csingeu

Kitchen Design v2 Some changes: 1. Solid Surface wrap-down for the breakfast counter leg - initially, the leg is supposed to be laminated finish; but so far, I see most people do whole solid surface wrap-down. of coz, there will be some top-up cost for the materials. 2. frosted glass cover for the disk rack - initially, we didn't want to have the frosted glass cover, as it's quite troublesome to open it to put in the dishes everytime. - but i suppose we won't be cooking everyday (prob just the weekends); hence might be gd to have the glass door to keep the dust out. 3. laminate for bottom kitchen cabinet - initially, we chose a light grey floor tiles, hence we selected "natural maple" for the bottom cabinet. - thinking thru, I feel i like something darker or more "cherry" - plus we changed our kitchen floor tiles to something else (something greyish-brown) Quick Recap: Top cabinet laminate - glossy piano white. Kitchen wall tiles - 60x30cm glossy white tiles Kitchen floor tiles - 60x60cm greyish-brown tiles Counter-top - LG Himacs solid surface "Iceberg" Bottom cabinet laminate - dark parma walnut (likely to change...) - wife prefers something more light greyish wood laminate (Cherry Marbella or Legarto Oak); as she feels dark laminates will blend in with the floor and there's no contrast - I prefer something more darker or more "cherry"; as I feel it goes better with the white solid surface... Glass backing: likely to be frosted with very slight tinge of cyan, or emerald... - "Natural Maple" - our original selection; but it looked too light and bland... - I like "Super Real Walnut" but it does look a little too dark - "Dark Erable" is like a mix of "Super Real Walnut" & "Flanney Cherry" - Wife likes "Light Talisa Plum", and we are using it for the vanity counter cabinet; and on after-thoughts, it actually looks something like her current kitchen now; she might change her mind now... hmmm... I think we are likely to change again, once the kitchen floor tiles are all up, and we have a better sense of the overall colour scheme for the kitchen, and the lighting... but i'm thinking more of "Dark Erable" or even "Flannel Cherry"

LOL... i think if it's my mum... maybe can la... my wife... still a little "green"... i think we are too nice... Thanks friends78 for your encouragement. Tired and yet excited abt the renovation. Think no matter we want to trust the contractor, as homeowners, we definitely still have to do our due diligence, and raise any defects found, and chase for follow-up. After much deliberation, despite us wanting to have the step-down shower tray, we decided to listen to the contractor and accept his explanation la. I'm not too sure if it's the truth, but wet cement when dried, tend to shrink a little, and using EPF together with it, when the cement shrink, there will be slight gaps between the dried cement/concrete and the EPF, and if there's a hole or so in the grout lines, water is likely to leak thru to the gaps between the cement and EPF. Not too sure if my explanation is 100% correct. Anyway, if he's not too keen to work on it, and that I have to sign an indemnity form to void my warranty for the bathrooms and to bear all costs in case of any violations, etc... I think I shouldn't push him too hard on that. I believe he has his legitimate reasons, even if the reason is that his tilers are not skilled enough to do a gd job... On an afternote, while I visited Linda (mae29)'s place... I realised how her contractor might be able to do it. Her bedroom to bathroom has a 5-cm drop, and her bathroom to her shower area has a 3-cm drop, and her main floor trap (and drainage pipes) is near the shower area, hence, the water running will flow towards the shower area, and into the main floor trap. however, for my case, my main floor trap is outside the shower area; there's a need to construct a 2nd floor trap from the shower area, to the main drainage pipe. hence to do the step-down shower tray, he would need to raise the bathroom floor pretty much.... which will definitely violate HDB guidelines. Nevertheless, bro Soichiro has managed to do so, with 2 floor traps... but his drop difference is ard 1-2 cm only. In summary, we have decided to do shower kerb, but maybe not a 5-cm kerb... but more like a 3-cm kerb or so...

Hai... I was a little too late... you just left before i reached...

woah... your place looks huge, in this plan...

The HDB officer just called me back this morning. She said she didn't say can or cannot do; she merely stated that we'll need to adhere to the guidelines. She added that when conversing with my contractor, my contractor seemed experienced in the way he answers the queries. And that my contractor is dissuading me from doing so, based on his past experience of potential problems. When I asked abt the use of EPF for topping up of the bathroom floor. She mentioned that on her own personal renovation experience (not professional capacity), she had asked contractors and done her own research on EPF and that when used to top up bathroom, it is more prone to leaking and that EPF is used more for topping up of kitchen or balcony floor. Anyway, I'm puzzled if this is the case, why did HDB prescribe it as the only way (and even with technical drawings) of topping up bathroom floor? Doesn't make sense to me. Either the guideline is outdated (dated Nov 2007), or the tilers' skill or quality of material used then is inferior? I shall do my own research on EPF. hmmm... Or should I let this one pass?

Renovation Day 3 (6 April 2011): The photos were taken this morning. Woke up early to walk over to my new place to take a better look when there's some lighting... just came back from my evening class; popped by the place again... hoping to see some more work done... Not much work done though... 1. Balcony grilles still there 2. Main door entrance still not hacked; though main door & grille removed, and replaced with make-shift doors 3. More materials loaded... place slightly tidied up.... Hopefully they will start with the plastering tmr... will go take pics tmr morning again... oh well... tiring journey... exams are coming (21 to 28 April)... will be taking leave from 17 April onwards... seems very fast... totally not prepared for my exams this semester... like never study much... busy with ROM preparation, house renovation, wedding package, etc... and more work and responsibilities in office... deliverables and deadlines due... it's going to be a tough few months ahead.. can't wait for everything to end..

yes... if HDB dun approve, i won't do illegal stuff one... don't want to get into unnecessary trouble... i might not even pursue the shower "drop" thing... feeling really tired abt all these... but will give it one last try this sat, to find out what's the real issue... YAH... why didn't we choose the similar tiles...? sigh... nvm... it's plain... but it looks really gd... must be the lighting, the shower area and the potted plant.

Anyway, I was looking thru some of the past pics, I've researched on... think some of them also doing kerb... i showed my wife... she got no comments... she's not picky abt such stuffs.... i'm the anal one... bleahz... Think I can live with it la... if in the end, going to do shower kerb (so as to avoid further arguments or unhappiness with contractor... and looking back at some of the pics... I think I really like this kind of bathroom... why didn't I refer to this earlier?!?!? forget it le...

thanks Linda for the info. I'll take my measuring tape over tmr morning to measure... so that I can have some ways to discuss with the contractor on sat... i've been studying the technical drawings today... sigh... suan le... must learn the art of "closing 1 eye"... if not, i think my life will shorten very fast... yah... will talk to him abt the real reason la... if need to top up money and not a lot, i'll top up la... if because his workers no skill, then i'll see if can take out this item, and get my uncle to help do... if hdb dun approve, i'll just live with kerb lor...

Thanks! think if in the end, cannot get what I want, also like tat le... sigh...

Yes... i also think it's unbelievable that this work cannot be done, when almost 9 out of 10 homeowners I've asked are doing it this way... and my contractor can tell me, it's because they are doing it illegally... *FAINT* and he says HDB very strict on this one, will come and check... if that's the case, I suppose a lot of contractors and homeowners would have gotten into trouble le... I tried to put it across to him, that I want it to be done and I know it can be done... instead of being honest with me, why it cannot be done or maybe his tilers lack the skill... or even if it requires some top-up, i'll be negotiable.. but he chose to not tell the whole story... and wants to refer me to HDB... and in hope that I'll drop the idea, when required to contact HDB... but too bad... i'm in govt service also... and HDB is my sister agency... if need be, i'll seek clarification, and if it is illegal to do so, or totally impossible to be done, i'll take the words from the Authority, and not him... I hired him as a professional contractor and I trust that he will, in his professional capacity, seek to address my concerns and find solutions to perform the tasks I need him to do. If it's clearly un-doable (i.e. technically or legally impossible), then I'll give in, else I would expect him to perform his duties (which is to check with HDB, etc)

yes... i think he's just giving excuses. at first, he said, HDB double standards... his company got 2 units... need to re-do the flooring coz of the 50mm limit. and he wants me to get HDB approval. He thinks, i'll think it's a hassle and drop the case. BUT i went to HDB website, and the guidelines clearly stated otherwise. Then he argued that, but HDB sometimes, they don't care they'll still catch; he said he has to go and re-do them. When I mentioned the specific guidelines on HDB website, and the use of the EPF materials (which he definitely knows, coz i've seen that material at my place this morning), then he said... usually cannot use one... only for units for elderly persons who need to use ramp... and still give me other excuses, like he will be very difficult to do water-running, etc. And he mentioned, that if i really want, he can definitely do for me, but he wants HDB approval in black & white; if not, later his company "kena" again... I was like... already checked HDB guidelines, there's no need to apply for renovation permit for this works, as long as he follows the guidelines. no choice; have to shoot email to HDB officer and cc him in it. he tried to "scare" me by saying, the more questions i ask, the more HDB officer will come check... even better if they come check... at least, i know they're doing it properly and not taking short-cut... I already told him not to proceed with the floor tiling. I'll need to discuss with him this sat on how to proceed. waiting for HDB officer's reply now... and now i have to go read the technical drawing to understand how the **** the water running issue, etc can be achieved. Not putting him under pressure, but so far, all the other homeowners (who did their renovation) recently... everyone managed to do it lor... and their contractors don't need to apply for permit also... coz it's not required. and precisely, because he tries to dissuade me from doing it, by citing irrelevant examples and cases... which I believe a skiller tiler would be able to do (coz my uncle is a tiler, and he also says can do one)... so my only conclusion is that: 1. his tilers are CMI one... 2. he doesn't want to go thru the extra effort... if he CMI, i'll talk to him to remove the tiling work from the contract, and to proceed with the carpentry works only... and get my uncle to do the tiling instead. TMD... yes... if he cannot, I'll tell him to use my uncle's workers as the tilers instead.

yes... i'll show the guidelines to him. actually, i think he knows..., but just finding excuses... coz the wash area, i'll need to do a raised platform, so that can install the WC... and i think i saw that he got the extruded polystyrene foam (EPF)... but maybe it's for the WC area. TMD... i'll insist that he does it... and does it in the proper way...

SIAN... http://www.hdb.gov.sg/fi10/fi10324p.nsf/w/...cument#Bathroom Even HDB website got say how it make to able to achieve the top-up... the limitation of the 50mm floor height, is regarding using of concrete to top-up; apparently, HDB has offered some ways to achieve the top-up without using concrete for the whole area... now... i feel like i'm the contractor lor... wah biang...

So the "drop" between the shower area and the rest of the bathroom is 50mm? he kept giving me excuses like... 1. water draining from floor trap in shower area might be difficult 2. the shower screen will have "lobang", so the floor tiles would be laid in such a way, the water running for the rest of the bathrooms will have problems I told him not to start work on the bathroom shower area... i'll go down to his office this weekend to discuss... *puke blood* lor... if he just follows my instructions and do it... won't even need to alert HDB officer... if it's my uncle, i think he will just do it... and since he's the tiler... he would know how to do it properly... as in do the "drop" and still achieve the water running... *puke blood* anyway, below, the level 2 bathrooms is my own kitchen la... as long as they do properly, shouldn't have any water leaking issue or wat lor... zzz one leh...

actually... i prefer Pure Blonde better... sounds like a za-bor (girl) drink... supposedly low carbo... full strength lager; 4.6% alcohol http://www.fostersgroup.com/brands/pure-blonde.aspx http://www.6drunkmen.com/#/brands/ got "addicted" to it during my trip to Australia... hehehe will be ordering quite a bit to stock up my fridge for the house-warming parties...

Renovation Day 2: 1. Approval for main door hacking HDB officer said can do; but contractor will need to resubmit the application. 2. Do shower "drop" instead of shower kerb Contractor said quite impossible to do, if required to stick to HDB's guideline of not more than 500mm increase in floor height, using concrete. Might just stick to shower kerb ba... sigh... 3. Work-in-progress for today: - No new pics, because the workers have torn off the lighting holders to prepare for plastering over the next few days... - All tiles, sand and building materials loaded in the apartment; but 1 last crate (of my shower area tiles) still at level 1. It better still be there tmr. - ugly grilles at balcony still there; contractor said, the workers will bring the "power" cutter tomorrow to remove. - think i saw some materials for the false ceiling and box-up areas too... - signed new quotation for aircon (to include the water tray, underneath the compressor; this is useful for EM owners who have their compressors on top of their balcony. - informed Kong Tai to upgrade my Rinnai burner to the inner flame one; I still prefer that... i think it's more fuel efficient, though wife thinks that it might be difficult for "noob cooks-wanna-be" like us... coz the flame is very hot; food can get "chao-ta" (burnt) very easily... This weekend, likely need to go check out the WC & other sanitary wares le... hmmm... and i need to discuss abt the veneer doors too... and maybe select the laminates for my vanity counters, kitchen cabinets... and i also want to upgrade my sliding-door wardrobe to aluminium + glass ones... hmmm.... wife is going to think i'm wasting money again... hmmm... anyway, progress seems pretty fast... a bit too fast for me eh... hopefully things remain at this pace, but still have gd quality... wife says... we only need to do be more "on" when the tiling and other works start... oh well...

I like your kitchen too! the wood laminate looks gd. btw, what's the name of your laminate? which company one ah? and of coz, the photographer also very zai... to capture the photos of your interiors so nicely...

Sian... My contractor just called. He said the HDB officer says can do the shower drop, but cannot exceed 50mm height. My contractor said quite impossible not to exceed the 50mm as he still needs to connect the 2nd floor trap to the main one. He said even if he applies HDB will not approve. He also said, he told me not to ask HDB so much qns, if not, they sure come and check one...

For fridge, i changed because my dad was telling me to get a 2-door kind... it's bigger etc... coz he's the cook at home, i think he understands why a bigger fridge is better... same reasons as when you mentioned... esp during festive seasons, whereby family gatherings, etc are common... the extra space will be needed... he said.. even if it's just to put lots of heinkein bottled beers, like in the commercial, also more shiok... LOL...

Mine quoted me abt $112 for the extra stainless steel tray... though madwarrior told us that we could have asked for free... (i think different companies la... ) yah... the aircon guy when doing site survey at my place... also tell me gd to have the drain tray, if not the compressor water will drip in the balcony and create some discolouration of the floor tiles after some time... he also recommended me to run the trunking inside the L-box.... coz it's nicer... but contractor told me to put the trunking underneath the L-box, in case leak or wat... easier to repair and service... but i'm likely to run into the L-box la...

i think my contractor scared his batch of workers no skill to do the "drop" properly... my uncle warned me to tell my contractor not to use chinese (PRC) workers... coz their tiling skills CMI plus no QC one... he told me at least get m'sian workers... hmmm... *headache* ah... but think they progressing very fast... my contractor told me that he's getting the tile materials this morning le...

yeah... i think it's the same officer for our area. yes... talked to her over the phone; seems quite ok... lucky my email to her ytd didn't sound very nasty... YA LOR... even my own uncle (he's more of a tiler)... also told me to do drop... and he said... very common one... nobody really do shower kerbs nowadays, coz it looks quite old fashioned (as mentioned by u)... but like i said, i think he's not keen to do the drop... coz it's more troublesome... as he will need to raise and level the rest of the bathroom, and still do the gradual slope for the floor trap... and for the other floor trap in the shower area... he will have more challenges to conceal the drainage pipes... SIGH...

wah... i better take this into consideration, when planning my kitchen ceiling lights... hmmm... my current place using leather... my wife's place using fabric... she *swears* by fabric: 1. fabric is much cooler; sweat won't stick on you when u take a nap there (more "breathable"); the cooling fact is from some websites i've read from 2. fabric is "relatively" easier to maintain; think this is subjective; if you spill liquids on your sofa, even though can wash the covers, but the liquids would have seeped into the cushion seats... in fact, leather also need caring... need to use those products to protect/nourish your leather... if not, might dry & crack... maybe the high quality leather... won't be so jia-lat.. 3. fabric is "relatively" easier to do upholstery or "change look"; can "quite" easier order a new set of sofa covers next time, to change look... but then again... whether your cushions still retain its firmness is questionable... for my Cellini ELDA sofa, i asked what's the price of ordering another set of sofa covers (i wanted 1 creamy/beigey one; and 1 darker shade, ie. dark drey/brown kind)... it's like $700-800+ per set... maybe... think you might need some digital tv tuner box or wat... or maybe your tv comes with built-in one... hmmm... I haven't consider my curtains yet... *headache*... might just use ikea rod curtains...

LOL... think we have overspec-ed from our initial estimation. Fridge: initally just wanted something near to 400L (maybe a 375L or a 385 L)... then now... I think it's a 475L... *dots* The washing machine also... initially wanted ard 7.5-8kg... now freaking 9.5kg... *faint*