any toilet bowls & you can used the bathrooms after 24hrs.

Hi houndster, If your apt is a HDB apt, there's a standard height critieria first of all. Once you've false ceiling, you're not allow to have platform. Unless your living room is doing L-Box with Light holder, you'll be able to have a platform & at the same time you're able to have a ceiling fan if you like to install one. If you have a very lengthy living room, then the L-Box will enhance your living room making it look as if it has a higher ceiling visually. False Ceiling will make your house look so much more compressed, it will make you feel pressurised psychologically. As for your dining area, you can do false ceiling but I would also recommend you to have "down lights" or "hanging lights" hung directly above your dining table to create the atmosphere. As for the water moisture during the rainy seasons may damaged the false ceiling or crack lines are false as so far I've not heard of such issues.