ricanne

in their email, they claimed they discussed with their boss. we have been busy and perhaps still in shock to respond to it. they offered to rehack the whole floor and redo, provided we pay upfront the balance. that's the catch. we don't trust them to do it properly even with the hacking. Hubby is thinking of spending his own time scrapping it out with penknife and filling it in himself with grout from Home-Fix.

My IDs are calling it QUITS! Even willing to forfeit the balance payment. What professionalism!

Chinese easier to talk to. But Malay call the shots. i wonder what are my chances if i go straight to the boss? will he think that we are unreasonable or push his guys to do it?

Thanks for your advice. The original tiler to rectify it, but gave up. The firm then sent another tiler who said it's acid wash, and said that it's not their fault and won't it. This evening, the ID is asking for case close with $500 discount. So we asked him how much does it cost to re-tile the affected floor and wall. He has yet to reply. btw. . .how did they rectify the problem? use penknife and try to shave it off, and then re-grout? Hubby now very keen to speak to the boss. But frankly, the reason why we went to an ID firm is for ID type of work. In the end, we still have to look over their shoulders. Our own contractors did a better job than the ID(s). Really sad. Since we still have the hold over them, we'll exercise it. The quality is definitely not something i expect from an ID. I hack care the workmen are sub-contractors. As far as i am concerned, I paid the ID, the ID's responsible.

The tiler came back . . . twice, each time average about 2 hours. On subsequent days, didn't see him again. I was telling SGbuzz not to expect him. haha... Anyway, a different tiler came tonight to look-see. . . he said that his boss will call the ID, and they are not likely to do it because it was not their job in the first place. This second tiler claimed that it was the acid wash which caused the grouting to change colour. . . frankly, i don't care what caused it. i just want a resolution . . . So we'll wait and see whose calling us next la . . . Painter also from ID . . . actually. . . we preferred the chinese ID to the other one. The latter one has not been as responsive as the former. And he's rather defensive. . .

Hey CJRedDevil saw your new posts. very beautiful! so long haven't been to RenoTalk. believe it or not . . . although we were very quick in unpacking and getting ready for CNY, a lot of things are still undesirable. the IDs were just here on Friday to see how they can rectify faults. Faults which if they cannot rectify, we'll keep the balance! can you believe it? Toilet grouting which have 2 different colours? One white and the other some dirty colour. So everytime we sit on the bowl . . . it stares back at us. Machiam like we never wash the floor. know what the ID said? Wear and tear. the paint had also started to flake even within the first week of moving in. So angry!

u referring to the shop or brand? We got it from Goh An Bee. Its a Brandt.

we've moved in, and we've completed our unpacking. sorry to hear about your experience. i can only hope that 2 years on, Hoe Kee has up-ped the quality of their products.

hi cjRedDevil, the unpacking was tedious!! BUT WE ARE DONE!!!! the movers brought stuff over on 5th (Friday). We finished unpacking all 90 boxes this morning (7th Sunday). Movers have also retrieved the boxes.

I have had a very very good experience with this carpenter. Allow me to ventilate. . . (i) We had some issues with Citygas for the installation of the gas piping. It was the coordinator Simon who called me to let me know what is happening, when it is not exactly his responsibility. Just that he had to delay the installation of the cabinets. My ID did not tell me. (ii) When we had the wrong WC (had a straight back and prevented water pipes from running behind it, my IDs said chances are we cannot exchange because the boxes have been thrown away. Simon happened to be around. He said, "why don't you call? if you don't try, you won't know.' I called. And hold and behold! Hoe Kee agreed for us to exchange 2 WCs!! And did not even charged us for delivery for the pick-up! (iii) Citygas wanted to activate the gas and realised that the nozzle was not suitable and asked us to change. I was dumb and thought that I should consult the carpenters on what it was. Simon explained that it had to do with the hob people, and suggested I called them. The matter was resolved with the hob pp. But Simon actually called me back to find out if i have settled the problem! (iv) Our fridge's top screw got stuck with the top-hung cabinet. We thought they had the measurements wrong. We called and then realised that we were the ones who made the boo-boo. Buzz told them to leave a 1.8m gap for the fridge. Nonetheless, Simon asked for a pic and said that it's only a few mm shy. He would come and see what he can do about it. (v) Not sure about other carpenters, but this carpenter also patch up little grooves caused by nails and staplers. Talk about excellent service! I am really impressed and satisfied!

It's prego expression oak. we like the brown lining which makes it look like we are on a ship deck. Kitchen's all done with the solid top and doors. Sink and faucet. Toilet fittings are all up too.

Our kitchen cabinets' 'handles' are grooves. It's currently only the shell. Doors and solid top not up yet. Shld be up tmr. Post it then.

sorry for the late reply, Ninja. No, OpenNet did not come. However, we heard that there is a letter from them. We do not have the keys to the letterbox, so not sure what is it about. Hows your reno going on?

doing a stock-take: 1. Change all windows (starting 6/1) 2. Finish tiling the toilets (after windows are changed) 3. Construct concrete base in kitchen for cabinets 4. Finish tiling work in kitchen 5. water proof and build wet wash area in balcony 6. Cement scree rest of balcony 7. construct new TV wall with store room extension 8. run air con trunking and piping 9. plaster wall and paint 10. polish and make good upstairs and stairs parquet 11. Install downstairs laminate flooring 12. Install kitchen cabinets, wardrobe, settee --> will complete on 28 Jan (Thu) 13. complete wiring and install lights and fans 14. Install book shelf, store room display door, and balcony timber overlay --> will complete on 28 Jan (Thu) 15. Install grilles --> will install on 30 Jan (Sat) 15a. Various touch-ups --> ongoing till HO 16. move from old place to new place --> will start shifting some stuff on 30 Jan (Fri) 17. allocate space for different items 18. unpack 19. put into place 20. shift things around 21. unpack 22. upack 23. unpack

that's right. i bought some bowls there when i was replenishing. http://ptssingapore.tripod.com/

we bought it when we first set up home about 10 years ago. forgot how much.\ hmm . . .considering that you are a Red Devil, why not put up the flag? err. . .they have one, rt? sorrie.. not too sure here. . . .

welcome home! good buys!! we have a similar rod. as we used to collect those hard rock pins, this is what we did:

nah . . .it's all right. . . so long as everyone gets to find out whats the best course of action. Thanks ve_ve for empathising My MBR wardrobe and settee are in!! So pretty . . . The settee feels very good when i sit on it. Maybe if i am angry, I can send Mr Buzz there to sleep for the night and not feel guilty about it. Painting completed yesterday. Plumbing continued, but we had to change 2 of our WCs. There are no gaps between the bowl and the wall, and the piping will run haywire if we keep to the WC. So, we'll change.. . . Next week, we are looking at: Monday - laminate flooring - invisible grilles installation Tuesday / Wednesday - kitchen cabinets - study room table - living room settee *fingers crossed*

Since Monday, we only managed the following: - installation of electricals completed (touch -ups next week) - tiling completed (touch-ups next week) - parquet polish completed - acid-wash kitchen only - painting continuation (shld complete tmr) Still need to - change gas pipe outlet (tmr) - install sliding doors (month end) all carpentry installation (though ready) have to be postponed because the above not completed yet. dunno whether can install at least some first tmr or not. . . getting kind of tired

opps sorry. Can't read time. . . haha But i notice a pattern - ~5 years.

Since we started reno on 24th Dec, today is the ONLY day we did not call our ID(s). They must be feeling so relieved. Plastering of partition (of store) was completed today. A little more tiling done (but still more to go). Painting works has started. Tmr, the following shld be done: - installation of sliding glass door so that store-room partition can complete - installation of electricals - plumbing continuation - painting continuation - tiling continuation - KITCHEN CABINETS! Wed, extra time to complete the above Thur, parquet polish etc for Level 2. Hope all go as planned. . .

thanks Ninja for the visible screw thingy. if i do not recall wrongly, it's the normal sockets. So, the screws shld be visible. however, i'd rather just paint clear nail-polish over them to insulate them from water / rust instead of spending $ to change the plates. however, Buzz might have a different idea

Thanks CJRedDevil since then, the installers showed us another set of trimmings. And they look so much better . . .

the ones we bought were white.

LAN points --> sorry I am not sure. I have been a sleeping partner as far as the reno was concerned. However, now that Sgbuzz is away, I have to be more on. The switches are from this shop R e n o h u b, along Upper Serangoon Road. It's actually just opposite the mosque (which is just before Helping Hand). Their website : http://renohub.com.sg/SwitchPlugs.php If you have the time, think better go to Choo Chiang. Think they get their supplies from there. Saw a letter from Choo Chiang on their cashier counter. haha. The saleslady said that the boss is actually a contractor and opened this shop so that his customer can select their choices more conveniently.