ucypmas

Very very big thanks for helping to check. I am thinking of Viewqwest because their fibre broadband is unconstrained, and I can pay a bit more to get the movies, with PPTV free via the VPN. Looks like it might still be Starhub for me then. The big move is next week. With a 9am start I hope its done by 3pm. We don't have much storage in our current house and as a result the existing "inventory" is pretty lean and straightforward so hopefully it will be ok. I don't think I will ever start a blog but I would add to your review that K is good - the journey is not 100% smooth sailing but he is very reachable, returns calls, and willing to follow up and act on owners request as long as he thinks it is reasonable. Anything he thinks is not doable he will say so without BS or dancing around the issue which I like a lot. The highlights are his tilers, carpentry team and painting team - these three I think are core to any good, long lasting renovation outcome and I think he has all three sorted pretty well. For pricing I have not seen the final invoice yet with VO but overall I don't think he is that expensive. There is a saying - "price is what you pay, value is what you get". Apologies to use your blog - but I think I'm close to retiring now for the 2nd time from this place.

Hi - please don't take offense I would like to say that the salesmen have been telling you nonsense. For those who go and view the Fujioh FX-900 and get this BS please ask them to dismantle three things for you to see 1) plastic oil trap tray (usually I will fill this with water as it makes it easier to wash after a few days of oil collection) 2) rectifier panel 3) internal metal filter None of the above items will need a screwdriver. When all 3 comes off you can wash all three with soapy liquid. 80-90% of the oil residue retained by the hood will be in these three traps. The fan is one piece of equipment where you will need a screwdriver to take off and wash, but I have not seen the need to clean it that way yet after nearly 2 years - and nearly daily cooking now. Usually a wet cloth wrapped around a finger can wipe off the dust and some of the grime sufficiently not for it to be an issue. Obviously this cannot beat the "convenience" of filter-based hoods where you just change the filter paper and be done with it (mostly). However you will still need to wash the three metal grid panels facing the hob - extent of oil lodged there will depend on type and length of usage. I have used a chimney-based hood with filter before and it looks nice, but that is about the extent of its utility, but again like what someone has said everyone has different needs and preferences. Please note I am not a Fujioh salesman - just sharing my experience and hopefully people will find it useful and make more informed decisions about what they buy.

U got the Fujioh hob why didn't you get the FX-900V as part of the typical hob/hood package? Standalone FX900V is typically <400 delivered. We heavily cook virtually everyday and the oily fumes retention performance is superb. Only thing is it cannot really retain the smell but I have not heard of any in the market could do so effectively. Suction is not all that matters. A good hood needs proper catchment (i.e. wide enough to catch the fumes generated by the cooking) and well designed internal airflow that will slow the fumes passing through the hood sufficiently so that the oil particles will get trapped either in trays or filters, and then exit through the end without too much interference. Filter-based hoods typically require very powerful airflow rating because of the obstruction (i.e. the filters). Fujioh ones does not have filter but they have a so-called rectifier panel that draws in the exhaust air from all around the hob, and then slows it down internally to trap the grease before the fan pumps the exhaust out at the top. As for the burners - you get an additional small burner because there are times you may want to use just a small flame to cook something - e.g. baby porridge in claypot, instant noodles etc, warm up a small portion of soup etc, and where even the small flame on large burner would end up nuking it. This is for the information of others who are considering the same thing. Only thing is cost / and space constraint on your countertop as some homes have very limited working space and need to save every inch they could.

Thanks. Will be good if you help check out your Viewqwest TV for those channels. My reno is nearly done now - washing/cleaning by Mr K on Thursday and handover end of this week. Monday will be installation of curtains and arrival of a number of items - TV, fridge, bedframe, study chair etc and followed by the big move on Wednesday.

Hi there - could you get national geographic content on VQ TV? I'm thinking of signing up with them instead of the legacy companies but one of the main reason is to get national geographic / animal planet for the kids to watch occasionally when they clamour for the idiot box. Btw when you got Mr K back to drill the extra holes - did you tell him in advance you might need him to do this? Kind of paiseh to ask him again to come in for various things after the house is handover esp those not in original scope of work.

Hi - fantastic and thanks for sharing. The cages with the thick metal wires which are hanging from the balcony, (not the wire mesh), where did you buy them? Or did you make them as well?

Weekends he is usually booked out. If you do normal weekdays (not mornings before lunch because that is the time he visits his projects) - much better chance. Just my two cents.

Sorry if the post come across somewhat strong. No offence intended on my part. Cheers.

Not defending Song Cho, but I don't think this is true. Past posting where someone actually said something that made sense... but this is does not give a complete picture, which I will elaborate on a little more Most shiny bathroom products have chrome plated onto them. This is different from alloying. The chrome plating offers a certain finish and protection from oxidation, but if exposed to moisture and rough usage, will wear easily and the steel underneath will then start to have some corrosion. Stainless steel on the other hand contains chromium and nickel, alloyed into the steel mixture. 18-8 often refers to the chromium and nickel present in the steel alloy that makes up what we call stainless steel. There is a grade where the chromium and nickel is present in 18%/8% ratios - this is like a reference grade upon which most stainless steel products are based. Song Cho uses the 18-8 as a marketing device, but basically their products are made of stainless steel alloys. The chromium functions to form an oxide (protective layer) over the material, which resists corrosion. Other alloying materials are also added to produce different grades of stainless steel, for different applications. For example, the HDB/household pipes often use 304-stainless steel pipes. You can read this from the lettering printed on the piping. Pharmaceutical and industry uses 316-series pipes, which are resistant to chemical-based corrosion, or instances where there are chlorides (acid) / or saltwater. There are people in this same forum who will insist on using 316 for their house - maybe they live 20m under the sea, and scream when the plumber charge them 2x the cost of materials. The Song Cho sales executive could be a numpty, who has zero product understanding and is talking garbage. Repeating it here does not make it the truth. One can listen, but always be discerning.

This was one of the reasons why I picked him over other IDs / contractors in my selection list. My electrical list is something like - full rewiring - 61 downlights - multiple cove lights in all bedrooms, living and dining - 6 light points - toilets, kitchen, yard - 25 units of 2x sockets - 5 LAN points - 5 ceiling fans - air con This is something like 8k+ in most other per unit price list. His is .... well lower. The house is now as well-lit as a newly built supermarket at night, as the missus wishes. In fact, it is blinding. He actually came in lower than most designers i approached. For the benefit of those who are reading and keep asking for his quote, this is how he stands... quotes are gathered based on a standard request list. Indexation 100% = K's quote Contractor A - 90% ID A - 98% Mr K - 100% ID B - 155% ID C - 185% Everyone else did not quote electricals - most gave a per unit price list. The benchmark excludes electrical for K as well, who gave lump sum. I also benchmarked my quotes for their pfrs for measurable items Example standard pfr for master room wardrobe Indexation 100% = K's quote Contractor A - 100% Mr K - 100% ID A - 105% ID B - 175% ID C - 200% I'm sure some will argue there are differences in "quality", but I don't think I need to pay for ID to spend time shopping with me. Please do not PM me for his quote. Use the contact here and get it from him yourself. As for paperwork, he is no good with English. He tells me stories of people who call him and grill him about what is in his quote. Like what does his two liners include - no of drawers, type of laminates etc etc etc. So please cut him some slack.

Yes. Mine was a rather major piece of work - 5-rm resale full reno. We started in early July - and is now about 2-3 weeks from finishing. The dirty stuff is over now. The house got cleaned and the marble floor polished yesterday - today or tomorrow the carpentry should start installation. End of next week will probably finish and then painting / doors / touchup / here and there work. Moving in mid-Sep. One thing about K's houses is that he does not waste any time - I actually go to my house nearly everyday (98% of the time) sans Sundays and there are things done every time you go up. I would not say that my renovation is completely fuss-free - but more often than not it is due to us (owners) not being that clear and some rework here and there is needed. I personally think his pricing is rather fair. However i think most people who come here are somewhat unrealistic in their expectations and wants a cheap and super contractor who will do whatever they want, very quicly at the lowest price. K belong to the fast and good, but not that cheap category. Anyway enjoy your house - it looks good!

This is the elevated base for your bottom kitchen cabinets. You either have a choice to suspend the cabinets, or to do it this way if you want the thing to sit on the floor. The base allows you to wash the floor without it wetting the wooden cabinets.

Hi That's a very fair review of him. I think he is trying to complete jobs as they come so that he can shuffle his teams to new projects, and he mentioned to me sometimes the carpentry factory can get a bit busy with various jobs (including non-renovation jobs - those from the bigger housing projects) so he tries to get things moving so as not to be hit by traffic jams when you want him to move. You must be the homeowner he said is taking 4 months to complete. Haa haa...

Don't think that people here are tao for not replying you but it is in his signature...

Hi who did you pick for the reno in the end? Did you get K to do the job or someone else? If you have time you could ask the ones in your final shortlist to show you one or two houses they did / in progress so you could see what its like. The older resale works they do would be more indicative of their ability as those jobs are generally bigger and have more tiling work and other "repair" that you could see.