My First Home - Reference Book & Process Log.

[jaykr 0]

Hi,

I got my 1st flat after trying for 3 years. I've selected and viewed the flat. Got my HLE approved. Now I'm waiting for the keys.

I'm creating this T-blog for two main reasons :

1. To act as a reference book for all the research I am and will be doing before I start on the actual renovation.

2. To capture the process and history of my renovation journey.

I am guessing that this blog might help people in the future based on all the content found in this blog. But for now, its more my application.

Please feel free to correct me or provide me with reference materials that I should check out if you think that it would be beneficial for me and other newbies.

Thank You.

[jaykr 0]

All about Reno...Chapter1: Carpentry:

www*myhometown*sg/Default.aspx?TabId=84&aff=22&aft=152671&afv=topic

All about Reno...Chapter 2 Kitchen Tops

www*myhometown*sg/Forum/tabid/84/aff/22/aft/152822/afv/topic/afpg/12/Default.aspx

Edited September 10, 2012 by jaykr

[jaykr 0]

Kitchen

Four Areas to consider for Kitchen :

1. Kitchen Design
   
2. Kitchen Counter-tops
   
3. Kitchen Cabinets
   
4. Kitchen Flooring
   

Kitchen Design :

One Wall Design :

The one-wall kitchen design3 is perfect for long and narrow kitchens.In the one-wall kitchen design, all major work zones of the kitchen are arrayed along one wall. Major work zones include the refrigerator, sink, and stove/oven. Minor work zones would include: microwave, trash compactor, dishwater, etc

Corridor Style Design :

Counters on both sides, the corridor style kitchen design is highly functional because it uses the classic kitchen triangle. This layout gives a bit more space for counters and cabinets, though crowding between the two main work spaces may be a problem.

Two Types of Corridor Kitchen Designs:

1. Walls on Both Sides - With this type of kitchen space, you have a tight space with walls on either side. The kitchen is essentially shoehorned into this space.

2. 2. Kitchen Island or Peninsula - When you have a wall on one side and an open space (like a living room) on the other side. On the open side, a kitchen island or peninsula of cabinets and counter-top forms a wall between the kitchen and the open space.

Edited September 11, 2012 by jaykr

[jaykr 0]

....Continued

Three types of Corridor Layout : About.com

Design #1: Sink, Stove, and Dishwasher on One Side, Fridge Other Side

Design #2: Sink, Stove, Fridge on One Side, Cabinets/Counter Other Side

Design #3: Sink, Fridge, Dishwater on One Side, Stove on Other Side

Edited September 11, 2012 by jaykr

[jaykr 0]

....Continued

Source : Kitchen dot com

L - Shaped Design :

L model is a model kitchen of the most widely used in homes today. This model can be applied in a narrow kitchen. In this kitchen model, we can also separate the wet kitchen and the pantry.

Double L - Shaped Design :

U Shaped Design :

U model is a model that provides plenty of places to store goods. U model can be used on large-sized kitchen. On one side can be used as wet kitchen, other side can be used as pantry, and on another side can be used as a bar or even as a place to eat.

G Shaped Design :

The next model is the G model. This model is actually almost the same as the U model. But there is an additional area at one end of the kitchen set. Thus, its shape almost resembles a circle. That additional area could be used as a place for the toaster, or small oven, or as a place for the pile of vegetable.

Edited September 12, 2012 by jaykr

[jaykr 0]

Continued.....

Source : Interior Zone

T Shaped Design :

T model is a model that resembles a single-line kitchen model that separated by a table. So, the first area is used as the wet kitchen, the second area is used as a pantry, and the table separator can be used as a dining table or can be used as a place to process food.

F Shaped Design :

F model is actually not much different from the T model. In the F model, dishwasher is made ​​separately from the stove area.

E Shaped Design :

The last model is the E model. This kitchen model requires a large space. Because in this model, the dining table, dishwasher, cooking food area, stove area, and pantry are made in separate places.

--------------------------------

Kitchen By Zones :

1) Food Preparation Zone : where cutting, chopping, and kneading occur.

- Counter-top space : Counter-top space for all prep zone activities to be allocated for. Length and width should accommodate your cooking frequency, style and types.

- Power: A well-placed outlet multiple prep appliances e.g. blenders, mixers, and other gadgets.

- Easy Access : The refrigerator, food storage, and pantry should be close to this area to provide easy access to things you may need.

- Cookbooks, cutting boards, mixing bowls, mixer, blender, knives, utensils, baking sheets, oils, spices, and other food prep items should be kept near the food preparation area.

- Have a waste basket close by for easy and sanitary disposal.

2) Cooking /Baking Zone : The placement of the cook zone is one of the most critical.

- Ideally, it should be placed against a wall, not within an island, to allow for better heat and grease control.

- For convenience, the cook zone should be positioned no more than two steps away from the wet zone.

- Have appropriate landing space to the left and right of the cooking surface. See picture below.

- Cook Zones should have ample space for laying out pans, dishes, and ingredients.

- Storage needed for commonly used utensils within easy reach for the cook as well as additional storage such as spices and cookware without impacting the ample space needed for cooking.

- Counter-top. Ensure Heat-resistant materials that are easy to clean are used.

- Wall Surface - Ensure the wall surface is easy to clean to ensure an hygienic Kitchen.

3) Cleaning / Wet Zone :

- The main sink and garbage disposal should be in this work zone.

- Have appropriate landing space to the left and right of the sink.

- Cabinets and drawers for silverware, dishes, and other utensils should be positioned near the

dishwasher to ease unloading.

- Trash cans, recycle bins, or a trash compactor should be located close by.

- Commonly used kitchen cleaning supplies should be kept under the sink.

- Incorporate drawer storage for dishtowels, storage bags, and food-storage containers.

Wet Kitchen & Dry Kitchen :

Dry Kitchen :

The dry part where you do all the not so messy stuff or drier stuff like making sandwiches, baking cakes, cut fruits, toast your bread kind of thing. It is cleaner and need less clean up. Therefore most of the time this part didn't consist any kitchen sink. Some people still put a small sink just for hand-washing or knife cleaning. Ussually it doubles as family dining room or breakfast table. It has a little bar table and maybe even a TV for entertainment or for mom to watch to cooking channel.

Wet Kitchen :

The wet kitchen is the messy, greasy part of the kitchen, it has a large kitchen sink for dish washing, a dishwasher, and of course the all the oven and stove. This is where you butcher your chicken, meat and cut up fish. Things that need a lot of clean-up. Hence the name 'wet'.

The choice of whether to have both types or just one depends on the individual preference and usage needs. People who cook a lot prefer to have both and sometimes partition them into two so that one does not affect the other , especially if they butcher stuff in the wet kitchen and the smell gets to the other side .

Edited September 12, 2012 by jaykr

[jaykr 0]

Kitchen Layout Ideas Gallery

Corridor Design :

Edited September 12, 2012 by jaykr

[jaykr 0]

Continued....

Edited September 13, 2012 by jaykr

[jaykr 0]

Another way to design a kitchen is by Style . Below are examples.

Country Kitchen Style :

Modern Kitchen Style :

European Style Kitchen :

Classic :

Another Modern Style :

Edited September 13, 2012 by jaykr

[jaykr 0]

.....Continued

Source : House Beautiful

Architectural Style :

Earthy :

Colorful :

All White :

Pop of Color : ( All white with Cabinet internal painted with apple green)

Edited September 13, 2012 by jaykr

[jaykr 0]

.....Continued

Contemporary + Rustic:

Sleek Kitchen (Modern) :

Light & Dark :

Edited September 13, 2012 by jaykr

[jaykr 0]

Kitchen Counter-tops

Source : About.com

Laminate Counter top :

Bottom Line: Cheap, easy, and fast, though compromising on beauty.

The laminate countertop is a distant cousin of laminate flooring: layers of paper treated with resin and pressed together under high heat and pressure. Under this paper-and-resin layer is a base of composite chip wood. The thickest laminate is used for the horizontal work surfaces; thinner laminate is used for vertical areas such as backsplashes. Wilsonart, Nevamar, and Formica are the big names in laminate countertops.

Pros :

Cost. Laminate is one of the cheapest countertop options.

Cons:

It's easily damaged. It gets scratched and chipped very easily. Not to mention any water that gets under the resin-impregnated surface will cause the wood chip base to swell.

Ceramic Tile Countertop :

Bottom Line: Cheap and easy to DIY but seams are a problem.

Ceramic tile: an infinite range of designs are possible. You're limited only by your imagination. This is a highly visible surface and any errors or mistakes made in installation will stand out like a sore thumb.

Pros :

Cost. Even cheaper than laminate, ceramic tile is about as cheap as you want to make it.

Cons:

Grout. The grout continually gets food and crumbs stuck in it, and it's difficult to clean. Not only that, but the grout needs periodic sealing to repel moisture.

Solid Surface Countertop :

Bottom Line: Seamless and solid.

Solid surface is all man-made material, top to bottom. Unlike laminate, there are no layers. The surface you see on top is the same surface on bottom. Solid surfaces are not cheap, but they're not as expensive as stainless steel, concrete, or engineered stone. They're a very middle range choice both in terms on price and aesthetic value, and that's why you'll find solid surfaces in so many homes. Examples of solid surfaces : Corian, Avonite, Gibraltar, and Earthstone.

Pros :

Sandability. Should you scratch or gouge your solid surface, you can sand it out with very fine sandpaper .

Cons : Solid surfaces will crack and scorch if subjected to high heat, such as a hot pan.

Natural Stone and Engineered Stone Countertop:

Bottom Line: Always beautiful, but rare to find a bargain.

Marble, granite, and slate are examples of natural stone. Engineered stone is a composite of quartz, pebbles, polymers, and epoxy. Both are sleek and extremely handsome, and they give a very high-end look to your kitchen.

Pros :

The look. If you're selling your house, chances are buyers will take notice of these counters.

Cons :

Natural Stone is porous, so it requires sealing, and it can crack under heavy weight or stain. Engineered stone is better in this respect,it resists heat and stains better than natural stone.

Stainless Steel Countertop :

Bottom Line: Highly unique--a showstopper--but outrageously expensive.

Stainless has come out of professional kitchens and into the home. Sixteen-gauge stainless steel is used in home kitchens, whereas the thicker fourteen- and twelve-gauge steel is found in restaurant kitchens. Because it starts as raw material, it can be formed into practically any shape and dimension you desire.

Pros :

Like stone, it's all about appearances. If you want to give your house a sleek, contemporary look, stainless is the way to go.

Cons :

For its outrageous price, it's really not as "stainless" and durable as it seems. It will stain and corrode and it does require a significant amount care and maintenance.

Concrete Countertop :

Bottom Line: A trendy countertop choice; attractive but rarely used.

Concrete is very customizable,It can be tinted to any color and there is a host of texturing options. Concrete is about as heavy as solid granite.

Pros :

Concrete has infinite range of colors.

Cons :

Porosity. Concrete must sealed on a regular basis. Also, when used for kitchen application, Concrete can be very expensive.

Edited September 19, 2012 by jaykr

[jaykr 0]

Laminate Countertops

The most common kitchen countertop is Laminate.

Pros:

- Produced in hundreds of colors and patterns and a variety of finishes. Certain designs replicate the look of granite, solid surface,engineered stone and hardwood, among others, providing an in-demand look at an undemanding price.

- Easy upkeep.Impact resistant.

- A coved design, where the laminate eliminates the countertop’s back edge by curving slightly up the wall, makes for easy cleanup.

- Cost savings, due to reduced labor and more inexpensive material compared to other surfaces.

- Stain and grease resistant, withstands high temperatures, large selection of colors, textures, and styles; impervious to water, low maintenance.

Cons :

- Layers make it difficult to repair chips.

- Hot items and water seeping into seams may cause layers to break apart.

- Kraft paper leaves a dark line at the edges, unless it runs wall to wall or is trimmed with a decorative material such as wood or stainless steel.

- You’ll need to use cutting boards.

- You can’t clean it with abrasives.

- unless top-of-the-line, dark lines from under-layer may show at edges; difficult to repair, susceptible to knife and hot pan damage. Stressed, unbroken corners can crack.

Detailed Write up :

Cost :

- Laminates are generally cheap but designer laminates can get costly.

- If the countertop needs custom edges treatment, it can drive up the cost due to the time intensive installation tasks.

Material details :

- Laminate uses mostly particleboard as its base, however some of the laminates use plywood especially near sinks where water exposure is possible.

- Laminate is a synthetic material made up of several layers: multiple sheets of kraft paper (like that used in grocery bags), a decorative paper and a melamine plastic coating. Though economical, laminate doesn't have the lasting power of stone; however, manufacturers like Wilsonart offer upgraded, high-wear surfaces with increased lifespan. A slightly more expensive alternative with no dark edges is solid-color laminate, which is made of a colored plastic throughout.

- The big names in laminate are Formica and Wilsonart. Other names include Pionite, Bevella, and Nevamar.

- Formica, a brand name of the oldest type of laminate counter material around.

Material durability :

- Laminate Countertops do not easily chip and scratch as they used too. This is because the manufacturers add in a protective layer to makes it more resistant to chipping and Scratch. However not all laminates have this protective cover. Laminate are still prone to scratching and scuffing, so be careful.

- Laminate Counters Can Scorch and thus need to be careful and use a trivet to protect.

Countertop look and feel :

- There are laminates countertops that look like granite. Granite laminate countertops now look remarkably like the real thing, due to improved design and manufacturing techniques. Not only that, granite laminate counters now have better finishes which more closely imitate granite.

- Formica is able to produce metal finishes in its Authentix Collection® for laminates its produces. this is not real metal, but a clever reproduction.

Other details :

- Edge Treatments - One huge problem with laminate countertops has been the edging. No doubt you can picture the 90 degree angled edge of a laminate countertop--often with deep chips from honest, everyday usage, and which cannot be repaired.

An advance in laminate countertops in recent years has been with the edge treatments. No longer are you forced to accept the 90 degree, chippable, post-form edge. Now, laminate can be smoothly wrapped over the edge in bullnose, waterfall, no-drip, and ogee styles popular with solid surface materials.

Maintenance :

According to Wilsonart, a damp cloth and mild soap should be adequate for most spills. For more resistant stains, create a paste from baking soda and a mild household cleaner, and give a brisk 15-20 strokes to the area using a nylon bristle brush. If these methods don't work, a cotton ball saturated with undiluted household bleach can be rubbed on the stain for up to two minutes, though Wilsonart warns that the surface must be thoroughly rinsed with water and dried, and prolonged exposure to bleach will cause discoloration. Always follow your manufacturer's specific instructions.

Edited September 22, 2012 by jaykr

[jaykr 0]

Tile Counter top :

Pros :

Can be customized to suit specific shapes and sizes; heat and stain resistant; damaged tiles are replaceable.

Resists moisture.

You can use special hand-painted designs.

Cons :

Uneven surface; grout collects food particles and can be difficult to clean, prone to staining; tiles can chip and crack; aggressive scrubbing can ruin a high-gloss finish.

The grout may stain. The tile surface won’t be smooth enough for cutting or rolling dough.

Cost :

Tiles are relatively inexpensive. Depending on how decorative and unique a look you want the cost can vary.

Material Details :

Ceramic tiles are made from pressed clays with a matte finish or a glaze of metallic oxides and ceramic stains. Glazed ceramic tiles are the most common type of tile used for kitchen countertops.

Porcelain tiles, also made from clay, are baked at a higher temperature, which makes them thicker. The color also goes all the way through the tile, rather than just covering the surface.

Quarry tile is an umbrella classification for tile made out of a clay mixture, such as shale. Terra cotta tile, which retain clay's reddish orange to brown hues and require a sealant, fall in this category.

Grout - The spaces between the tiles are filled in by grout, ideally an epoxy grout to help resist stains. Grout comes in almost as many colors as paint. Choose one similar in color to the countertop tile for a more unified look. White is classic, but remember: Lighter colors aren't as effective at hiding dirt. Also, grout should be sealed to prevent bacteria from setting up camp between your tiles.

Material Durability :

Tile is heatproof, scratch resistant, long lasting. Ceramic tile is highly resistant to stains and heat, and a damaged tile can be chiseled out and replaced without tearing out the entire counter. (Buy extra tile at the time of installation because manufacturers change tile colors often, and even seemingly common tile can be hard to find later.)

An epoxy or acrylic grout is recommended since it won't stain quite as easily as other grouts.

Weakness :

Tough on dropped glasses, tile counter tops have another big weakness--the grout line. Grout needs regular maintenance, and it can stain. If you choose tile, specify epoxy grout, which is tougher and more stain-resistant.

Tile can crack and chip and the grout must be sealed regularly to keep it from darkening.

Look & Feel :

Other Details :

Tile can be used with any type of sink, and because tile is so versatile, counters can be made in virtually any shape.

Hardy types of tile—ceramic, porcelain and quarry—can serve as a countertop surface. They may feature raised, recessed or painted designs. Unglazed tiles (which generally have a matte finish) must be sealed; glazed tiles are impervious to water. For a customized look at a reasonable cost, combine hand-painted, vintage or imported tiles with inexpensive, monochromatic tiles.

Maintenance :

Scouring powder and bleach is the best way to keep the grout sparkling and white. Towel dry ceramic tiles. Clean grout with strong chemicals and toothbrush often.

The safest cleaning method will depend heavily on the type of tile you've used, so be sure to consult your manufacturer's instructions. For glazed ceramic, tile manufacturer's recommend cleaning with a damp cloth and non oil-based household cleaner, and cautions against using ammonia, which can discolor grout.

What type of tile is recommended for kitchen counter tops and why?

These are usually double glazed like or glazes fired at higher temperatures, such as glazes on vitreous and porcelain bodies.

High-gloss glazes are not recommended because they will scratch under normal kitchen counter top use.

Many owners will select these 'high-gloss' tiles for counter tops even though they are told "they will scratch," because they like the look and do not intend to use their kitchen on a regular basis.

Vanity Tops: Most tiles are all right to use, except the softest glazes, because of less abuse.

Edited September 23, 2012 by jaykr

[jaykr 0]

Solid Counter Tops :

Pros :

Because it’s solid (the pattern or color runs throughout), chips, dents and scratches can be repaired easily.

Comes in a variety of colors and finishes ranging from gloss to matte; it can look and feel like stone.

Flexible enough to form decorative shapes and an integral sink.

Can be molded into a single seamless piece. If seams are necessary, they're inconspicuous and non-porous, preventing the growth of bacteria.

A high-gloss countertop can be buffed back to its original luster.

Resistance to heat and impact are pluses, and scratches and small nicks can be buffed out and repaired. Because the surfacing is waterproof, it's a sound choice for an under mounted sink.

Cons :

May crack as it cools down after a hot item has been on it.

Will stain. However, because it’s nonporous (that is, nothing soaks too far into it), spots can be scrubbed out.

Could become discolored if a heavy object falls on it.

You’ll need to use a cutting board, though scratches can be sanded out.

Solid surfacing scratches easily, and prolonged heat can cause discoloration. Cost can rival that of quartz and granite, which are much tougher and more authentic looking.

Maintenance :

Clean with mild soap and water / Buff out scratches with Scothbrite pad / Use Soft Scrub cleanser in sink / Use Trivet.

According to the DuPont Corian Web site, most dirt can be removed with soapy water or an ammonia-based cleaner. You can disinfect the surface with a solution of diluted household bleach (one part water/one part bleach).