lawry

There's a t/c to it, returns can be done only if it's within 100 days, in original resellable packaging if you're returning a regret purchase, or if returning a lousy items who failed it's purpose, and must have receipt also. But it can always be a housewarming gift. :x I'm quite sure that guy will tell you the same thing before he gives you the cash voucher unwillingly. Hahha, I would want to stay off all their stainless steel items forever. Once bitten twice shy, I got bitten twice. After my stint with rusty toilet accessories. I decide to give them another chance many months later. I bought a set of cooking pots, thinking that if it's used for cooking, it shouldn't rust and they should have used better grade stainless steel like 18/10. I was wrong .. I used it once to cook maggie mee, and the insides tarnished, 2 more uses, and I think I can throw it away. I didn't wait, after 1 use, I returned it. Even though it's $14.90 and my transport would have taken half the cost, I still want to return it. Again that guy said, first complain. I told him flat, "people are using them as disposables, it's not worth their while to come all the way down to claim $14.90 off a bad purchase." I bought myself a proper WMF stainless steel pot after that, so far so good. Photos of the IKEA pot (after one use) It's not a stain, I can't seem to wash it off, it just discolored and tarnished after one use.

My toilet bowl is dual flush leh, but seems like doesn't make any difference regardless either button I press, both clear the whole cistern of water leh?

@roamca Do you mind if I ask how much it cost and $COV? Can PM me. My old place was right next to the MRT also, 5 mins away, but prices back then wasn't so expensive. Terrazzo is nice in a way, but a bit old fashion, I can understand your hubby's concern. Since renovating, might as well do it once and for all at one go, rather than have regrets later.

Nostalgia! My old place has exactly the same layout, the same terrazo flooring, the same tiles at the kitchen entrance as well. Haha.

Do name the company here and let people know of such unfair practice. Keep your receipt well, ask them nicely again for the refund, let them know you are aware of a 3 day cooling period for any contract (yokine9a, I'm not sure if it's 3 or 7). if they refuse to heed, tell them you will be making a claim via Small Claim Tribunal.

This refers to buying a resale condo and buyers have no intentions to renovate anything at all? If it's resale HDB, most people would have changed almost everything, especially wiring, and a fresh coat of paint.

I have several items from the grundtal series, so far still ok. *cross fingers* As for the rest of the rusty stainless steel ikea stuff, I took them all back for a refund. The guy at the refund counter of ikea alexandra passed condescending remarks like, "this is the first complaint". Unless I am the only buyer, or else how can something like this be isolated? If not, most people threw them away not knowing that they are entitled to a refund. I'm away most of the time, this set of bathroom accessories SEMVIK ($29) from IKEA was in my MBR toilet, hardly used or even wet. Once I came back, and I realised the handsoap looks and smells funny, the liquid was blackish and it smell like rust. Imagine my horror when I open up the soap dispenser, it's rusting within. I took a closer look at the toothbrush holder, the cup and the soap bar holder, all of them in various state of rusting... I called them up over the phone on this and I was told that I "lack maintenance", "stainless steel also must maintain". But I can return the item if I'm not satisfied with the purchase. Frankly, I don't really know how to keep stainless steel from rusting if it should even rust in the first place. Actually, should we have a separate thread on electrical appliances/home products which fail to live up to it's expectations? I have bought a good number of items here which I would seriously want to return for cash if possible. Within weeks and few months of use, it's stopped working. Of course, such reviews must come with photos and a brief description, at least it's not badmouthing if we have some sort of evidence our complaints. Just to name one or two, water filters from hyflux, novita aromadiffusers .. With a list like that, we can alert each other (the consumers) into making better decision when it comes to spending our money, on something that works, and avoid those which doesn't.

I love your color combination, very modern Japanese. White with wood color.

My old place was West/East facing, it can make the room quite hot at night after a day of baking, you might want to consider block out curtains and also need to on the aircon often. Depending on the time you get your place, sometimes even possible to get negative $COV when there's no demand. At my time, in late 07 to mid 08, people want $30 to $50k COV!! Madnesss, esp for first time buyers. Unless you downgrading/upgrading, then can still offset from the sales profit of your own unit. I use metal handspray, very heavy, regret, have to be careful, if I ever drop that and it hits the toilet bowl or tiles ..... that's it. Another thing about plastic handspray, you must switch off the mains after using also, if not the pressure of the water with cause the handspray to leak at the joints.

Your place looks like my previous unit. I'm surprised Weiken gives 3D computerised drawings, I didn't get any during my time, your ID's Justin Ong? (I hear of his name in this forum, under recommended, together with Lisa) Can't wait to see the transformation. But do keep an close watch on the carpentry workmanship, mine was a total wreak. I hope it's not the same batch of carpenters that you will be getting. Your lights are so nice!

Mine kitchen cabinet is $95/ft, but I don't really recommend mine (reasons all in my blog), I've seen $98/ft in this forum, perhaps you can look around. Are you just changing wall tiles for the toilet/kitchen? How about floor tiles, it's not mentioned in your quote

Haha, my parents had the same mentality. That's why when they choose house, they were looking for nice windows, nice flooring, nice doors. (as if buying a condo), they found one in that's within their acceptable requirement, just need to refurbish it a bit, though it still looks a bit dated, and I need to spend on some carpentry before I can move in. But the owner was demanding a $30k COV for a $300k west facing unit. The living room and 2 bedrooms are getting a full blast. I had my reservations to settle for that. Lucky before they could decide, I found another unit around the same area, the inside conditions were quite terok, no qualms about hacking it all off and replace with new ones. Price was less than $5k COV, good direction, cheaper valuation ($293k) somemore. I have used all that COV $$ I saved for overhaul renovation. hehe. Conclusion, find an unit that's as messy as possible, one which you will just bomb up and redo. haha.

Totally agree with 7 & 12. 7) Mine was IKEA blinds, it's nonsense. The white has yellow spots growing all over it. The mechanism was a bit stuck, can't pull up and down. But I have monsoon windows, so I thought blinds might be a better option. It was much cheaper compared to tailor made curtains, so I bought those, but regret. I might have to change them or paint over them... 12) Same here, my heater is Amasco I think. Initially, it takes a while to warm up, after I turn off the water to soap myself and turn it on again. I got scalded by the super hot water, there seem to be a small storage tank within where the hot water is reheated and kept ... then slowly it goes back to normal. And that was at the lowest setting.

Wow, I like your choice of tiles! Esp the resort bathrooms. I wanted to create that feel, but it turned out to be something else. haha.

Frankly, apart from the first 2, I've not heard of the rest ... Maybe it's because I've only shopped for IDs in IMM.

I used white glossy laminates, so far still white. As for the insides of the cabinets, try to see if you can get grey or black instead of the common white. REGRETS ---------- 1. Anything -stainless steel- from IKEA, they either tarnished or rusted! I can provide you with all the photos if needed. 2. Fountain tap, it's a hassle to keep it clean and shiny all the time, too much surface area. But if you're diligent in keeping it clean, that's fine. 3. Sink with an attached dustbin compartment, unless the dustbin area is rubber sealed tight, if not please don't get, water will seep through the gaps. 4. Tell your ID you are getting your own switches and door knobs/lever handles, minus off the cost of those from the quote. If not, they must let you choose, they don't suka suka install some cheap ugly ones for you. For switches, you can buy nice clipsal ones at wholesale prices at Choo Chiang (Veerasamy Road) 5. Open concept walk in wardrobe, this can be a nightmare for maintenance. I didn't do this, but some of my friends did, it was right outside their toilet, moisture attack, dust attack. I had my close door walk in wardrobe outside my toilet also. Some of my things turn mouldy. One tub of hungry hippo once a week is not economical. 6. Window grills, largely redundant, it restricts your view. Unless it's facing corridor, then it's needed for security purposes. 7. Some so-called energy saving ceiling lamps, uses 2 tubes of 36W each. If you have 2 of such lights, it's 144W if you switch both them on at the same time. Even switching on 1 is 72W. Hmm? 8. I'll add on if I can think of more. Lastly, get a proper ID/Contractor with good workmanship, that's one regret you can't afford to have.

My main lamp in my room is 16W (warm light, energy saving) My reading lamp is 5W or 8W max (warm light, energy saving) Also within a lamp shade/glass, but seems quite bright for me already.

@Sean4U. You were right in a way, it's already done up (screwed up) and paid for, no point crying over spilled milk, knowing how and why doesn't change a thing (for me). I might be wrong, but I got the impression from your opening entry that you are here out of goodwill, to provide help and advice for those in doubt. The question I posted, I didn't ask that solely for myself, it's for the benefit of everyone reading this page, esp newbies looking for reno insider's information. Your insider's reveal will help other potential victims to avoid going thru the same misfortune, if they know what to expect and what they should be getting for what they will be paying. By being open and transparent with your answers, I'm sure there will be people who appreciate that honesty and selflessness from you, hence giving you business in return.

This logo is erm... looks like fuicir fwicir fuuicir

hihihi, hahah, I thought it was funny back then, but not anymore. I'm now blogging my renovation experience, highlighting all the defects, seeing it in consolidation makes my blood boil already. hah. You can read about it in my blog link below.

I got them all for free, and I'm grateful for that. But then some alignment grossly out, but it's free, so I guess I don't have rights to complain? But the nonchalance and professionalism (lack of) shows, and it goes down in history. A picture evidence, the tiles are fine, my paper's standard A4. So the problem lies with ?

Hmm, pardon my ignorance, does energy saving lights come in 60W? The max I see is 23W (philips) which is equivalent to the brightness of a 125W normal bulb. 25+25+60W is VERY BRIGHT for one room, if it's 1 switch on all 3. I'm not sure if dimmable ones are more expensive, but you can also consider getting lower wattage replacements in future.

Thanks in advance Sean, your honest and unbiased point of view as someone from the industry would be helpful to most people here. I do have a nagging question.. Are most carpentry items generally “rip offs” with the highest profit? Let’s take feature wall with TV console as an example. What I wanted was some basic 6 feet feature wall with TV console, but they are charged separately, Feature Wall $180/ft TV console $120/ft A flat piece of wood against the wall and a plank across that board, that’s what it is, some come with drawers, with shelves and what nots, some don’t. I was persuaded (mislead) into adding another foot so that it looks better as my hall is lengthy. Technically speaking, it’s just an extra foot of wood, laminates and some nails. A good $300 went out, but what I got back was rubbish. Proportions of the original design went off, there wasn’t an equal distribution to the design as the extras were just added to the right end of it. I can’t believe I paid $1800+$300 extension for that crap. Also, the materials I chose were plain laminates, no glass, no metal strips, no mirrors. In another instance, someone chose all these more expensive materials, but it still costs the same? So, carpentry charges, is it a true reflection of the costs involved in making the item itself at all? Or it just happened to a random figure given out, where the gains from it can be used to offset any other losses for some lower margin profit items? I'm sure quite a few of us will be interested to know this industry pricing mystery.

I just received a photo from my friend via email. A picture of his toilet cabinet. body material thickness is 16mm, while door thickness is 18mm, using frosted abs trimmings. What's yours like?

Have you been shortchanged by your contractor too? Some mindbogging questions flooded my mind after some house warming visits over the past few months. Just wondering if it's an industry (ugly) standard or just another 偷工减料 cut cost measure. Guys, I need some help with some carpentry dimensions, particular thickness of materials. I've drawn a picture here of a generic carpentry furniture, a cabinet with a table top (wood) and a door. I need some specific information on the dimensions. Could you help me with the thickness of your door (B) and tabletop ©? Thanks for your help. PS. I've seen several carpentry at a few of my friends' new places and most of them have thicker material for doors (18mm), tabletops (20 to 25mm) and drawer fronts (18mm). But what I was given were at 16mm doors and 16mm table tops, looking flimsy. Some photos here, a simple $69 IKEA bedside table. notice the difference in the thickness of the body, the drawer front and the table top? Can you imagine how ugly it can look like if they are all of the same thickness? Esp the tabletop? Here, a picture of a $300 tailored made carpentry, better wood, nicer laminates, can't say the same for workmanship compared to IKEA's mass produced from factories. Same thickness for the table top, body and drawer front? All 16mm thick.