Materials That U Regret Using/ Installing

[skyle 0]

This is very informative. It will be good if people who have finished reno and lived in for some time can give some more feedbacks on whats good and what's not

Edited March 27, 2012 by skyle

[Sygnur 0]

This is very informative. It will be good if people who have finished reno and lived in for some time can give some more feedbacks on whats good and what's not

Bump!

This is really a good read....

[Sygnur 0]

Upz!!!

[dimderm 0]

Just curious- has anyone regretted installing chandeliers?

[yhkoh 2]

<!--quoteo(post=376074:date=Mar 3 2009, 11:15 PM:name=Honeygal)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Honeygal @ Mar 3 2009, 11:15 PM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=376074"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->what problems do you have with the hyflux water filter and novita aromadiffusers?<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->

Very looong story. <img src="http://203.142.16.149/forum/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/tongue.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid="" border="0" alt="tongue.gif" />

Hyflux, I'm refering to their elife shower filters. <a href="http://www.hyflux.com/faq_showerfilter.htm" target="_blank">http://www.hyflux.com/faq_showerfilter.htm</a>

It costs $169, a piece of concealed plastic filter, which claims to remove chlorine from the water (if you buy that theory that our water is quite dirty, and the added chlorine is bad for your hair, probably you might have noticed this product in the market). It was introduced by this sales promoter in Tangs who claimed that it's good for preventing hair drop, though it's not explicitly mentioned in the box nor it's marketed as such.

I was skeptical, but decided to get it anyway, the immediate results were astonishing, from the usual clumps of hair at the hair trap after every hair wash, it was reduced to a few strands. I got my mother to test it out and she got the same results. I fixed that filter to a dedicated tap, solely for washing hair and nothing else.

Within less than 3 months, the results were less than ideal, it wasn't as good as it was before. I read the box again, it says it will lasts 6 months, I read the website, it says 12 months. Such inconsistencies. But if I use it only for washing hair, shouldn't it last much longer than it's supposed lifespan for someone using it for daily showers?

How does one accurately determine whether 3mths, 6mths or 12mths?

~ number of users?

~ water temperature?

~ original water condition?

~ time taken in the showers?

~ amount of water that passed through the filter?

There's simply no indicator on the filter that tells us it's time to change it.

So I wrote in to check and they couldn't give me any satisfying answer or solution. Of course, more hair drop is not the conclusive way to prove that the filter is not working anymore, but are there other ways to prove that the filter <i>is</i> still working on their part?

With their kind of (mis)assurance, I decided not to replace it and I won't be getting that again, not just that item, but anything else from Hyflux. I was blinded by the sales talk, looking back, it comes in a cheap looking box with an enclosed piece of vague instruction leaflet within, which doesn't even say much. I must have been crazy to have spent $169 on that. (Yes, the amount of money guys spent to retain their hair) <img src="http://203.142.16.149/forum/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/bangwall.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid="" border="0" alt="bangwall.gif" />

Next, novita .. let me get some pics.

Anybody has tried Hyflux UF Drinking Water System HF1P-3S? I am considering this for my drinking water so that there is no need to boil water and wait for it to cold down. Costing S$629 for the system and need to change filter yearly at around S$330. Not very sure whether worth it. Any advice?

[Silversurf1980 0]

<!--quoteo(post=573722:date=Sep 14 2010, 10:03 AM:name=Always Happy)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Always Happy @ Sep 14 2010, 10:03 AM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=573722"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->Avoid glass panels, good to see but maintenance is high esp in bathroom, kitchen.

Cleaning glass stain with oils/grease in kitchen is a nightmare!!<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->

hw often do you clean?

if u clean only after a long long time, den yes, oil and grease buildup on glass is difficult to clean off.

but if u clean regularly, like once a week or even once a fortnight if u dun cook daily, den glass is super easy to clean. easier than a lot of other surfaces tt also gives tt expensive, upmarket look, eg. stainless steel. Stainless steel is difficult to clean in that it is easily scratch by a lot of cleaning products.

For glass, u just need to spray some cleaning solution tt breaks down built-up oil/grease, leave it on for a short while, den wipe it off with paper towel. rinse off the cleaning solution using a damp paper towel. if u clean off any oil/dirt immediately, it's even easier as u only need water and paper towel.

Mine is black glass, very easy to maintain cos stain is not obvious and I only use wet cloth and paper towel to wipe dry

[Silversurf1980 0]

Substandard shoe rack

- Bad > Not easy to vacumn and mop, need to bend down to make sure its cleaned

Black tempered glass coffee table and console

- Bad > Dusty and leave water marks

Faux leather wardrobe

- Bad > Nice but not easy to maintain

Kitchen black granite top

- Best > No comments, so far no regrets and love it

Kitchen black glass panel

- Good > Easy to maintain and stains are not obvious.

Note: remember to check the cabinet surface before putting up the glass panel, any writings will be visible once you wiped it with a wet cloth =(

Box Up Trunking

- Good/Bad > Nice but Make sure the aircon is working and not leaking before boxing, will regret if need to repair

Dryer

- Good/Bad > Great to dry towels and cotton clothes (especially kid's clothings) instantly (1-2 hr), but high consumption of electric

Softclose toilet seat

- Bad > Useless, do not spluge on this... the soft close takes forever to close, you will have force the inner seat to close when you need the seat urgently

Recommedations

- Do not build-in for kids room, your kid is growing and the furnitures grow as well

- Do not buy build-in oven if you do not bake, buy a microwave oven with grill... you still can grill a chicken

- Do not install hood if you cook occasionally, less 1 item to clean, more space for storage

- Install the sliding door track on top

- Bedframe without legs, less area to clean, no hiding area for xiaoqiang or good bros

- Love my Happycall pan

[Luxray 0]

<!--quoteo(post=375778:date=Mar 3 2009, 12:51 AM:name=lawry)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (lawry @ Mar 3 2009, 12:51 AM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=375778"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->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 <b>first</b> complaint". <img src="http://203.142.16.149/forum/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/furious.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid="" border="0" alt="furious.gif" />

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.<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->

Ya, i didnt know can return... so all throw away already.... need receipt?

Otherwise, can use until rusty then exchange new one... <img src="http://203.142.16.149/forum/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/notti.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid="" border="0" alt="notti.gif" />

I managed to get my s/s kitchen udder trolley (one single rack) replaced recently after rust spots started showing on it after about a year from purchase. No receipt and I insisted Ikea for change as I thought it was unacceptable that a stainless steel item should rust when it has been left in a dry corner...they relented after escalation and allowed a change. Advise, better avoid Ikea's so-called "stainless steel" products.

[Luxray 0]

Agree that Poh Joo toilet stuff is horrible. it's starting to tarnish after 4 months. Use only at night and morning.

Try to fix curtains instead of roman blinds, maintanence is definitely easier.

Regretted using black matt floor tiles inthe kitchen. I'm a clean freak and the water marks and smudges are really getting to me.

Glass shower screens are also a pain. Very hard to remove the soap scum even though I clean every weekend with bleach. Can see the streaks and water marks after 3-4 days.

Also regretted having so many mirros in the house. Makes the house big and bright, but if you don't clean often, can see the dust and smudges. Very irritating.....

Glass shower screen not difficult to wash at all .....just use the melamine sponge from Daiso $2 shop, cleans like a breeze. Discard after use when too much scum accumulates on it... Cheap and effective material to clean all glass materials without leaving scratches...

[limtan 0]

My regrets:

1) buying glass covered lightings. It's a challenge to change the lights as my ceiling is 3 m high.

2) buying an oversized fridge for two persons.

3) buying a nice tempered glass top coffee table. When my son started to crawl, we threw away the coffee table cos it's too accident prone with those sharp edges. Now my coffee table is the children's table from Ikea. Cheap n gd.

4) installing air con in living rm after staying there.

5) chose a dark brown color for my gates. It's a big mistakes. Always see dust on them. My neighbor Painted white color for their gates, looks much cleaner.

6) buying deep fryer when I only used it once.

7) getting cheap racks for storeroom. It couldnt make it in less than a yr.

No regrets:

8) Left one bedroom empty (only with build in wardrobe). After my son came along, we started to furnish the rm according to our needs.

9) got a sofa throw over from Ikea to cover my sofa. It's easier to maintain. So u may not need a gd sofa after all.

Another advice for newly weds- when buying furniture, think of the long run when u hv kids. Otherwise u r going to waste $$ to replace furniture.

Edited October 8, 2012 by limtan

[owyy 0]

Substandard shoe rack

- Bad > Not easy to vacumn and mop, need to bend down to make sure its cleaned

Black tempered glass coffee table and console

- Bad > Dusty and leave water marks

Faux leather wardrobe

- Bad > Nice but not easy to maintain

Kitchen black granite top

- Best > No comments, so far no regrets and love it

Kitchen black glass panel

- Good > Easy to maintain and stains are not obvious.

Note: remember to check the cabinet surface before putting up the glass panel, any writings will be visible once you wiped it with a wet cloth =(

Box Up Trunking

- Good/Bad > Nice but Make sure the aircon is working and not leaking before boxing, will regret if need to repair

Dryer

- Good/Bad > Great to dry towels and cotton clothes (especially kid's clothings) instantly (1-2 hr), but high consumption of electric

Softclose toilet seat

- Bad > Useless, do not spluge on this... the soft close takes forever to close, you will have force the inner seat to close when you need the seat urgently

Recommedations

- Do not build-in for kids room, your kid is growing and the furnitures grow as well

- Do not buy build-in oven if you do not bake, buy a microwave oven with grill... you still can grill a chicken

- Do not install hood if you cook occasionally, less 1 item to clean, more space for storage

- Install the sliding door track on top

- Bedframe without legs, less area to clean, no hiding area for xiaoqiang or good bros

- Love my Happycall pan

Thanks for providing your observation and advice, it's very information and interesting.

Initially I was thinking of using softclose toilet seat, but your comment makes me think twice. It would be frustrated to wait for the seat to close softly when in hurry.

Another thing is the build-in oven, i really dont bake, so it's waste of money buying a build-in one just for looking good.

[lot85 0]

I LOVE this thread!

Need advice or tips

1. Hood - Do I still need it if I only cook once a day and typically simple meals?

2. Sliding vs non-sliding (cheaper) wardrobe?

3. Bay window for awkward shape corner. Any tips?

4. Ceiling fan - not sure about maintenance and kept imagining circulation of dust if not cleaned ;-<

[Silversurf1980 0]

Thanks for providing your observation and advice, it's very information and interesting.

Initially I was thinking of using softclose toilet seat, but your comment makes me think twice. It would be frustrated to wait for the seat to close softly when in hurry.

Another thing is the build-in oven, i really dont bake, so it's waste of money buying a build-in one just for looking good.

Np! Glad that I helped.

Yes, think of maintenance first... These few months I realized things that looks good and easy to maintain is the best... Happy Renoing & Enjoy the process!!

[Silversurf1980 0]

YES, This is 1 of the best thread. Ok, here goes my advice.

1. Yes, I think it is good to have it. I did not install one, not that my ceiling is stained from the simple cooking but I still worry whenever steam goes up.

2. Non-sliding, we can still pick clothes together in the morning when rushing for work, I can't imagine if I have to wait for my wife to finish before I can slide the door to her end. We were concerned about space but anyway, the space for opening is a must when we are there.

4. Hmmm, my nose is sensitive to dust, 3 mths passed, still feel fresh! Maybe just have 1 in the living room. it's really cooling vs standing fan.

I LOVE this thread!

Need advice or tips

1. Hood - Do I still need it if I only cook once a day and typically simple meals?

2. Sliding vs non-sliding (cheaper) wardrobe?

3. Bay window for awkward shape corner. Any tips?

4. Ceiling fan - not sure about maintenance and kept imagining circulation of dust if not cleaned ;-<

[lot85 0]

actually the more i think about it the more i dun wan hood liao. can u imagine the accumulated dirt trapped and u r cooking directly underneath it? yaks!

non-sliding doors - practical - i LIKE! If design ok, ONZ!

living room ceiling fan - ONZ!