Impress21 Design And Build - My Home Makeover

[lushbelle 0]

Nice glass door!! May i know how much are u being charge for that?

[oogachaga 2]

Nice glass door!! May i know how much are u being charge for that?

Hi lushbelle,

Thanks ...it so much better than the old door. As a package with the reno, I got it for $800 for a 12mm thick tempered glass. The glass guy is also doing me a favour by putting in frosted sticker strips for the door to prevent accidents for humans and my dog as well...he cannot do anything fancy, so just horizontal stripes which is fine....also includes the aluminium pelmet which is still not up yet.

[oogachaga 2]

DAY 26

Works:

--Kitchen top cabinets up

--LG guy re-appointment

The top cabinets are finally up and its looking good

Lower cabinet drawers - they have rectified to give me 2 deep drawers

Perhaps you can see the smooth glossy finish in the reflection

I have to comment that all these while Ah Bee has been very friendly and willing to help out in the rectifications or adjustments...so I am definitely very pleased with his attitude and helpfulness, in view of my fussiness, and attention to details

[oogachaga 2]

DAY 26 cont

Sink cabinet cabinet rectified...cut out holes for the water pipe

Closer look

From the top

Heres the Rubine stainless steel sink L580 x W450 x D200mm, 1.2mm thickness.

Its the biggest single bowl to fit my cabinet. I have to maximise my sink space..so this one gives the biggest volume ( Bowl size is L540 x W410mm ), and more usable space than the rest.

Bought from Poh Joo at $290 (no gst )

The LG guy came... and I gave him my requirements, paritcularly, the countertop must flushed with the inner edge of the sink..that is, zero reveal.

(Positive reveal means the sink edge showing, or negative reveal meaning the solid surface overhangs so the sink edge is covered and not exposed )

He said that there will be a min of 3- 5 mm allowance..

I gave him the paper cut out of the sink and ask to do the best he can.

So got to wait another week for the solid surface top to be ready.

[oogachaga 2]

DAY 37

Works:

--Stainless steel backing up

The stainless steel backing is installed.

Its 0.9mm thickness....

A cursory look at the workmanship ( do note its not cleaned up yet...theres dust and glue around ):

Closeup of the laminate joints

Even gaps, straight lines

Closeup of sink cabinet corner - as 1mm thick laminate is used, Ah Bee took the initiative to touchd up the corner joint to enhance the looks ,otherwise a dark line would show.

[oogachaga 2]

DAY 37 cont

The 1 mm thick ABS trimming --makes it look even better than the std 2 mm ones, and comes in matching colours too

Blum hinges and blumotion clip installed

Price is $2.30 for hinge, $2.50 for the clip on blumotion, sold separately..

I used the BLUM 500mm full extension runners, and it costs $47.89 each set...7% GST not included yet in the prices.

BLUM prices are controlled, unless you are getting " a lot", you may get a discount.

Coming back to LG, the manager in charge and his 2 executives came, that was about 5 days ago...this is the 3rd time that LG people had to come for measurements. I was wondering if it was so difficult to get a zero reveal for the sink?? and feel a bit pai say...maybe the other clients just leave it to them to do with no particular requests?

Nevertheless, the manager was very nice and friendly. He took careful measurements, and said he will try his best to give a zero reveal for my sink, but give an allowance of maybe 1 mm...ok, thats acceptable. I had some queries and this is what I found out about LG solid surface top:

1. Very high acrylic content, so stronger and more durable unlike the cheaper higher polyester content ones.

2. Non porous surface, so stains will not seep through

3. Antimicrobial -- use by a lot of food outlets,.. even better than granite

4. Fire rating class 1 -- will not burn

5. Will not yellow or discolour-- thats what I wanted to hear for my white top

6. Heat resistant

7. Chemical resistant

8. Can be polished to look new again... costs about $20 pfr

9. Can be repaired

10. Seamless

So after they left, I was thinking my solid surface should be perfect

[Byr 0]

DAY 37 cont

The 1 mm thick ABS trimming --makes it look even better than the std 2 mm ones, and comes in matching colours too

Blum hinges and blumotion clip installed

WOW u have a very nice Kitchen cabinet!!!

[oogachaga 2]

WOW u have a very nice Kitchen cabinet!!!

Thanks, Byr

Stay tuned for the completed works

[oogachaga 2]

DAY 38

Works:

--Installation of LG Hi Macs solid surface

Finally after almost 2 weeks of waiting, my solid surface is ready for installation..the rest of the contractors are on hold till the top is installed.

It came in 2 pieces...

Fitting the pieces

Space between the 2 pieces, and the hobs' cut out

Sink cut out

The sink was taken away by the LG people after the manager's visit...so its the 4th time they came in total

However they forgot to send the sink together with the top, the guy called up and was told to wait for the sink to be rush over in an hour's time , you can see the workers whiling away in the yard area...

Opportunity to take more pics

[oogachaga 2]

DAY 38 cont

The sink cut out wasnt aligned properly to the cut out on inspection, it was 5 mm off position to the back.

Back portion..showing wood underneath

Front portion, top overhanging the wood

That means my sink position needs to be shifted backwards...after all the measurements

The sink finally arrived, and the workers are back to work.

Trimming the wood to fit the sink into its new position

Drilling the hole for the mixer tap

Applying the silicone on the sink

Edited October 30, 2008 by oogachaga

[oogachaga 2]

DAY 38 cont

Then the solid surfaces were clamped to hold it steady, so that the gap can be filled with the joint adhesive. See the plastic bag in front to collect the overflow.

then the excess silicone was scraped from the sink

Trimming and polishing was done after setting of the joint adhesive.

Final result -- zero reveal of the sink accomplished

Edited October 31, 2008 by oogachaga

[mwerkz 0]

wah. so nicely done.

show the pics of the join at the solid top. how come need to join? cannot one piece?

[oogachaga 2]

wah. so nicely done.

show the pics of the join at the solid top. how come need to join? cannot one piece?

Hi mwerkz,

Will be continued in the next chapter

I understand that it comes in 6 ft slabs, anything bigger will require joining.

[oogachaga 2]

DAY 43

Works:

--Everybody coming together..electricians, painters, plumbers, carpenter to finish up

Now for the LG solid surface, lets see the profile of the backsplash and the very neat and nicely done siliconing the LG guy has done..must give credit where its due

however, the supposedly seamless joint cannot escape my eagle eyes

I highlighted to Henry, and he will be getting the LG guy to rectify...apparently they worked overtime that day because wasted an hour waiting for the sink to be delivered.

Edited October 31, 2008 by oogachaga

[oogachaga 2]

DAY 43 cont

Painting:

- replaster cracks on walls

- repair spawling concrete on ceiling and master bedroom bay window

- painting door and door frames using Nippon Bodelac 9000

- yard and kitchen using Nippon Teflon paint

- patch up holes in ceiling after lighting installed

Bedroom door painted - one of the painters

Common toilet door frame painted..also switches replaced

Electrical:

- replace switches

- install lightings

- connecting the kitchen appliances...oven, hood, dishwasher and induction hob

Switch and socket installed

Before - lights in dining area. Thats Henry in the kitchen having a discussion with Tek, and plumber

After - new track lighting, using the Legrand Mallia dimmer