Hv To Rejuvenate Our 16-yr Old 4-rm Flat

[Guest our-home]

Hi, this is my first time posting questions but I've been reading the forum for some time to better understand renovating our home. We moved into this resale flat in 1997 and didn't do much renovation coz not enough time and no budget. But now, due to wear and tear, we seriously have to think about changing all floor tiles, windows, toilets and kitchen cabinets - at least the basic.

My questions are:

1. Can my kitchen floor tiles be hacked out but not the existing kitchen cabinet cement mortar base? Or is this not possible coz of waterproofing for the kitchen floor?

2. If the kitchen and bathroom wall tiles are hacked out, can the existing copper piping be retained? We changed the PVC pipes to copper when we moved in in 1997.

3. Our electrical wiring was changed in 1997. Is there a lifespan for this and do we need to change the wiring for the whole flat?

4. Is there a maximum number of times the walls can be painted before it has to be scraped off and repainted? We painted the walls about 3 times in the 10 years we lived here and the previous owner probably painted them at least twice.

We intend to contact some contractors recommended by family and friends after CNY (as I've read in the forum that the contractors are very busy during this period) to get some quotes. But will like to be more well informed before I meet with them.

I hope that some of the forummers can help share your experience or offer some advice because my hubby and I feel very out-of-touch with today's renovation costs, methods and styles.

Thanks to this forum though, we are slowly getting more info ... hope to hear from you.

[zacky_ling 0]

Our-Home

Allow me to answer your worries.

Answer to Q1.: When you hack the existing wall & floor tiles of the kitchen, you will definitely affect the cement mortar base, so I would advised you to redo the cement base if you require it together with the flooring. If not the latest trend is to have a suspended kitchen cabinet w/o the base as it's easier for cleaning and maintainance.

Water proofing definitely have to be done esp in both the common & master bathroom as well as the kitchen sink area if not the unit downstairs below ur's would start to complain abt leakage.

Answer to Q2. Yes the copper pipe can be retained unless that you find it necessary to change but in my professional opinion, I would recommend or suggest to you to take up Stainless Steel piping as Stainless Steel is now so much cheaper than Copper pipes in the market.

Answer to Q3. Basically, there is no lifespan for wirings. If you intend to do a major overhaul in your apt, then I would recoomend you to re-do your wiring. And please take note, in all HDB, all trunkings have to be exposed. You can only conceal them thru skirting / false ceilings / L-Box or below the platform.

Answer to Q4. Basically, there is no maximum number of times you can paint on the wall no matter how long you stay in that apt. During your reno, you could request thru your ID that to inform the painter to use sealer to conceal the previous colour before painting it over with the colour that you would like to have on the walls.

I hoped my humble suggestions and advices are able to give you some insights and to be ponder abt to whatever that you intend to do.

[Guest our-home]

Hi Zack

Many thanks for your detailed answers and advice. Finally, someone replied!

Appreciate your pm as well.

[zacky_ling 0]

Hi,

Sorry for the late reply. I just hoped & prayed that my humble suggestions & advices is able to help you in your reno issues. Just remember, I'll always be contactable if you ever need help. Feel free to contact me at any time.

Zack Ling