KittyJems

Hi Hongcc & Terrain, I've PM you the contact details for my contractor. Happy reno's.

Yes. There are new legal fees and processing charges. For the legal fees, mine was paid via CPF. Check with the bank you selecting. They will hv more info on the 'extra' charges.

Just a quick update on my contractor as I'm towards the final home run of my mini home reno. Despite my Reno being a small job, he has been a really responsible contractor. Each day, before the start of works, he will be at my place to brief all the workers/ sub con their job requirements. Then he'll talk to me to check on my satisfaction with progress, give me updates and ideas on improvements (if required). Ive even thrown him a few last minute curve balls and he responded to each additional request with a smile. Where additional works were required, he always provided a add-on quotation with all prices and items listed clearly. Only when I gave the green light, then he proceeded. Should anyone require pics of his work or his contacts, do feel free to contact me. I'll be glad to share. Else you can take a look at my T-Blog. More pics coming up there. P/s: I'm not related to him in any way. Just want to pay back the forum for all the many advises and information I've obtained these few months. This forum has been a huge help in guiding me in my Reno journey.

For me, I bot my LCD from Panasonic. When I shifted house, I called Panasonic and engaged their guys to uninstall the TV at my old place and then help to re-install it at my new place. Only paid their labour charge. HTH's.

Hi Bro, Thank you ssoo much for coming by to install the ceiling fan and wall fan yesterday! Despite all the changes I made, you still so nice lor. Great job! I love both the fans... especially the ceiling fan. Really nice and will definately match my home deco. My hub even commented that your skill very good. Cos we used to have another ceiling fan at our previous home and the fan will shake when switched on. But yours... steady steady leh. Even at high speed... whilst mounted on false ceiling! Will definately recommend to my friends if they also wanna install ceiling fans! 2 thumbs upz..!!!

Ceiling Fan and Wall Fan also installed by fellow forummuer "Bro". Excellent Service! See the installation.... so nicely done. Somemore it's on false ceiling... yet the fan still so steady. Never shake at all, even when we switch it on at full blast. Highly recommend "Bro" to anyone looking to install ceiling fans. Great price, great service!

Yeah! My kitchen cabinets are upz. Now waiting for my black granite top and tempered glass wall to be set-up. Hmmm... think I'll need to paint the bomb shelter door. The old paint so ugly.

Hi Bro Zero, Do you sell Bosch Dishwasher? I'm looking to get model: SPS50E02EU. Thanks.

You can actually get it from one of the forummer here at Renotalk. He has a business listing thread under the title ceiling fans, lights..... He uses the nick "Bro". I'm getting my ceiling fan & wall fan from him. Installation next week. You can see the various feedbacks people have given him.

Tomorrow, plasterer will continue. Not much updates on reno progress for this week. Next week will be more exciting with the kitchen cabinets to be set-up and parquet flooring to be polished. Followed by ceiling fan installation and finally the painting! Yeah! Thats all for now folks. More updates and pics next week.

The lights have all been installed. So far all downlights working fine. Only drawback I'm not happy with Lightings.com is that when I purchased the downlights, I specified to the lady serving that I wanted to use 13W single bulbs. I selected 1 style of downlight and she said can fit. Upon installation, the electrician informed me that 13W bulbs are too long for the size of the downlight diameter I had chosen. According to electrician, I should have chosen downlight with at least 5-6" diameter. With a smaller diameter, he still can install the bulb. Problem only arises when I want to remove the bulb and change to new one. This is problem because the downlight bulbs are not those vertical types but the horizontal insert. In order to accommodate a 13W bulb, he will need to shift the horizontal light holder quite far back into the lighting. Meaning... when I want to change bulbs, my finger need to stretch all the way horizontally.... back into the downlight, feel for the light holder and dislodge the bulb. To put new bulb, I would have to again stretch my fingers all the way in with new bulbs, then without seeing, I need to feel for the right position to slot in the bulb. *aarrgghh*. To rectify this problem, I had to switch to 10W bulbs which are shorter than 13W bulbs. Because with shorter bulbs, the electrician does not need to shift the light holder back. Can leave it nearer to the side opening. So I can see the light holder easily and change the bulbs by seeing rather than thru feeling. Hengz, these downlights are for the bedrooms and thus the decrease in wattage is not so bad cos we have bedside lamps for reading. Imagine if the downlights were meant for living areas - disaster!

Kitchen floor tiles are upz...!!! Much better than the horrid grey tiles I had before. Now my kitchen looks so much brighter than b4. The tiler's workmanship is great too. Notice how the grout lines of the tiles at the wash area lines up nicely with the floor tiles of the kitchen? He has even lined up the floor tiles to fall in synch with existing wall tiles. Love it!!

I must say that I like my main contractor. Although mine is a very small job - only worth $4K+ compared to others where he bills more than $20K... he still takes my renovation job seriously. Today marks day 3 of the renovation and he has been here every morning when work starts. He ensures that all the sub-workers knows what they are supposed to do, leaving clear instructions and then making sure things are progressing well before leaving for the day. When unexpected things cropped up - like the MIA skirting and ugly cement walls upon dismantling of the cupboards, he was quick to ensure that extra works will be carried out - although at extra costs. When there were such extra works to be done, he emailed me a quotation for extra works at night. The next day, he will bring over the quotation, explain line by line the items he is charging me for. Makes sure I understand first before endorsing on the quotation. I appreciate this as it helps me know in advance what I am being charged for and aids me in my budget and planning works. Also good to have everything down in black & white. Will prevent disputes from arising.

DAY 2 and 3: Plastering of walls and tiling works. Don't understand why apartments these days like to come with funny walls. Decided to box-up the 'holes' in 2nd bedroom and master bedroom with gypsum board to level it out. Will be easier to shift furniture around if I fancy a change of furniture orientation in future. Not to mention maximisation of space.

Yah... after I bot my Teka sink than I realised a porcelain sink will look much nicer. But since I bot the sink as part of the Kitchen package, I decided to leave it be instead of changing to other items. Anyway, hubs prefer stainless steel sink cos of all the peranakan cooking we do. He scared porcelain sink will becom stained with all the tumeric, yellow ginger and curry paste.

Hhaaa... actually when I shifted in, did very minor renovations only like painting, changing downlights and bedroom doors. We used back the kitchens and build-in cabinets that came with the condo unit. Btw, I'm the 2nd owner. 1st owner had rented out the place for about 4+years before I bot over. After saving for 3-years, finally got enough $$$ for some upgrading works'. Paiseh... did not take much "BEFORE" pics other than the ones I have already uploaded.

Wardrobes for my 3 princesses. To prevent fights and messes that were plentiful with the previous sharing of 1 miserable build-in wardrobe, they will now each have their own 2-door kids wardrobe. Major organisation skills required when it comes to kids clothes, toys and all the knick-knacks they accumulate thru the years. With limited wardrobe space, mommy (that is me) will be forced to spring-clean their cupboards consistently.

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Looking to get wardrobes from Ikea. I know some people dun like Ikea stuffs. But I've never had major issues with the cabinets I have purchased from them. Many in my house are already 3+ years and still going strong. Even with the 'abuse' the poor cabinets go thru with 3 kids slamming on the drawers. Anyway, I also like the option of changin my furniture 5-years down the road for a more updated feel. Another good thing about Ikea cupboards (besides being affordable and having 10-years warranty) is that I can straightaway see and opt for the designs most suited for our life-style needs.

Removing the master bedroom build-in cabinets.... Hub and me need separate wardrobe spaces. Going to get a 2-door wardrobe for him and 3-door wardrobe for me. *hiaks-hiak*

DAY 1: Demolishment works.. Now for the bedrooms - removing the build-in cabinets. Notice the "X" written on the cupboards? That's how my contractor indicates to his workers which wardrobes to remove. Now you see it.... Now you don't.... Aaarrgghh..... the wall behind the build-in cabinet is not smooth. And the wood skirting is MIA!! Think the condo builders have cut short my materials. Now I gotta spend more $$$ to plaster the walls and get new skrting up. Sigh.... :curse: But at least the parquet flooring still have.