Nipponho

$1800 for 104sqm is not expensive. I was told can DIY. Maybe u want to try one day do one wall.

Thanks glasysim

I suggest u bite the bullet & do homo. Choose a cheap one, like $2, some cost $1.90, but they are the outdated smaller pieces. To save costs, u can try cement screed it, but they will also charge u for this. U can paint over the cement screeding using normal paint, but it will not last, u can keep one can of paint, each time the paint comes off, u touch up. Paint only cost $50 a can. U do like this saves money, but not nice. Since your existing files are teroh, u have no choice, but to hack away, once u hack, it will incur costs. Ikea recently introduced DIY laminate flooring, out of curiousity, i went to enquire, and was told that they are designed in such a way that u can dispense with contractor. Very cheap. But for you, since your existing tiles are uneven, u may need to hack, and cement screed, but once u pay for hacking and cement, might as well pay another $1000-2000 more to get homo tiles. Laminate cannot withstand water, so what happens if your rabbit defecates, u will have to wash.

Hi Gladysim, For my pedestral, means no remedies? The grains will drop, i can sweep away, no problem, but it will continue and continue to drop, and finally the whole structure becomes unstable. Means the life of it will be shortened drastically. Or is it possible to find something to paste back the exposed area? It is not slight peeling. The part where it contacts and is parallel to ground, meaning the base, has no laminate at all, the wood is exposed. I think the base cannot last if there is no laminate. So disappointing, i thought i got a good bargain, now the life is shortened bec of my dragging, hehe. As for door, i have shifted house, so it is OK. Since u say can use putty on door, can i also putty the pedestral or any wood furniture that is Pong Pong?

Hi Gladysim, Looks to me you are quite knowledgeable in woody things. Perhaps u can give me some advice. U know all those cabinets under table of offices, usually 3 levels? It was usually selling at $200+ at ikea. I bought 2 at $60 each, from second hand shop. Condition not bad, except the metal handles paint came off, which can be easily repainted. The top is very sturdy and well laminated. I think some companies either collapsed or downsized. Both were very heavy, I was fortunate to be able to hail a cab willing to drive me back. But bec it was too heavy, & I don’t have trolley, I dragged them a little. When I got them home, I realize that the laminate at the bottom part came off exposing the woods. Base on my experience using cheapo furnitures, once the laminates came off, or over time, the woody grains will start to disintegrate and the grains will start to come off. Sometimes, when I am in a hurry to mop floor, I might accidentally splash too much water and this will speed up its disintegration. Is there any kind of industrial glue that I can paint it over to glue up all the grains so that the wood grains does not disintegrate so fast? Better still, is there any industrial paint that can provide some water proofing? A lot of times, I saw cheap furntiures, like those at Carrfour, but I dare not buy, bec I am afraid of disintegration. If there is such a glue, I can buy cheapo furntiures and paint over. My old house bedroom door is also like this. After a few year, it started to expand and become PONG PONG.

Hi Peg08, rockstone is those where the walls are very rough with tiny pebbles to keep away lizards? I hate those. Stupidiest type of wall finishing. I prefer smooth finishing. Plaster coming off is not 100 percent occurrence, depends on how the person do it and whether he stinge on materials. My kitchen wall crack after a few weeks. But the advantage of plastered wall is that if it does come off, u can DIY repair it by buying one can and "POR" back the part that came off, and then paint over. Whereas for tiles, if crack or came off due to whatever reason, u need to ask contractor to remedy and each time they come, nothing below $50. I think plastering and cement screed is still better choice.

Hi Ssath, if it is $90 pfr for the cabinets, then i think for a factory, it is on high end. None of those on straits times that i called quoted me more than $70 pfr. Perhaps you are referring to $90 psf for the top, not the cabinet. Or maybe they quote $90 pfr but u need not pay for marble top separately. Handles are usually free. As for abs trim, they usually quote add $200 or 100, but it is a absolute figure, not based on foot run.

Hi all, I hacked all the wall tiles during reno, and naturally, the door frames were gone. The whole reno was completed and i didn't thought anything about frames. Now i want to install bi-fold doors. I saw on papers $80, i invited them to my house, but when the salesman came, he said "yours don't have door frame, therefore it will cost $180 bec u must buy the door frame. $80 is for those who have existing frame". Anyone knows, must bi fold or multiple fold doors sit on door frames? Can it be attached to the wall tiles direct? Or is it common salesman tricks? Costs override aesthetics bec mine is a old flat, so if possible, no point spending $100 more for the frame.

S271008, It is not really a hassle. U just look at straits times and call and enquire, and they will come to your house, u just sit down there and wait for them to visit u. I suggest u finish your other reno first, then lastly u get the carpenter to come and design. Meaning, getting the gas pipe, water pipe, plastering, tiling done first. Once u do the kitchen cabinet, it is very difficult to make changes to these pipes. As for savings, to me, it is quite a lot. $50-60 pfr compared to $100-120 pfr, it is double u know. The difference is good enough for u to pamper yourself for a short holiday. Maybe u rich man, hahaha, donate some money to me la. IMM is kerto place for your info. U should look elsewhere, eg. balestier. There are so many carpenters on straits times every day. ID will sure mark up, not a bit, but a lot, they will subcontract to factories too. Since u prepared to let ID earn, might as well u contact carpenter direct. Example, if they quote u $3000, then u say make it $3200, but please ensure everythng swee swee. If u do like this, it is very likely they will do swee swee for u.

Hi Lexus, I used Way on net. What method used to calculate life reading, not sure. But i know life reading is used to generate favourable & unfavourable directions, not 8 mansions or flying star. No mention what is best position. Maybe direction is already sufficient. But he will indicate wealth position and lucky numbers. Lucky colours are also churned out from life readings. But to be realistic, if anyone can calculate this accurate enough to produce great results, maybe many people will be rich already. So if u want to be safe, and budget is not problem, then u just use wayonet, they will churn out all these for u. Books say must find out where is the number 8 water star and put water there right? I also have same problem, too much water in my life, so i cannot have fish tanks. Anyway he also didn't ask me to put tank anywhere, just plants. North should be your most unfavourable direction. Actually if you know all your 8 elements, u will know your favourable & unfavourable directions. From there u will know the colours. Already like 30-40% done already. Of course cannot find out wealth position la, this one need more study.

Hi What is your kitchen top? Looks like it is ply wood. Is it good? I got an offer of $1280 inclusive of plywood top. If i want post form top, got to add $200. So i was wondering is ply wood top good?

Hi, I saw on Straits times Home furnishing section. 20Feet Kitchen cabinet custom made at S$50-60 pfr, excluding top. The wood will work out to be around $1100. Postform top is about $400-500. ABS trimming add another $100. Dismantling existing one cost about $200. Total replacement $1800-1900. Some others quoting $1388. Anybody had theirs done by direct factory before? Is it good? IDs are charging at least $100 pfr. Anybody knows which factory does ABS trimming? Could it be cheaper to go to a factory who does ABS and also does the carpentry? I believe the one i called did not have in house ABS trim facility and need to bring it to somewhere else to do it. Any advise? I don't need designer type or marble top, i just need something basic, and lasting, water proof, and the joints between the laminate & wood won't peel off, that simple.

Hi all, I was trying to re-furbish the kitchen cabinet left by the ex owner (for $$ savings). The dirt can be removed by using very strong bleach. But I have difficulty trying to remove the oil stains. The owner stayed there for some time, after that the flat was rented out to foreigners for the last few years. Apparently the foreigners cooked a lot and didn't bother to clean up. As a result, many layers of oil was stuck INSIDE the top cabinets. I used bleach, but cannot remove. Imagine how many layers, even bleach cannot remove, it feels like glue, very sticky. Any technical students here know what i can use to remove it? I heard of people using thinner or acetone, but can it be used on wood and laminates? If i use thinner or acetone, is it inflammable? Because the affected area is wood, i cannot wash or use too wet a cloth to wipe it in case the ply wood inside bloats. I also tried to shop at hardware hub, I can only fine grease remover to be used on metallic surface, but can't find anything that can be used on wood and laminate. Any advice?

Hi Diva 79, when u were there, did u see them selling synthetic crystal lights? Did u notice the prices? I am hoping to see if there is any bargains that i can find there. I am particularly interested in glittery chandelier or crystal lights, but synthetic ones are not available in Singapore.

Hi Simei, Was yours done some time ago? Looks like u can't get such prices recently. Mine from kitchen window to toilets already cost $270, only very short distance. Simpleguy : Contractor will take down your piping and sell it away. U should have told them that u want to keep the copper piping, and trade in with the plumber. Old copper can be sold for money. Try to source for your own plumber instead of depending on contractor bec contractor will mark up. U can consider stainless steel to save money.

Hi Bun Bun, Not sure if you are able to advise. I need a storage bed. In Sg, the cheapest i can find is about $500 for a hydralic one. Some hydraulic ones cost more than $900. Drawer types costs more than $800. Is it possible to get anything cheaper in JB? Have u seen anything like that when u were there?

I suggest u call the seller and ask them how long have they used the pvc and did it ever leaked. If no problem, then maybe u can safely leave it. Or u may want to wait until it leaked then u repair the leaked portion. I believe it will cost more than $1000 to rerun everything. Or u might want to consider changing the part that runs through living room to copper while the part that starts from kitchen remains pvc. I posted something here : http://www.renotalk.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=12666 You can find some inputs for your decision.

I got my stainless steel done today. I also got clearance from Ah Seng to reveal his number. 96736346 I also got something to share. I was having dinner with a Northeastern Chinese friend and I complained about metallic piping price hikes in recent years. He said that in his hometown, they all used PVC all the way from outside right to the toilets, no leaking problems. Metallic piping is not too popular there, he never say why, but everyone with intuition knows why. So I guess maybe the quality of PVC available in singapore might not be too good, that's why leak sometimes, or maybe it is the workmanship. My parents house use PVC all the way (by HDB), so far only leaked once in so many years but it leaked at tap point, so i am not sure if it is the tap problem or the PVC problem

mine just from kitchen window to 2 toilets and kitchen sink using stainless steel is about 300, so u can extrapolate If u are not so budget, stick to copper, wont go wrong. Of the 3, PVC is cheapest but the least leak proof Best option is Dont change, save money

If PVC mouldy or OR OR, can scrub away, and can be painted. I also did not change mine, but bec i hack away toilet wall tiles, so the piping inside toilet has to be dismantled. I believe many naive and innocent homeowners re run the entire piping unnecessarily bec they were psychoed by ID.

Hi, let me get clearance from him first before i release his number to u. Actually no problem releasing number to u, but this is like courtesy. Maybe u might like to pm me your initial & estate, so that i can tell him so & so living in where is going to call him for enquiry. I think MACE ever used him before a few years ago (if i remember correctly).

I ever see before homogenous tiles that look like wood laminates. It costs 3.50 psf. It is better than laminates bec it is water proof, but it does not provide the warmth that people like.

Hi, I am using one plumber called ah seng which is recommended by forummers here. Compare to those that i enquired from newspapers, his is cheapest. Someone in this forum used him before. Tonight he is coming to my house to take a look. He's very closely related to Genova, and last week i went to genova to buy instant heater, display price 98, but i say i am his customer, he sold it to me at 90, so i quickly grab! I will let u know how is my experience with him later.

Hi, Genova is selling one Champs model (cannot remember the model) at $99 but without vertical stick. Poh Joo at Jalan Besar is selling Champs civic at $99 stick included Aerogaz has one model which also sells at $99 stick included. Any suggestion, which of the 3 should i choose? These are below average prices, bec i know most models and brands are selling at around $150. So was wondering if it can at least last for 5 years, and is it worth to save that $50. Genova's closely associated plumber is charging $40 installation. If it spoils and i need to replace, i got to spend another $40 on top of the purchase price. Also will they give water pressure problem? I don't need very hot water, but i need strong pressure, bec in the morning when i rushing to get to work, if the water pressure is low, i feel very irritated. The previous owner's heater is still functioning, but i decided to replace it bec i can't stand the low water pressure. Someone here was complaining about water pressure being reduced bec of champs being installed. Will heater affect the water pressure, or is it bad plumbing job?

Hi Bluefly, i cant just paint it, there is existing wall tiles that were half came off. and for some parts that came off, they used masking tape to hold it in place. So hacking is inevitable, so i might as well go one more step to tile it or screed it.