kastlekonfusion

- Home Care Solution - Reaching Aid / Grabber Perhaps an apparatus like this reaching aid/grabber might help in getting the debris off the ledge. When we went for an ElderCare program at Jurong Medical Centre, we saw a sample like that at their Home Care Solution Corner. I'm not sure how useful is this suggestion as I won't know if the apparatus recommended would reach the debris on the ledge. Also, I do not know how much does one of such apparatus cost in Singapore. The town council and RC could probably get together to make such apparatus available for loan by residents who needed them. Good suggestion? At the end of the day, the thing that bugs me would be having to clear someone else's rubbish! I'd be totally grossed out if I'd to clear stuff like used condoms, soiled panty liners, diapers and the like off the ledge! Come to think of it, all of you staying at that block having the same problem could get together to file a joint complaint with photographs and perhaps suggest to town council how to tackle this problem. Litter bugs ought to be penalized! Shame them, make them wear CWO vest and clean the block and ledges for 3 months! Ok, reach my daily quota of evil suggestions, back to reading threads posted about doors.

BTU Calculation Agree with you, DSA. Thanks for the link too(*bookmarked*). I think Tom'd be most the one who would try out the tool when I show him. Tom's the one who worked out what we need for our 2x3rm HDB unit. Many a times when we went shopping for aircons to compare prices, I would overhear him highlighting to the salesmen that they do not have the accurate way of calculating the BTU; exposed wall on one side, window panels to consider into the equation, etc. Installation We have engaged our friend who runs an aircon servicing and installation small business. He has been taking care of the aircon servicing for years and thus when we needed new aircons installed, we engaged him. Trouble with him is that he's not good with calculating the required BTU. Price Anyhow, the frustrating part is not of the running of trunking or bad workmanship but it was the challenge to find a quote for aircons without installation. We compared the pricing given by our friend as a guide for the aircons with the general aircon shops in Singapore and found that there is a huge difference! We will be getting: - 3A28VA [26 + 13 + 10] - 3A28VA [13 + 10] but we will have them installed in the following configuration: - right window condenser [26 + 10] - left window condenser [13 + 13 +10] Now, the price for the aircon without installation - $5698 Our friend will bring us to get the aircons at about $4200.

I have a wooden rice bucket that I want to replace. I read that it's better to keep rice in air tight container so to keep the rice bugs out. For a few good years of using the wooden rice bucket, we didn't have any problem with those rice bugs. One day, we bought some basmati rice and other small packets of different rice grains to try. My maid put these paper wrapped packets of rice in the same cabinet where we have the wooden rice bucket. Alas, we soon found rice bugs in the wooden rice bucket. That prompted me to look online what to do with them and learnt that it's better to keep rice in air tight containers.

When we were looking for resale flat, we asked a friend who is a property agent to help us keep a look out for what we wanted. We aren't familiar with the paperwork involved and thus, we felt that it's best that we have a friend who can represent us to make sure we are doing the right thing. We'd let our friend know whenever we spot an ad that might be interesting and he would try to arrange a viewing. However, many a times, our friend told us that sellers' agent do not wish to deal with buyer's agent. Anyway, our friend weren't in town when we went to view the flat we bought. We were made an offer for the flat and we accepted it as we felt that the price was right. Upon acceptance, we were made to sign an agreement which state that we have to pay the seller's agent a percentage as a buyer's agent's fee. We felt that it would definitely post a question of conflict of interest. However, the seller's agent highlighted that it's a common practice. We requested that we wanted our friend to act on behalf of us but the seller's agent said we cannot bring our friend in as an agent to represent us. And also, if we didn't want to sign, the seller's agent said we can't buy that flat. Is there a ruling that state an agent cannot represent the seller and the buyer at the same time in order to protect the interest of all parties involved?

Not sure what's your style of shopping but here's what we did. We visited a good dozen or so lighting shops with our floor plan, a camera and a note book. I would take pixs of the light fittings that caught our eyes. Tom would be the one taking notes, ie model number, watts, price, type of bulbs, if it has a dimmer mode, etc. I'd arrange the pixs and info on a printout for our file so it'd be easier to decide which light fittings would be most appropriate. Here's a couple to give you an idea how it looks like:- Click here for larger pix on Picasa Web Album Click here for larger pix on Picasa Web Album Here's what we did for the electrician which also helped us to remember what we want the electrician to do:- From the floor plan, you can see that we have also specified where we want for the light switches. Anyway, you should get an idea from your contractor when he would need the light fittings to be delivered so you would know if you really have the time to shop around. Happy Shopping! P.S. If you go to Chan Huat, say Hi to Simon for us! Very patient and hardworking fella....might be the boss I suppose.

Last week or so, we saw a retro phone at an Anchorpoint basement shop and it's going for S$125, if I remember the price correctly. Tom and I were surprised that it's actually so heavy. We were impressed with the dial too. I'm not sure of the country of origin. Did you see it at Anchorpoint too?

Oh...sorry to hear that your bedroom floors have the dusty feeling. Was the cement screed done by the HDB when you bought the flat? We have the walls cement screeded too. We can't be sure if cement screed walls are more prone to mould growth and mildew. I suspect if it does, it's probably due to poor ventilation. The tiled bathrooms in our previous rental were well ventilated and I didn't have any problem with mould growth or mildew. The tiled bathroom in our current rental is not well ventilated and the bath tub area can get pretty disgusting at times. Well, not just the bath tub area.....can you imagine, there are mould growth on the rims of the toiletries! Yucks! Mould growth on the caps of the pedicure scrubs that I left on the side of the bath tub.

Washing I suppose it did make alittle difference when it comes to washing the kitchen floor when there is a concrete base. In our previous rental, we were provided with a small fridge which sits on the concrete base. We have a 2 doors 2 drawers Panasonic fridge and that sat on 4 plastic blocks. Whenever we washed the kitchen floor, we have to be more careful not to splatter water to the base of the fridge. I suppose we can't be sure if that might cause rusting. I'd very much preferred to have the Panasonic fridge sit on a concrete base too but it was a rented apartment thus we can't do much. Pens love gaps Currently, we have the fridge placed in the dining area as our current rental has a small kitchen. You can imagine my frustration when the clumsy me accidentally drop the piece of paper which I intend to put on the fridge with a fridge magnet and the piece of paper slip underneath the fridge!! I won't be surprised to see a few pens and whatnots underneath the fridge when we move in the coming weeks. The washer sits on 4 plastic blocks at the laundry area as the owner of the flat did not make a concrete base for their washer then. The width of the laundry area is just nice the width of our washer and it's difficult to look for stuff that have accidentally rolled under the washer. We will have concrete base Anyway, after staying 6 years in different rental, we know what works for us and what don't. We will have concrete base and save our sanity trying to retrieve stuff under the fridge or the washer. Fridge change I asked that question to our ID recently when we were looking at the concrete base that the workers had constructed. My concern weren't so much of the concrete base but of the cabinets that will be on both sides of the fridge. Well, I suppose it's part and parcel of built in cabinets and if we have to change a fridge for whatever reasons, we can choose to get a fridge that fits into the space. If we have to change to a fridge that can't fit, then it can't fit. An excuse to revamp the kitchen in 10 years time? *hehehehee*

We have been planning to buy the SMEG 4 burner range hob [sRV531XFE] and when we were ready to buy at Harvey Norman last week, we were told that SMEG has some problem with SPRING approval. We were advised that retailers found selling kitchen appliances/equipment without SPRING approval would be penalized and the buyers would be penalized too! This is the hob that we would like to get: - Anyone knows of any updates?

Kenny from Citimap Movers has helped us moved from KimLim Mansion to Fairways Condo from Fairways #12 to #04 from Fairways #04 to Rainbow Gardens and will be helping us to move from Rainbow Gardens to Telok Blangah Crescent. The workers are efficient and experienced. They are not part timers. A few of them even remember helping us move from KimLim Mansion in 2003! We are impressed with how they improvised with what they have on site to wrap our marble dining table carefully for the 3 moves. The worker tearing down and setting up our queen sized bed even remember how to do it and reminded me that he had done so at Fairways Condo! And they cling wrapped almost everything they move - even floor lamps!! Not so environmentally friendly I must say but they are just making sure they do not dirty our stuff. The other fantastic thing about Citimap is that they do not charge me for the boxes that I need to pack our stuff. With each move, I learn how to pack my stuff better as the workers advised me after each move. Don't stuff the boxes to the brim as it'd be too heavy for the workers to carry them. Try to use the boxes they provide as it makes it easier for them to stack in the trucks. I do not write on the boxes so they could recycle them. I would print out labels for the top and the side of the boxes. From afar, I could see which boxes should go to which room and direct them accordingly when they get to our new place. PS. If you have hanging apparels that you do not wish to put into boxes, ask Citimap for those movable clothing racks which they have a few, I think. Really great as our maid won't need to press the clothings again.

Hi, I'm not sure if you'd be looking at these dining chairs that we have spotted at these 2 showrooms: Dining Chairs: gheehong 398 GLC658 SGD74 - Our top choice by far Dining Chairs: XZQT Air Chair (leather) - $419.00 (before GST); the best one seen so far but too pricey as we intend to get 10-12 dining chairs. I have seen a chair that cost GBP400 online and a chair with similar design [replica/fake/copy?] going for S$400 at Space; S$200 at LUSH; S$69 at Harvey Norman Millenia Walk and S$49 at Gnee Hong. I suppose it'd good to shop around first at the usual furniture shops to note the style and prices and then proceed to compare your findings with the dining chairs available at Gnee Hong in order to get a better idea if it's a good deal. I remember seeing those dining chairs with sleek s/steel legs at various places:- - Harvey Norman Millenia Walk - Space @ Millenia Walk - LUSH [near Macpherson] - IMM - White Collection Happy Shopping! Isn't it fun........licence to shop and spend $$!

We visited many showrooms and shops to look for the ideal sanitary wares, kitchen equipments, fittings and sinks. We want a jumbo size sink for our 46cm chinese wok at the main cleaning worktop and another smaller sink at the prep area. I have an entry on "Kitchen - Sinks: Jumbo" on RenoTalk Forums Community Blog which might be helpful in your search for a kitchen sink. RenoTalk Forums > Community Blog > Kastlekonfusion's Konfusing Kastle > Kitchen - Sinks: Jumbo I will soon post another entry of corner sinks, 2 bowls sinks and single bowl sinks that we have looked at so far at various showrooms. Sim Siang Choon at Changi has quite a good range on display in that showroom. Tom and I like this one: - Sim Siang Choon - 1 Bowl 1 Drainer Sink SIMS #25918; Size: 780 x 480 x 180mm; Price: SGD171.20 We might get this if it's in stock as this set has a set of useful accessories that we can add. As the reno file is downstairs and I'm too lazy to go down to get it, I'm recalling what we paid for at Universal Union last week to give you this list of what we bought from Winson of Universal Union: - Ariston Heater - Grohe Thermostatic Mixer [superb pricing] - Hansgrohe Rainshower [superb pricing] - A guest bathroom shower head system [cant remember the brand now] - 2 Critzo WC [best price compared with 2 other shops] From Ferrara Asiapac: - 2 Thermostatic mixer - 2 Duravit wash basins From Rhoyxon: - Jumbo Sink We still need to get kitchen mixers, a prep sink and mixers for the wash basins. Anyway, here's a list of showrooms and shops that we have been to check out their range of sanitary wares, kitchen equipments, appliances and sinks:- APS Lifestyle for SMEG hobs [9 Muthuraman Chetty Rd, near Mohd Sultan] Asia Excel Marketing [iMM #03-29A] Bacera PL [713 Geylang Rd] Bretz & Co [ParkMall #B1-07] Equip Design [Plaza Singapura & ParkMall] Eldric Marketing for UNICO wok burner [Centerpoint #05-03] Ferrara Asiapac [uE Square] Fisher & Paykel [150 Ubi Ave 4 #02-00] Genova Industries PL [58 Bendemeer Rd] Grohe [ParkMall #01-21] Hafele Singapore [66 Sungei Kadut Loop #03-00] Hansgrohe [69 Mohd Sultan Rd] Happiness PL [55 Jln Besar, opp. SimLim Tower] Harvey Norman @ Millenia Walk Hemsley Hldg [39A Jln Pemimpin #07-01] Hoe Kee Hardware [8 Genting Road] Lookz PL [308 Balestier Rd] Mayer Marketing [Plaza Singapura] New Ideal Bathroom Products [bkt Timah Shopping Ctr #B1-15; near our current place] Q'son Kitchen Equipment [pro wok burner & kitchen equipment] Rhoyxon [27 Playfair Rd] Rina Electrical [shaw Centre #05-02] Sim Siang Choon [21 Changi South Ave 2 showroom is better] Song-Cho [iMM #03-27] *** Gallery PL [424 Balestier Rd, #01-06] Teka showroom [uE Square] Unique Kitchen [ParkMall] Universal Union [710 Geylang Rd] That's all I have in my contact list under Home Renovation for Sanitary Wares & Kitchen. We might have picked up more cards along the way. Perhaps we didn't see anything that's interesting in those shop thus we didn't take any pictures and I do not have any records in my picture folders. Anyway, hope the list helps. Happy Shopping!

I'm impressed that some of you were able to find such amazing good deals! Here's what we got: We paid over $3k for this sofa and it's not even in leather. We hope to move in by end of July and I'll take another pix of the sofa when it's at our new place. That was Tom and the showroom piece. We bought this lounge chair from XZQT for over S$2.5k. And this is at a very much discounted price. When we first saw this item at their Ubi showroom, we were quoted nearly $5k for this lounge chair in the leather we would want. We were glad that we waited for a month or so as we were contemplating if we would really want to splurge on such a small item. I think it was the Great Singapore Sales and the sales lady from XZQT contacted us with an offer of over S$2.5k for the same lounge chair in the leather that we want. We reckoned this would be one of our best buys for our new apartment. The best buy for so many years that none can beat is the microwave oven we have for 5 years now. Recently, we have another best buy - Sony Bravia D series 40" telly from Best Denki below $2k. I can't remember the exact amount. Now reading this thread of deals of a sizable sofa in full leather at around S$2k, I'm totally awed. It'd really help the readers if you could post a pix or 2 so we could see and access the authenticity of such claims; it'd be awfully embarrassing for a reader to go shopping for a full leather sofa to cite such findings online and tries 'bargaining' for a similar sofa set to that price. For the benefit of readers, one could post a pix or 2, suggest the person to contact for such deals and even better, give us a reference to quote. I have been reluctant to claim to spend x amount on an item as I do not have the items at our new apartment as yet to snap a picture to post on forum replies. The pixs I have so far are the pixs taken during our visits to showrooms which are for our reference; something like this - Pardon me if I have offended or upset anyone with this post. Claims with no pixs - I take it with more a pinch of salt.....siow liao, too much salt, fluid retention, legs get swollen!

Sorry to hear that so many has such exasperating experience whilst shopping to furnish their new home. Suspicious Warehouse Sales We have driven along Genting Lane more than a couple of times to visit various home furnishing & appliances offices / warehouses / factories when we were shopping to furnish our new apartment. We saw many of these big banners of furniture sales but it didn't cross our mind that there could be so many problems buying from these companies. I suppose Tom & I just felt that the quality of the furniture from these warehouses may not be quite up to what we want. Quality A few years ago, we bought a dining table with 6 chairs. The construction of the chairs were not too good. Tom used some wood salvaged from sewing table project to fix the chairs. I'm not so good with explaining how it's done but it sure make the chairs more stable, and of course, heavier. After that experience, Tom would scrutinize construction of the furniture we were considering at the shops. If he's not able to see how stable the chairs are constructed, we won't even bother to ask the price of it nor take a picture for reference. Also, it is quite unlikely we will get anything else from that shop. Same goes for sofa set. Our Sofa Set Purchase After much shopping around, we bought a sofa set from Furniture Club and we are very impressed with their service. We were invited to the warehouse to take a look at the castors for the sofa as it was a request made to have them fixed on the sofa. (1st pix - Tom and his new sofa ) (2nd pix - sofa in the warehouse; it's assuring to know that we won't have any delay with the delivery) Having seen that the warehouse is well organized and spoken to the manager there, we were glad to have bought the sofa from them. We bought a coffee table from the IMM shop after that visit to the warehouse. Sharing experience We are glad that there is this forum that we can share our experience - good or bad - so others can read about them all and use their own judgement what is the best course of action. Be Firm For one, Tom & I will not fall into the pressure of any salesman trying to make a quick buck from us. One shouldn't feel as if one would be impolite to refuse the salesman's offer. It's one's hard earned money that one is parting with. Research I do as much reading as possible online about the things we want to do/looking for - alot easier with today's advance technology, internet, forums. I remember that it wasn't this easy when I was doing up my first HDB unit back in 1996! More research For a few months, we did the "leg work" as extensively as we can to look for things we want; check the quality; I take pixs; Tom notes the prices and whatnots; check online again for reviews. Review At the end of the day, we reviewed what we have looked at and finalize what we want to buy. We rented the car again and out we went buying many of the things we want for our new apartment. It's quite an interesting project. Credit Card Offers/Discounts/Rebates We also pay attention to what discounts credit cards have to offer and use the right card to secure the best deals - 5.3% rebate when we use CapitaMall card to pay our ID; 2% rebate when we use UOB card to pay for our purchases at Best Denki; 1 month free instalment repayment when we use Citibank Card at Harvey Norman on weekends; to name a few. Question: Credit Card Stop Payment; Dispute Case On the subject of credit card, here's a thought that just came to mind: - Would it be better if one uses credit card to pay for their purchases? When such unpleasant shopping incidents happen, is it possible to get the credit card company to stop payment?

I think I know what most of you here refer to as the powdery feeling on a cement screed floor. We went for a site visit arranged by an ID that we were reviewing who had done such industrial loft concept with cement screed flooring. And yes, the cement screed flooring had the powdery feel. The owners have only stayed in for 8 months. We noticed the cracks and chips. Also, the colour wasn't right. We supposed that it may be due to the poor composite of the cement screed. Anyhow, we didn't engage them to renovate our apartment. We are hoping to achieve the same cement screed of my grandparents' HDB shop house or the same flooring that we ran on playing catching barefooted along the HDB corridors and stairs. My grandparents have a HDB shop house since 1978. A 2-burner stove and a rice cooker sit on the cement screed concrete stand that my grandparents use to cook for the family and the working staff. Walls are cement screed too. After 30 years of 'abuse', the cement screed flooring and walls are still good. And the beauty of it is that it doesn't date. I grew up in that shop house and I don't remember that the flooring ever having a powdery feel even though I may be only 10 then when we first moved in. As for ease of maintenance, I thought it was a breeze. My grandparents are too busy with the shop business to be much bothered with cleaning the place. My aunts would just do the usual mopping. We didn't polish the floor for sure. Now that we are getting our HDB apartment done, we are all for the cement screed finish. The entire unit floor will be cement screed except the utility rooms. The kitchen, laundry and toilet walls will be cement screed too. The remaining walls will be plastered and painted. We believe our perfectionist principal designer knows what we are looking at for cement screed and knows how to achieve it. We were there when he was in discussion with his foreman about the cement screed and were pleased to hear that he will be doing the mixing of the cement screed himself in order to be sure that it's the way he wants it done. Such a perfectionist.

We are on a look out for a hob that would give us the right heat for our 48cm wok. It's not all that big a wok but it's bigger than an average wok you find in most domestic kitchen. After some reading, we decided on getting a hob with a 6kW or higher burner for the wok cooking; the control knobs has to be far enough so that it will not be hot or melt after extended use; no preference for glass or s/steel [a well used kitchen should have the odd scratches and dents for character! ]. And we would like to have a separate 2 burner hob for lighter cooking or something that's good enough for 2 big pots of soup broth as we do feed a big party who like our hokkien prawn noodle soup. For hood, it's a 1600m3/hr, twin motor, twin exhaust so my friends won't sneeze or tear when I start to cook the rumpa. We aren't too bothered how it look so long it works - we will not want to make our guest suffer for good food. We visited many kitchen equipment suppliers and the visit to Rhoyxon House was rather "enlightening" We learnt quite a few tips from the rhoyxon agent we spoke to. He showed us what to look for when shopping for a hob and highlighted that we should look for SABAF burner. He mentioned that most of the burner caps would rust but not the ones he showed us. After that visit, I found myself overturning the burner caps of the hobs I see in the showrooms we visit. It was indeed surprising to find that some of the showroom burner caps were rusty to start off with. Anyhow, I found an online copy of the Rhoyxon hobs write-out and the read is rather amusing and "educational". We are not likely to get a rhoyxon hob as he didn't answer my repeated question on the kW of the burner. We found that the common brands rarely list the kW for the burner which is comparable to m3/hr airflow for hoods. Anyhow, after even more reading online, we found that Teka has a 6kW burner hob. We went to see it at the UE Square showroom and penned it down for things to buy in the coming weeks. At the same mall, we noted the DeDietrich hood to buy. A chance visit to Park Mall got me reading about Qasair hood - 1600m3/hr; twin motor. A visit to Centerpoint got us interested in the Unico Counterline 16kW wok range. !! And that calls for another visit to the s/steel kitchen equipment fabrication fellas to compare the prices. Well, looks like I should update my blog on renotalk with our recent findings of the hobs and hoods before making a decision what to buy. What an exhausting affair.....and this is only the hob and hood. Boy am I glad we are settled on the main kitchen sink. Did I tell you that we are looking for the perfect prep sink at the pantry area?

I just noticed from Sycamore Technology Distributors List that Elmark Marketing at 55 Ubi Avenue 1 #02-04/05/06 UBI 55 is their Singapore distributor. Does that mean the unit display at their showroom going for S$600+ is authentic? Btw, Pinkdewy, did you see the Sycamore Fan at the Elmark showroom?

You are probably right about the 4" stem. I'll leave it to the man to decide. I don't mind either ceiling fans but we must have ceiling fan in order to ventilate the rooms, esp. the lounge and home office when we work from home. At our current rental, we do not have a ceiling fan and on most days, we have the air conditioning turned on for the whole day which is not exactly environmentally friendly. We are sure looking forward to moving to our new place; more fresh air instead of being in an air conditioned room all day and night.

I've been reading most of the forum threads about ceiling fan and also, checking out various online resource for the ceiling fan specifications, etc. So far, we have only seen 2 ceiling fans that we're interested to get. Minka Aire Cirque Ceiling Fan Model F596-BN It was mentioned in G Squared's website that "This fan is OK for standard 8 foot ceilings." Hansen Wholesale's website answered my question about shipping and did cautioned about the voltage. We checked out surge's post on the Sycamore Fan and wonderful review; thus our other choice for ceiling fan. Sycamore Fan from Sycamore Technology We think we'd need 5 sets - Master Bdrm, Guest Bdrm, Home Office, Entrance Hall and Lounge. Have anyone seen these 2 ceilings fans during your shopping trips? Would you know how much it is?

Appealing to your joint experiences, who were the installers/ retailers who were the easiest to work with?

Hi Jule We're looking to get 2 bar stools and your red bar stools caught my eyes. Where did you get them from? kk

to resolve the "put the seat down" issue that we are having, i went on a search for urinals to be installed in the hdb apartment that we have just bought and found a few interesting waterless urinals. after reading a few specs on such urinals, i _sold_ the idea to my man to have one of these installed: - zeroflush waterless urinal zf-201 or kohler steward waterless urinal k-4918 is this allowed in a hdb apartment toilet?

Hi LLHome, Noticed that you've got a pool table and you have tiled your flooring too. We'd be getting a Fusion Pool Table and we are concerned abt what flooring we should have. There is probably a higher chance of us sending the cue ball off the table as we are always keen on trying all sorts of trick shots. Do you have any incidents of the cue ball flying off the table yet? Did your flooring survived the impact? Rdgs, KK

Somehow my dining party are messier than yours and if I dont use a little dishwashing liquid, the marble table will still be 'niam ti ti' leh.

Thanks, Ling for your reply and I shall bear it in mind to look out for it when we are next in Taiwan. As for the lugging around bit, that brought a smile to my face as it reminded me of the time when we bought a luggage in Pattaya. My man lugged it back to our hotel, refusing to take the tutu as it was within walking distance [to him!] Imagine walking with a luggage from Tanglin Mall to Plaza Singapura.