yoongf

If the current structure is a semi D and the plot is big enough to be a detached, my preference will be to keep it as a semi D but physically build a detached. Semi D regulation is looser, and the 2m gap between the new detached structure and the party wall, u can consider putting a glass enclosure to look like a 3 floor high Green house. Similar to the restoraton of the old supreme court building / National Gallery Singapore

Familarise yourself with the URA Masterplan, especially the landed housing control plan. It will state whether your plot is zoned for 2 or 3 storeys. It could also be zoned 1.4 or 2.8, but those numbers are irrelevant if u are building a landed property. There is no GFA control for landed property. U are capped by the envelope control. So if u are really into huge GFA, feel free to dig a few more basement levels. For info... GFA for landed is only relevant if u are sub dividing the land. The difference between the poposed GFA and the baseline GFA will be the development charge payable.

Proposed additional gross floor area shall not exceed 50% of the approved gross floor area; External walls that are to be removed and replaced with new walls shall not exceed 50% of the approved external walls; Structural changes to the existing landed dwelling house (eg replacing or constructing new columns/beams and reconstructing existing floor slabs) shall not exceed 50% of existing building; Changes/replacement of entire roof (with/without resultant increase in height) shall not involve an additional storey; Where an attic is added, the increase in GFA shall be less than 50%.

Google for Yong Fong Autogate. Their website has video of their trackless bifold gate.

Build the pool after getting yr CSC. Just make sure yr design now does not have any services like sewer, or underground pipes in that area. Personally, i think pool is the biggest white elephant. Compromise is to provision for some removable decking over it so area can dual use.

Pool is consider ancillary structure and Cat 2 roads got requirement. Cant post link so... Google for Ura semi-detached green buffer

https://www.ura.gov.sg/Corporate/Guidelines/Circulars/dc19-08

If purchase price is 2.7mil, and construction is 500k, total is 3.2mil. But if valuation of new similar hse in that area is 3mil, and loan is capped at 75%, the max loan u can get is 2.25mil. U might get 80% of the land purchase price, 2.16mil but that means loan for construction is capped at 90k, ie.. 18%.

Have u tried finance companies like hong leong finance or sing investment? anyway diff banks hv different methods of GDV valuation. See can ask what the bank want to see that can increase the GDV. Maybe a basement or a pool etc.

The bank is saying that they are willing to loan up to 75% of Gross Development Value (GDV). The bank is hinting to you that your construction budget is on the high side. If u take a normal property mortgage, u are not suppose to tear the building down without their consent. Based on your requirements, you might want to start off with a very basic construction budget and pile on the bling bling stuff after construction starts. This is risky but its a viable Plan B

Intermediate terr hse want to hv side openings abv neighbour roofline?

An OG box is just a T joint to tap power off the existing power grid cable underground. There is no transformer inside. If the neighbourhood OG box is all fully used up, powergrid will put up another OG box at their discretion.

Hmm.. TS... u mention abt budget constraints. What is your budget for these A&A works? if talking abt micro piling, just to get a few hundred sqft.. will be costly. If hse built in late 80s onwards, the structure usually very strong already.

Opps, just read the FAQ on used water. Last time can, now cannot. Furthermore, its reconstruction. Singlelandedpremisesrefertolandedpremisesorproposednewlandeddevelopments, which includes detached, semi-detached or terraced house/shop/factory on single or subdivided lots. If there are multiple lots within a site, each lot shall have individual and separate sanitary drain-line connection directly to the public sewer or public manhole within the road reserve. As above, new sewers that serve more than one lot (e.g. terrace houses) shall be constructed within the road reserve.

Why cant reuse existing sewer connection? if its a terr hse, there shd be an existing line running across the entire backyard of the whole row of terr house.

With regards to the BMSMA and LTSA, what is the perceived difference between FH and LH?

See explanation notes para 5 (ii) https://www.bca.gov.sg/BuildingPlan/others/csc01.doc

After the trip, we ordered 3 containers of tiles. But for the marble, after the local supplier heard abt our trip, they offered us a counter offer that was slightly more than the complete china price. They had excess stock from another big project and our timing was just right. A big advantage of using local supplier is that we take stock as and when tiles are installed. Alibaba suppliers are wholesale suppliers, selling by 20ft container vol. dry lay is an installer issue. Personally, i won’t use natural stones anymore. The latest homogeneous tiles look as real as natural stones and are much more scratch and acid stain resistant. Substantially cheaper too. Natural stones only look good with regular maintenance. Overtime, marble will look dull, which then requires polishing, maybe every 2years. Homogeneous tiles require zero maintenance. There are huge 800x800 or 1000x1000 tiles that can give that grander look that 600x600 marble tiles just cant replicate. All these “different perspectives” can be experienced at Ceramic City at Fosan. Bangkok has an annual architect expo around May. Another eye opener event.

For 600 sqft marble, not feasible. Marble requires local supplier to dry lay at their warehouse for confirmation. That process involves many swapping of tiles. Natural stones is a very personal relationship much like custom fitting a wedding gown. Opinions can differ greatly. Imagine u kiasu over order say 30% to make sure enuf buffer to get the perfect look, after project finish, hv to throw/give away the excess stock as qty not big enough for any new commercial jobs. In the end no savings. Making the trip is more of a learning trip rather than a pure cost saving exercise. I travelled a lot, but going to fosan was my most humbling experience. SG market is really an expensive peanut.

I have made 2 trips and if u hv interest in this topic, i strongly recomend everyone to make the trip to Ceramic City in Fosan. We brought tile samples from Sg to source for cheaper suppliers. They said our samples were low quality ones from 3-5yrs ago and no longer made. Probably ours were made in vietnam. Tiles were easily 30-50% cheaper, everything factored in. We thought we brought grade A marble sample there, but they said ours was lower than their grade B. And their grade A was still cheaper than our expected price. My experience is, china is leaps n bounds ahead of SG, and they are a lot more sincere than we perceive. Was really an eye opener. Eventually we ordered newer generation designs way beyond our expectations. take note.. shipments come in 20 foot container to site. To be cost effective, need to standby storage space n forklift to minimise high sg logistic costs. Everyone shd make the trip if can use up 26 tonnes of tiles

To make it truly cosy, hv to be bright and ventilated. Can consider a jack up roof. Similar to chinatown shophouses. Can google for the images chinatown shophouse. solar tubes will give a spotlight effect. Not really a cosy feeling. Skylight is bright but will be hot and UV rays will cause discolouration

Using diff roofing materials will look odd. Keep existing tile slope. Do a dormer roof over the extension area. Use same roofing materials. can google images dormer roof

Horizontal grilles allow kids to step on as a ladder and climb over. fall from height barriers require a “Barrier QP” to sign off as compliant to BCA regulations. I doubt any QP will sign off on this design these days. Building regulations these days are both “descriptive” and “prescriptive”. QP has to certify compliance. Some regulations are not clearly spelt out but covered under “descriptive” safe use.

Roof tiles are designed with a minimum slope angle to prevent wind from blowing water upslope. U mentioned reinstall roof tiles. The proposed new slope does look very gentle for roof tiles. Can google the topic roof tile minimum pitch

Most jobs are done this way. Licensed plumber is not the same as driving license. Licensed plumber is more like a QP. He is responsible for ensuring that plumbing works comply with regulations.