Soichiro

Many sliding windows and window grilles can easily be opened from outside if you just use the default lock on the grilles. No tools required, no super human strength too. Just a bit of physics, and both window and grilles can be opened in seconds. I installed extra locks against that loophole.. but can't help wondering if kena carrot chop.. heh

Thanks! Will check it out

Go direct if you have lots of time on hand, and can leave work at anytime to attend to the workers, supervise, coordinate the work, and risk any mistakes. If there are any mistakes due to your inexperience, you will have to pay for it. Sometimes it may just mean redoing the tiles and paying for everything twice. Get an ID if you want specific themes and are willing to pay for it. Get a contractor if you know what you want, and want the contractor to handle everything in your reno journey except for design. To me.. only difference between ID and contractor is... 1) Price - ID takes a bigger cut, and the company also takes a cut 2) Design - ID gives u 3D drawings, etc. For contractor, you don't really know how it'll look like until it's done, but some can do sketches for u. I went for contractor because I didn't like any designs proposed by IDs and am not going for anything special. My contractor managed everything. I only went to the house to have a look once a week. Of course there were mistakes here and there, but it is the contractor's responsibility to ensure everything is done according to what's agreed.

hehe thanks! I wanted to make sure that my tv console has no sharp edges coz I'm really clumsy and tend to walk into these things. My carpenter said it is better to find the ready made ones if I want a curved edge coz he's not good at doing them. He did quote me for a tv console that I described to him, so I'm still looking around for nice ones lor. Yeah once wood is painted on, cannot sand it already. I wanted it to have a natural wood finish but they attempted and got a very ugly result!

Your papers should be over by now? Look forward to work in progress pics!!!

Sent u PM.

Heyo! Thanks for the suggestions. Yeah spoke to the plumber earlier, he said the tilers made a mistake somewhere. I can see the water in the hole but somewhere it is still connected to the sewage. Either redo the toilet (mayhem) or seal up that drainage hole and use the one in shower area instead.

Thanks! Somehow like the toilet cabinet v much. haha..

Yes considered for very long and decided to have the wardrobe span the entire length of the room. Over 4m in length! Saw the sliding mirror in some other showrooms so just told our carpenter and he settled it quickly.

u sure no railings? Not dangerous meh? Some replaced with glass railings, like in shopping centers. but those are significantly more expensive. My contractor quoted me 1.4k for wrought iron railings and wooden grip. Another ID quoted 2k. I didn't replace it in the end, just paint over. Just a rough gauge for u

I had 2 reno permits even when its under 1 contractor. 1 for hacking and tiling, waterproofing, etc. Another for windows, water pipes, etc Carpentry no need permit la. U can check HDB website on what requires permit.

Anyone knows of a padlock that can have 2 keyholes, on each side? Because my door is a single big piece, I can't do the clamp in the middle and need to use a padlock instead. Found myself fumbling with it sometimes for the traditional shaped padlocks. Anyone with good recommendations? Maybe something like this, but with keyhole on both left and right sides? Possible? Thanks in advance for any recommendations

Sent u pm!

Wardrobe My 13.4 feet wardrobe! Changed to another carpenter this time. Will complete next week as one of the sliding doors was damaged. Animation of my slide-out mirror... lol Toilet Cabinet 1 meter tall custom cabinet!

Long time no post, think my reno is one of the longest running yet. lol Just some updated pics: Kitchen With washing machine on the right yes.. thats a "slide to unlock" magnet! My Living Room Ceiling With downlights switched on TV mounted! Met several hiccups. Initially TV could not mount, added extra board behind. No tv console yet.. can't decide.. bleh. Looking a white tv console, rounded edges, with covered glass in middle and drawers or swing doors at the sides. Anyone happen to chance upon one? Room Doors Stairs railing now painted brown. Previous owner had it painted so we can't sand it.

They took that long? That time I called HDB, the officer called me back within a few hours and arranged to do a site check the next day. But he also said they need to see water dripping or yellow stains in order to convince the neighbour upstairs....

lightings.com.sg is sole distributor. Other shops selling this also get it from them. They have a few branches, can check their webbie for details

Congrats and wish you a smooth journey! Looks like the original condition of the house is quite good, very good in fact. You could save a bundle on quite a number of items. lol.. another congrats on this!!! btw, you bought a bench for balcony? What is it like and from where? I'm considering what to put at my balcony as well. Your balcony has a roof?

New updates today! Main door eyehole... we compromised and said its ok to install a new eyehole instead of replacing the door. (the eyehole was blocked by padlock and iron grille) BUT... I chose the center of the door (sounds normal and logical right?) and today the installer said door too thin, cannot put there! Then they suggest put at the side, which is just near to the original hole -- probably blocked also -.-"" Now I just told them it doesn't make sense that I can't install an eyehole in the middle of a door. Find a different eyehole if its too thin...

Ok I just met up with the HDB officer, he said that the flaky ceiling does not constitute leakage. He only looks for obvious dripping water or brown/yellow stains. Those are the best tell tale signs coz HDB has to convince the upper floor household that it is a leak due to them as well. So now... just have to tell painter to scrape off, apply sealant and repaint the ceiling. Yah for you it should be smelly now The workers sometimes no WC in your house.. may just settle there in the drainage too! Thanks! Think white is ok so long as easy to clean. My fan at home now is black, I do tend to ignore the dust... lol Yeah! Should be ok la, only scared that it's too rough and easy to accumulate dirt lo. Yup HDB check already, say go ahead there's no leak! Think it really depends on where the smell is coming from. I'm just worried that they can't do anything about it then I have to live with the pungent smell!? Not right leh...

I always thought it's logical to have all the laminates in the same direction for a single cabinet. But when my kitchen cabinet was completed, they had them horizontal for most of the base and vertical for all the doors and drawers. I asked the carpenter... they said over 10 years no customer ever complained about that. Really? I personally won't notice the details that much, but am irked that they asked me what orientation I wanted initially and gave me a mix in the end. I do understand that they would try to have the laminate run along the longer length of the cabinet to reduce number of seams. Anyone encountered something similar?

hihi! Yes it's KDK, 56". Chose it coz I wanted a plain design. They have a 60" one with 5 blades I think!

Now master toilet having some problems... 1) Ceiling flaky Told painters to smoothen and paint over. They said the ceiling has moisture, even if they paint now, will become like that again in the future. Need to call HDB to ask. What happens usually? HDB officer come down check, then ask upstairs neighbour to redo water proofing?? 2) Bad smell Master toilet has a bad sewage smell sometimes. I felt that air was coming up from the floor drainage... anyone kena before? Last time asked contractor to look at it with me... just nice that day no smell! bleh.

Mine is a little bit beige and officially scared by u already ^5!

That layout was changed leh. Now I have 3-3 separate to have dimmer lighting in the middle - 4 - 3 - 4 - 1 --------- 2 1 --------- 2 - 4 - 3 - 4 -