NiVleK

Went to KEC today. Only one comment. EXTREMELY GOOD SERVICE. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.

Long time no update liaos. Was busy preparing for my exams and finally finished the exams...now got to rush assignments... !! Anyway, we have been RECTIFYING the defects for probably like more than 1 month already? The remaining are the minor defects which I think they really cannot make it. To request for more will just delay my start reno time and I need to complete my reno before my next exam starts. With that, I should be able to get the HDB out of my place next week and get my keys back. We went to shop around and get more ideas and also quotations today. Main target - Aircons. I have been reading through this thread - http://www.renotalk.com/forum/index.php?sh...ic=9682&hl= to get more ideas and information about the shops/contractors that do aircon and I am really grateful for the wealth of information available here at renotalk. We have more or less settle on the brand of aircon, Mitsubishi Electric Starmex Easy Clean Non invertor System 3. Two Shops we went and plus the Gaincity we went last week reveals the following results. Gaincity - $2159 w/GST - 1 visit only - Armaflex insulation - Didnt ask much liaos Best Tech - $1915 w/GST - 2 visits - K Flex Class 0 insulation 3/8" (http://www.k-flex.com/products.asp?p=5&pp=2) - 13mm Drain pipe w/o insulation - Gauge 23 copper tube - R22 refrigerant - No R410A for non invertor??? Thats very strange. - 3 years installation warranty - Salesperson was relatively ok. Not very pushy but pushy on type of insulation. Keeps claiming that K flex is imported from Italy and that the temperature range is better than that of Totaline cos its -200 °C max +116 °C rather than from only -70 °C onwards. However, after my question of why the need for -200°C when the R22 will not go to that temperature, he got nothing to say. He also keeps emphasising the fact that it is FM approved, which does not matter to me. I am more comfortable with Totaline PSB certification since its local and our silly standards are up there. All Best - $1888 w/GST - 2 visits - Totaline Class 1 insulation 3/8" (Totaline is a carrier sub brand, if I am not wrong) - Gauge 24 copper tube. Upgrade to Gauge 23 + $75 - 16mm drain pipe - 5 years installation warranty - $120 servicing voucher - Salesperson was an auntie. Think she is not very sure of what she is trying to sell. MORE SUITED TO SERVE AUNTIES than young energtic idiots like me. Claims I know nuts about copper and I cant differentiate between them. Keeps getting the insulation class wrong, one moment class 1, the next moment it became class 0. I dun think I am that old to forget what was said one second ago. Not interested in explaining more details and just keeps pushing more sale to close. - Decided to come again to look for another salesperson to talk. Someone that probably look smart.

Went to a few shops to look for aircons today. Seems like Mitsubishi Starmex Easy Clean non invertor only got R22? Went to Besttech and hear all the stuff about the insulation brand etc, Kflex better than Armaflex, better than Totaline, Claims that Kflex Class 0 (http://www.k-flex.com/products.asp?p=5&pp=2) is better at 3/8" cos the limits of material is till -200degC. But R22 is at -40degC? So whats the use of having an insulation that can cover till -200degC? The salesman cannot answer leh....how... In any case, they block the fine print that anything above -50degC for Kflex, it has to be referred back to Kflex for technical advise.... Tot Allbest was better.... BUT I WAS SERVED BY AN IRRITATING AUNTIE. Somemore she claims that "you know anything meh? even if i switch my copper to gauge 24, u can see the difference meh? !! " Wah I ren. But seems like the feedback here is that Allbest > Besttech in terms of service?

Just an update! We have secured our ID! It is....... IDEAL HOUSE! Our ID will be primarily Max. Cant wait to see the design drawings this week!!

675B : Spotkev, Alexter 676A : ilovecoffee, kiki2004, TinyEyes, mysotic, sengkt 676B : crazygirl48, roseberry, shutiao06, popeye gal 677A : cyanide, bpheng 677B : shootmie 677C : inuya5ha 678A : teodami, Commando, bubbletan, jogal 678B : rav3n, GraCieGaL 678D : dar80, NiVleK

Frankly, I am really sick of all this NEW IDs trying to pass on as a fellower forumer searching for a good ID firm and the exact person that they want. Its simple to just post tons of recommendation about someone, it is even simpler to search ur previous post to know your history. No IT knowledge? Ya...right.

Any example of valid reason? PM me? hehehe

Living/Dining Room - Window lock difficult to close - Extremely lousy workmanship of tiles Kitchen - Window lock cannot close. Window tough/stiff to close. - MULTIPLE uneven tiles (almost all?) - Kitchen Toilet ceiling has a gap. Cannot close properly - Crap Kitchen Toilet door. When closing it is just narrowly missing the toilet bowl Master Bedroom - Door has chipped & door is discolored to a greenish hue at a small area - MBR window hard to lock - MBR Toilet door chipped - MBR Toilet vanity top workmanship lousy. Edges not rounded properly - Crap MBR Toilet door. Have to close the door in order to access the vanity top properly. - Gouting lines wrong - Paraquet flooring has holes. Skirting area have holes too Bedroom 2 - Door has chipped - Paraquet flooring has holes. Skirting area have holes too Bedroom 3 - Door has chipped - Window cannot lock - Paraquet flooring has holes. Skirting area have holes too I think all the tiles workmanship is **** lousy. Maybe I should write a comment to the papers/STOMP?

By the way, did you all tear out all the film on the windows to check the defects?

I also never submit ROM cert mah...they say have to submit within 3 months...just write in to extend lor..

I have quoted for a SIMPLE SIMPLE one at about 17K. Its a ID. Look for those ID with standard package for 5 room and modify from there, chances are that you can manage to reduce the cost. Also, look for IDs giving u itemized quotation. Some IDs insist on giving lumpsum quotes which I do not fancy.

Saw in BOB that you almost completed your reno? Already paid carpentry liaos. Which ID you using?

I think in the first place, we should not give the key to the ID??? Why should we entrust the MAIN DOOR Key to someone a complete stranger. Not afraid of bulgary? I strongly suggest to everyone if doing reno, just ask your ID to get a seperate lock and lock the main gate during the reno process, that will suffice. NEVER NEVER GIVE THE MAIN DOOR/GATE KEY TO ANYONE!

Understanding Aspect Ratio Got some pictures to show what I mean. If you dun like fat ppl or cant get used to it, normally all tvs have the aspect ratio button to switch to 4:3 mode. In this case, you will see black bars beside and ur viewing area gets smaller.

Are u currently using a standard 4:3 TV? Those normal "square" tv? Widescreen TVs are 16:9 so they will stretch normal broadcast images and hence the fat look. I have been using a 32" widescreen in my bedroom at my mum's place for years, so I am kinda used to the fat ppl. LOL

First Round Of Defects Checking We decided to do some defects checking by ourselves first. One of our Shortlisted ID has been informed that I already got the keys and we can inspect it the coming Saturday. Think during that time, we will seek their advice on what else we have missed out. As far as I know, the period to check defects is so long you have not start renovation, it is ok. Living/Dining Room - Window lock difficult to close Kitchen - Window lock cannot close - MULTIPLE uneven tiles (almost all?) - Kitchen Toilet ceiling has a gap. Cannot close properly - Crap Kitchen Toilet door. When closing it is just narrowly missing the toilet bowl Master Bedroom - Door has chipped & door is discolored to a greenish hue at a small area - MBR window hard to lock - MBR Toilet door chipped - MBR Toilet vanity top workmanship lousy. Edges not rounded properly - Crap MBR Toilet door. Have to close the door in order to access the vanity top properly. Bedroom 2 - Door has chipped Bedroom 3 - Door has chipped - Window cannot lock My main concern is the extremely lousy workmanship of the tiles in the kitchen. Hopefully HDB can hack off everything and then I could a nicer tile color/design. Hahaha

This one got no idea liaos. Have to find some feedback from users at our blocks.

Collection of Keys Done! On that very day, I was extremely eager to get my keys and open the door and see how the slanted living room look like. In fact, we went down to HDB almost 2 hours earlier than the scheduled appointment as I read in the forum that it is possible that they will call you earlier. Too bad, we only got in 10 mins before the appointment time! Did all the paperwork. Sign blindly, cos I cant challenge the contract anyway. The officer told us about the ROM deadline which is 3 months away!! I NEED TO DEFER!! I plan to have ROM only in August! Went up to SP Services to activate the electricity. Got an appointment for them to come and also sign up for City gas. Went to our place and open door! We are not those pang tang couple, got to see date of opening, see fengshui for placement of furniture etc, so just open lor. Hahaha. To our dismay, the long living room looks shorter in life. But that slanted part is a challenge for furniture placement and layout arrangement. We were quite disappointed to see that the so called FULL HEIGHT windows are not really full height. They dun extend down to near the floor and looks real odd. I also just did some minor defects check and boy oh boy, without checking on the tiling works yet, my defects list is already quite long!! Will update later!

Ya. No point for me to run hot water pipes to the kitchen also. What is puzzling me now is only how to do hot water for both toilets using one heater? I dun like storage heater, they go by thermostat. Once you go below the set temperature, the heating element kicks in again to maintain the temperature. Waste of electricity!!

Opps. Sorry wrong number liaos.

Yeah. I surf tons of forum when I was younger with this nick everywhere, the same capitals will be me.

Interesting..I cant see the color of the kitchen tiles properly..is it yellowish?? Looks nice with black!! I have yellow tiles too...so deciding what color to do the cabinets in...

Just went to check on the taps and there are seperate pipelines running to the mixer, which probably means hot and cold water supply. I also saw this U bend thing behind the door. So that is the hot water connection point??? It is strange that the plumbing drawing does not indicate hot water point connections. In this scenerio, how to have a centralised hot water? Does it mean that we just need to install ONE water heater? Is it ok to install normal electric heaters? Also, that will mean that hot water is only available for the bathrooms and not the kitchen sink area.

Yo shutiao. I also same place as yours. I think our "FULL HEIGHT" Windows are crap. ITS NOT FULL HEIGHT!!!!

Then again, for semb corp and ST Marine, those are not for everyone. Different levels, different designations get different amount of bonus. So you cannot compare. In banking and finance, my classmate got 10.5? But his colleague 3 months only. So how to compare?