mersing

The previous China lady was better. More pleasant. The food at that coffee shop can be OK or terrible on certain days. But I won't complain too much since I can always have a meal at less than $3. When the food court is up at Casa Clementi, I don't think a meal there will cost less than $3. We will be having 7-11 but don't know if it is going to be 24 hr shop. Things are shaping up nicely here, but unfortunately so do rubbish thrown by kids.

That's very sad ... people here have very much to learn about social responsibility - keeping the place clean for everyone's comfort is not difficult. It lies in the mentality ... as long as it is not my home ... litter ... I hope the residents at Casa rental blocks will not mess up the entire neighbourhood. When I moved into Casa initially these blocks are so new and yet so dirty. Did you attend the opening ceremony yesterday? I've given feedbacks to WCTC to put more bins in the carpark areas as well as the pavements outside where the road lightings are.

The 3rd floor garden is OPEN to the public! Yay!!!

I've removed HDB's laundry rack, cut the poles and reinstall in common toilet. In the service yard, I'm using my old unit's ezzi living laundry system. So now I've 3 areas to hang my clothes. Don't have to worry where to hang my additional laundry/blankets during the rains.

I got rid of the partition but not the PD doors. That's how I want it to be. It depends on your family needs. It's best to consult every member so that you will know what to do next. My neighbor dismantled the wash basin as well.

Haha ... I think my neighbor is someone else, not you lah! There are a few guys doing their own reno too in other blocks as well. I would have preferred to do all the reno myself but I don't have the talent, time nor patience. A huge MBC ship just went by ... what a love sight - for a change! Police siren on the expressway 2 mornings in a row!

It's you meh? Now everywhere screeching sounds - up, down, right, left ... Faintz ... Blk 421 lift alarm went off a few times today? One of my old neighbors said her new unit's floor tiles were quite uneven and she has to get BSC to redo them. So another factor to consider for those who just got their keys.

I go to central NTUC as they have a wider range there.The noise from AYE is simply too loud. I met one of my neighbours downstairs and she was living in Blk 402 before, I think. She never got used to the noise even after 10 yrs plus. I never got used to the noisy buses and stupid car racers and motorcyclists in the middle of the night. It took me more than 6 months to have my very first sound sleep at Blk 407 ... and that is after I bought many carton boxes to stack up the bedroom and hall to prevent the sound from echoing. Even the boxes took up much space and don't look nice in the hall but they reduced the noise by 80% or so. Now at Casa, I was bothered by stupid lift alarm going off 3 days in a row now almost the whole day. Each sounding can last 45 mins or longer. I was driven mad till I had to call the police and the EMS 3x today. My opposite neighbor who had his keys much earlier than me and did his own reno in Jan. Until today, I still hear screeching machinery sound coming from his unit. It's already mid May and he is still doing his reno. Oh god! I did my reno only end Mar and work finished in Apr and have already moved in 3 days ago. Like I've said earlier, don't move in so soon ... alot of teething problems.

For me, I'm concerned about elderly people and teenagers who come back late.

I've given my feedback to Building Services yesterday about the dark narrow walkways. Suggested they install some lightings there. You may want to give the same feedback so that they will look into it. If only 1 person complain, no action will be taken.

Those persistent contractors loitering at the carpark are, I think, from the same company. They look so Ah-Long type. Haha I won't recommend my ID to anyone cos after service is quite bad. I'm staying in my new unit now. I don't know whether to like it or not. It can be quite noisy: - I think I heard ship blowing its horn at the nearby harbor 2 nights in a row at around 3-4 am?? - I'm also surprised to hear noises from the expressway on 40-storey at Block 421! - Church bell ringing also 2 mornings in a row around 6:10 am. - Football supporters are really loud at the opposite NUS school! - The noise from MRT is rather loud even on high floor. - The corridors on all the blocks are "hollow" ... you can hear conversations of people walking along the corridors very clearly from the kitchen. Hmm ... what else? The lights from the 3rd floor garden is quite bright and somehow reflected on the ceiling. Did my first marketing yesterday ... how I wish the shops are up and running in Casa! It's a very long walk and carrying the load is no joke. Conclusion: Don't move in so soon!!

Also check your wooden door whether it has been damaged by M2 Mover stickers! I got really angry when I saw the sticker pasted on the door - it's a bit tricky to get rid of the sticker. How can these people be so inconsiderate!

I don't know about this aircon thing. The area is quite windy especially units facing the sea. You may feel hot for maybe 2 hours or so in the afternoon, after that it's windy again. You can also stand facing the hills or the sea along the corridor - it's super windy! Anyone done up the shelvings for shelter yet? Don't know which one to choose ...

Just a quick check ... is it against HDB rule to put brackets on the beam in the service yard?

I'll be using their service next month. Keeping my fingers crossed that nothing will be lost or broken. I was attended by Warren for quotes. I find their price not cheap nor expensive but in the middle range. That's why I chose the company.

May I know where I can buy 2 single long J hooks (plastic or aluminium) to hang a shower curtain rod? I'm trying to install a shower curtain rod in the service yard but it keeps falling off due to strong winds hence the hooks to keep it firm. However, I don't want the rod to be fixed as there may be a need to change it.

Not a pleasant neighbourhood? I've got a stuck up neighbor on the same floor - won't even look at me when I say hello. Falling incident, thefts before units completed, bad loud quarrels between IDs and owners ... areas full of rubbish ... Yesterday, there were 2 vans from the same catering company and I saw one of the staff threw an empty can of coke on the ground while talking on the phone!

How about those with 3/4 bay windows? Any idea what can be done?

Ashley, definitely you won't be the only one. Hahaha. 200-over families will be moving into that block by Nov/Dec this year.

Guys, any good movers to recommend? BTW, suggest you guys don't install or put in expensive items in an empty unit. Heard from my neighbour that one unit got broken into and stuff taken away. Police were called in. It's safer to move in first and have these expensive items come in later.

I've heard the 5 room ones esp the upper floors will only be ready after May. My unit has some cracks on the baywindows, HHS ceiling and service yard with the clothes line brackets. BCS is quite fast to respond to our feedback. I guess certain things may take longer. For my case, they took I think 3 days or so cos they have to fix the cracks and then wait to paint it up again. As for the IDs, I think you have to choose a few and see which one can suit your ideas and taste.

I'm also thinking of doing cement screed for my unit. Only 1 out of 5 IDs mentioned this to me. I want to do away with the tiles cos I've slipped many times in the living room with homogeneous tiles. ID proposed the following when doing cement screed: - waterproof membrane - sand, cement, chemical cement, white chemical cement, adhesive cement - clear matt sealer "tufseal" membrane - river pebbles (to create some design)

I agree it is a bit high but they give a 5-yr warranty compared to most, I think, 2-3 yrs?

Yah, I think $10K can be difficult cos things are soooooo expensive compared to 4 yrs ago. I wish I've that capability and strength to paint the whole unit myself. Botaq, better stick with lower budget than higher cos reno can burn your pocket! To cut cost, I'm even planning not to do floor tiles but stick to cement screeding only. It also makes my unit different from the majority. I've asked for views here regarding cement screed flooring. http://www.renotalk.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=46910 If I can, I want to recycle the common toilet partition then I don't have to install another spray tap in the sitting bowl area. I don't know if the shower head can reach the sitting bowl at all ... I like to work with IDs where I can recycle stuff that I don't need in my unit. It can also expand their creativity! Have you met your neighbors yet?

albertchng, thanks for your response. Will the crack still happen if there are strips of pebbles being placed in between? Will the floor become slippery if it is painted with clear lacquer? Without clear lacquer coating, can the stain be removed using NTUC stain remover?