SoFrustrated

Hi all, Thanks for all the help and comments. My contractor just called us that he will resume the work and ensure the quality of the work moving forward. In fact, we just learned from him that he had been continuing the work all along even during the so-called 'stop-work' period. I am puzzled by him... but anyway, glad to know things are back on track.

Agreed. My ceiling is indeed slanted. A good ID will do site visit and decide the best approach to take. Using leveling is a brainless approach and is taught in school but is not practical. I have done a lot of research through various posts as well as consulted experts. The reply are all the same. It is the ID responsibility to ensure the end effect is presentable. Some ID made the right decision at first attempt, some others rectified it by referencing the ceiling and beam. When aircon is involved, adjusting the aircon rectified it. My main concern is the Covelight. Firstly, the way it is done is wrong. If the implementation approach is correct, it will never have this problem. Secondly, is the completed work acceptable?

Agreed. My ceiling is indeed slanted. A good ID will do site visit and decide the best approach to take. Using leveling is a brainless approach and is taught in school but is not practical. I have done a lot of research through various posts as well as consulted experts. The reply are all the same. It is the ID responsibility to ensure the end effect is presentable. Some ID made the right decision at first attempt, some others rectified it by referencing the ceiling and beam. When aircon is involved, adjusting the aircon rectified it. My main concern is the Covelight. Firstly, the way it is done is wrong. The correct way will never have this problem. Secondly, is the completed work acceptable?

I don't think the price I paid is cheap leh. I was charged $1580 just for the L-box and Cove light in the living/dining area. Is it cheap? I saw some people's quote is $8 to $9 per feet run. In fact, the overall package price given by the contractor is at mid-range among 8 ID firms we have consulted. There are a few which were cheaper than his. The only reason we handed our house to him was his good reputation in renotalk and he appeared to be a really sincere and trustworthy guy before the reno start.

Hi All, I need all of your advice urgently! I am now half way through my renovations. After met with 8 reno ID firms, we finally decided on a contractor who became very popular on renotalks in recent one year. He appeared to be very nice, sincere and kind before we signed on the dotted line. Based on the good feedbacks from earlier t-blogs about him, we entrusted him and handed our reno to him. After the reno started, there were hiccups as in every reno. We go down to our house almost every day not only because we have a tight schedule to meet but also because he seldom goes down. Whenever we found any problem and call him, his attitude was not that good at all and he often raised his voice at us. Sometimes, I seriously doubt that I am dealing with the recommended person by earlier bloggers. When I told him how I feel and told him I don't think he is as responsible as before, he admitted and said he is quite stressful and busy because now he needs to meet many new customers daily for quotations. I will cut the story short, for now. The issue now is with the L-Box/Cove Light. First, L-Box/Cove Light was slanted as follows: We told him but he refused to do anything citing our ceiling is slanted. However, other ID provides solution such as re-alighting it and boxing up other referencing beams to alight to it. Next, the L-Box/Cove Light was supposed to be 7ft, however, They only made it 6.5 ft. My husband found this out. The contractor solution was to patch it by extending another metal out. After it was extended, my husband climbed up to take a look. The following is the picture: My husband asked about that and the worker told us that that is the way it is done. At first, we were so concerned that there might be cockroaches or lizards that would make nest there, worst, what if lizards died there? The pungent would be horrible! We then started asking whomever we met, light shops, other contractors, etc. on the solution to the cockroaches and lizards, but to our horror, 100% of those we asked told us this is not the way to do L-Box/Cove Light! They also commented that they have never seen L-Box/Cove Light done in this way! They even explained to us step-by-step on how L-Box/Cove Light is done, no such problem will even occur if it is done the professional and easier way! We sent him the image and asked for his comment, no reply. After chasing him, he replied saying that he will cut off the metal and seal off the holes. But how can that be done? That small platform was created with an extension, cutting it off is dangerous. He told us to trust him, and that if it drops within a year, he will patch it again. Oh my God, if it really falls, I can’t image the damages. And one year? Who do a reno to just live in it for one year? Who will put such a time bomb at own house? We told him he need to redo that part, but he refused citing that that is his way of doing it, any redo will be the same and suggested us to get our own contractor to do that part while he deduct the L-Box/Cove Light charge from our bill. We agreed, but now he turned back on his words, saying that he will only do touch up of the L-Box/Cove Light and demanded us to pay him the payment for the install cabinet milestone. We have scraped the idea of L-Box/Cove Light and counter proposed him that we will pay 50% of all the carpentry and after he removed the existing L-Box/Cove Light, (which he can complete in 1-2 days), we will top up the difference to 40%. However, he refused and demanded us to pay the full 40% first; otherwise, he will stop all the works from now on. Should we pay him and pray hard he will keep his words and do a good job or should we consider changing another contractor?