babyQ

THANK YOU for sharing this. i am glad i insist on my contractor to do the chemical wash BEFORE i start my platform carpentry works. he kept insisting me to do platform first but not lay laminate, then he will do acid wash. but my flooring contractor advised me otherwise, so i am glad i listened. thanks to renotalk.com i don't become fried fish or chopped carrot more than one time with this #)(%& contractor.

thanks for sharing redbottle! i just want to update on this TILE situation of mine. i went back to S*H to buy another 10 pieces of the tile today coz the old kitchen floor tiles had to be hacked to replace the sliding door. rather than find a colour to match (quite impossible since the tiles are 13 years old) i decided to go with the same colour of the tiles i had bought earlier on for contrast as it is also used for my foyer area. this comes the FUN part. guess what was given to me at the store today.... 10 pieces of the REAL HOMOGENEOUS B305 tile this time! how do i know?? thanks to RENOTALK.COM! after everyone's input, i know now what homo tile looks like and how the backing/colour etc should be like. the tiles are in my carboot, i didn't bring down so can't take pix. but trust me, it is the real McCoy and not the ceramic tiles delivered to me which my con said "all the same one". i want to ask a question now... who has cheated here. my contractor or S*H? i paid for HOMO tiles. i was given CERAMIC tiles. the con had tried to stop me from going down to buy the 10 pieces of tiles myself, he said S*H can deliver FOC. but i wanted to return 12 sheets of mosaic (dunno why they ordered so much, 1 box has 13 sheets, i keep spares, still have 12 sheets!) but i said it's ok, coz on the way coz i have to go to IMM. now i see the picture so CLEAR! there are a few assumptions here but if indeed what we are assuming is true (cheating) what are my rights as a homeowner and customer? i already know they are getting 30% discount (which S*H refuses to give homeowners who buy direct) and though it was verbally agreed that he will give me the discounted rate when he bills me, i am not even sure i still want to pay him. i mean i paid for homo tiles but what was delivered was ceramic. but what i pick up today is the REAL homo tiles! do i make sense??? can anyone please?

i want to update anyone following this thread about what my fabulous *hack* contractor said about the piping cost after i emailed him and said his $220 was ridiculous. "sorry sorry, wo3 kan4 zhuo4" translation: "Sorry Sorry, i saw wrongly" HAHAHA. deserve to or not? CANNOT MAKE IT! so the $220 is reduced to $80 (thanks to everyone who shed light on this for me, especially Applefreak!) and the kitchen tap was already installed when i went to inspect this morning BUT it was shaky! i call him and tell him uninstall can? the shop i bought from will do it for me FOC! he said cannot, labour already put in, the plumber will still charge him, and will reinstall for me make sure not shaky. so reduce to $60. i let it be, really can't be bothered with him anymore. worse thing is dunno which worker poured some sand/whatever into my newly installed WC yesterday. must be the cornice/plaster/paint workers (i chopped the painting works coz the subcon boss gave me all sorts of crap not to use my chosen Medifresh 3-in-1 when we have already topped up for it) i tell the main con - u guarantee u can clean it off or else u give me a new WC. really with him!

already! finish existing works say bye bye! i also he take us for fools... xie xie ni! i know what to do now. thanks, really appreciate you take time to share with me!

thanks thanks! i saw your room and sister's room wall colours - exactly the two colours i had in mind! looks good to me. will stay put with Medifresh! thanks applefreak!

heehee... this reno forum teach you a lot of things that your contractor wish you won't know about!! different paints cost different prices. take a look at this price list. home owner will be asked to top-up for the more expensive paints. in my case, i have topped up but the painting subcon tries to be funny. but in a way, now i am thankful to him for being so ! since we know he is all out to cheat, realizing this early is good for us!

now i understand! thanks for telling me this applefreak. difficult to paint means more work for them! *light bulb on* can i check with you are your walls very "glossy" when the lights are turned on?

thanks for sharing applefreak! i will tell the contractor his $220 is asking for the sky. he had given me $200 discount off total bill. i think he is just trying to add back the $200 in some ways now coz i have chopped off a lot of things from the final works. for installing kitchen sink TAP only (cannot remove the sink), is it difficult to do? don't want to pay him $80 to install a less than $80 sink tap!

i did go round Genova building a few times, there was no where to park! i called them, they told me their WC range from $130 - $800. this contractor is getting :fire: i have cut all carpentry and everything else i can cut, i cut. question bro MaCe, the $220 for the hot/cold pipe for basin in MBR Toilet - not justifiable right? all the pipes being run in two toilets for $450, just one extra hot pipe for one basin cannot be $220?? anyone with plumbing experience can help me out here? what is a reasonable quote for that additional hot pipe? pleeeease? thanks for sharing gendon! all info appreciated coz i know i'm being ripped off by my contractor coz i'm cutting out a lot of other things so he's probably trying to squeeze me any where else he can! anyone can pleeeease? what is a reasonable amount for running ONE extra hot pipe to the MBR toilet basin? $220 just doesn't sound right. any suggestions appreciated.... thank you!

hi all, i posted about my "expensive" toilet plumbing before. this is the plumbing breakdown: Plumbing works To run new copper pipe at both toilet $450.00 To run hot and cold pipe for kitchen toilet(storage heater) $220.00 To supply labour to install kitchen toilet storage heater $80.00 To supply labour to install instant heater at masterbed room toilet $60.00 To supply labour to install 2 nos. of toilet bowl. $180.00 To supply labour to install 2 nos. of wash basin & Tap. $160.00 Labour to install Qty:02 set toilet accessories $120.00 Total $1,270.00 now my dear contractor added two more items: To supply labour to install kitchen sink $80.00 To supply and run hot/cold pipe for master toilet basin $220.00 i want to faint! my kitchen tap costs less than $80 and he wants to charge me $80 for changing it for me! what is the market rate? i can don't ask him to install right? and my master toilet basin, originally supposed to be cold tap only but i had a tap mixer so ask him to run hot/cold. and i get slapped with $220? i am not well-versed in plumbing quotations but i can't help but feel it is a rip off! the job is done then he quote the $220. what is a reasonable amount charged by plumbers for this. i don't need the lowest price but average? no more jobs for this contractor. appreciate any input, many thanks!

wah.. your calculation very chun! i dunno how to calculate, but this is what i have, already installed trunking, cannot change. Mitsubishi Starmex System 4 Inverter R410A Model: MXY-4A28VA/ MSXY-GA10VA x 3 MSXY-GA26VA x 1 - this is the one for the big living/dining BTU/HR: 26,000 i didn't know can have another outdoor unit outside other bedroom windows! otherwise i could have gone Sys 2 + 3. discover this forum only as i embark on reno, so a lot of things already decided.

haahaa... i commiserate with you! coz my main contractor also give attitude to my aircon contractor which i engage directly! they don't earn from us, you don't expect them to go the extra mile lor. now i fed up with him for screwing up with the painting contractor. thankfully, my aircon contractor do everything nice nice for me after he know i study the singaporeairconblog! !! hope your reno progress speeds up soon! very swee! possible to share the dimensions and how much you paid for it? gam xia!

obviously it is a cost issue. i also believe my main contractor squeeze the paint contractor eventhough i already top up for what i request for. !! now i get Selfix Nippon package $1500 + $500 for sealer but at least i know i will get exactly what i pay for and no mixing paints/add water/don't give sealer. enough of dishonest contractors!

i have decided to the painting contractor. he will just do partition and box-up, finish, bye bye! i will rather pay more and go to Selfix or Homefix and enage the painting professionals to do my job. don't want to have to see my walls everytime and remember his "threats" that Medifresh 3-in-1 bla bla bla. like that Nippon Medifresh paint in big trouble liao! still about it but i am glad i can nip the problem before i let him climb over us. COST issue say cost issue. now i am superbly pissed with my main contractor for not delivering, must be he squeeze the painting contractor too much so even though we top up for what we request, painting contractor still don't make enough?? going to make him compensate in other ways. can anyone please advise me costs for this layout: this contractor say i got 4 bedrooms so my 5I is considered 6 room flat?

hi all, hope i can get some advice on this... Painting works for my 5I flat 128 sq m is quoted by my contractor. i have already topped up for 3-in-1 Medifresh and sealer. Main contractor subcon this job to this Uncle who is doing partition board + cornice (we hate it, but no choice coz got water pipes all over!) + painting. Right from Day 1, i have specified I only want 3-in-1 Medifresh (paint code 3000 series) with 5170 Oil Sealer as we had been cheated on painting before when we first moved in. Today, I spend 2+hours confirming paint codes and stuff with the Uncle. 3 hours later, my contractor calls me and says it is better to choose the 6000 series paint "not because of costs but for easier maintenance" B*LL. I call Nippon, I get my answer right away - the cost IS different. And i have been reading all the painting websites and i know Nippon Medifresh 3-in-1 is LOW SHEEN. But both contractors insist it is high gloss and i will have problems when doing touch up, bla bla next time. Come on, once painted, how often you go touch the paint again! I am really upset with them! If they cannot deliver what is promised, I should just give the painting job to another contractor right? What would you do in my position?

hi KST, i am not well-versed in this, but wanted to share that i am using the same Outdoor Sys 4A28VA and 3 xGA10VA units for my layout. my 5I-128 sqm floorplan looks like this: i left Bedroom 3 out as we mainly use it as a storeroom (no more storeroom it was hacked away by previous owner) and helper room so no need aircon. the aircon contractor did say it is a good thing i did not want to install aircon for Bedroom 3 as there won't be a system with sufficient capacity. now i see your plans, it makes sense coz the area to cover is too big. i am wondering now if the single 10VA unit will be sufficient for my Balcony which will be part of our Living/Dining area. curious to know where will you place your second outdoor unit? thanks!

yep, fingers crossed!! !!

i shared cost of my two toilets here think if u r just doing toilets, the contractor will charge more.

haiz... too late liao. actually i did compare 3 quotes before deciding on this contractor. he was definitely not the cheapest but i know he can hand over my place within the timeframe i gave him (we have to move out to renovate, so i gotta pay rental elsewhere) so i still engage him. two other friends' home done by him, so i know the workmanship will pass so long as i go supervise everyday. i did make noise about the higher costs for his plumbing, install WC, basic, etc. each item $20 more, 10 items will be $200 more. in the end, he gave me a $200 discount off the total bill. i thought ok, settle, don't push too hard. now i realize i am still paying him more than market rate. some more he had wanted to charge me extra for running one hot pipe for basin coz i got the basin tap mixer in the simi grohe package. this morning i told him, my reno forummers told me your plumbing **** costly liao you still want to charge me extra for that one extra hot pipe ah? he keep quiet already lor. let's see how the final bill turns out. i already chop a lot of items from him coz i know his mark up a lot. but certain things still let him do coz of the coordination involved like box-up/electrical. don't want him to tai chi say i use my own contractor then kena road block not his pasal.

plumbing $700 includes toilets and kitchen?? all size flat all same? wahhh... i think my contractor mark up everything everywhere! i never even do my kitchen to save $. a bit regret initially but tell myself that money can go to other things for the children. so don't need to live with regrets! my toilet is as normal as can be, nothing concealed all exposed pipes. will post pix when it's ready. hahaha... my simi grohe is our only small indulgence lor! MaCe, you are really very good at hunting and sharing good lobangs! i benefit a lot from reading all your posts! i start from looking at super $$$$ WC at SSC to shopping at Jalan Besar finally! my sanitary ware chop chop buy in 3+ hours on first day and 1+ hour on second day. no luxury of time to hunt or find warehouse sales, bo pian! as for my contractor ah... he mark up everything everywhere lor! my final reno with him should be <$20K, his initial quote is almost $40K i think he also to get me as customer. cut cut cut! hope you have more time to do research on contractors before you start reno so you can stretch your $ further. for my case, i chop chop start reno and go with this contractor coz got time constraint. i know they can deliver, so i reckon the extra mark-up i am paying is a guarantee i can get my flat back after 6 weeks.

the Dyson office actually called me before to ask if i want to "upgrade" - buy the display model with some discount thrown in. can try! Dyson can last long time leh... mine 7 years and still good. so one time buy with HEPA, no need to change again when baby pitter patter comes along next time! my reno still got +- 3 weeks to go so MaCe tips with feather duster + vacuum, KBY all come at the right time!

no leh... my toilet fittings all normal ones also except for one splurge on Hansgrohe bundle package for the MBR toilet <$500 1st shop: HomePlue Hansgrohe bundle (Focus S two mixers and Raindance shower set) $489.00 CB 1104 Basin Mixer c/w bracket, UPVC bottle trap and pop-up waste $170.00 Wall bracket $11.00 Pozzi Kris 8602 Sink Tap $60.00 7% GST $781.10 Joven 25 litres JH25 $240.00 Joven EC602 $125.00 Total $1,146.10 2nd shop: Chuan Heng MaClaire 5 1/2" Pedestal Pan & Water Cistern c/w slow seat cover c/w 4" offset pan collar $320.00 TR-4050G Basin $170.00 1 1/4" PVC bottle trap $2.00 1 1/4" Pop-up waste $8.00 Lubben 2103-T Lever Basin tap $42.00 Subtotal $542.00 Add 7% GST Total $579.94 Sanitary ware Total $1,726.04 Toilet windows, shower screen and doors $1,840 the toilet door is bi-fold Besglas Ezi, $240 x 2 Austscreen shower screen, $480 each x 2 adjustable louvre windows $200 x 2 Plumbing Works $1,270 i was careful to choose only the $2 something tiles from SBH, even then contractor haven't bill me for it yet. i think it's the hacking and wet works that push up the costs? $3,110 contractor did say renovate old flat costs a lot more than new flats. dunno how true lah... but there was a lot of hacking involved for my place.

for the white piece of filter (they call it the pre-filter) - just need to wash with running tap water, knock knock the water out a bit on a towel and airdry for one day (or longer) before fitting it back. it is recommended to wash every 6 months but i usually wash sooner coz u see the dust u definitely want to clean. the HEPA filter cannot wash. it's supposed to be life-time HEPA filter but i think i will get it changed soon after sucking up the reno warzone dust left behind! the HEPA filter function is important if you have children who are prone to allergies as it can trap airborne dust mite, animal fur, etc. i think some models come without HEPA filter but not any more. you could try calling the local Sg office to enquire if they have any showroom/display model for sale that comes with HEPA filter. since you are prepared to spend some money on the Dyson, might as well get one with the HEPA filter. the website: http://www.dyson.com.sg/contactus/default.asp Address Office hours Mon - Friday 9-6 pm Service Helpline : 7000 4357546 Dyson Singapore Pte. Limited 2 Leng Kee Road #04-09A Thye Hong Centre Singapore Postcode 159086 Telephone 65 64795538 Fax 65 64795531 good luck! ps: i made a mistake, my model is DC05, not the upright 03!

I added up the costs of renovating and outfitting my two toilets. I almost fell off my chair... 1. Hacking and wet works $3,110 (not including tiles!) 2. Toilet windows, shower screens and doors $1,840 3. Plumbing Works $1,270 4. Fittings $1,726 5. Tiles $?? (SBH billed my contractor, he is supposed to collect from me) 6. Sanitary ware $1726 Guess how much... $7,946 (not including tiles! which will be easily $1+++ K???) Total maybe $10K??? $5K on one toilet... Faintz......................... But I remember reading one forummer put it, the toilet is something everyone in the family uses day in day out, more than one time a day, everyday in your lives and it is going to last you the next 10-20 years. So just divide and if you count like that, ok, the amount spent is entirely justifiable. Thank God for renotalk.com!

found my cheque book stub, i paid $790 for the Bosch washer Maxx Classic 800 RPM (WAE 16060 SG) from GAB.