Materials That U Regret Using/ Installing

[neubie 2]

Using of white aluminum window grilles. the plastic corner used to cover the frame will yellow over time, as it is not UV-resistant.

Not reno-related, but NEVER use alkaline batteries in low-drain devices such as wall clocks, remote controls. once they start leaking and corrode the terminals, it's almost gone case.

[booksntoys 0]

If I choose again, I will not choose those with black spot.

Very difficult to spot and track those ants.

Wow, that's something new!

Will definitely spread the message

[therat 18]

Wow, that's something new!

Will definitely spread the message

U will find sometime, u are talking to the ants

move la..

u don't move.. how I know where are u..

how to kill u..

where u come from.. where is ur friends..

don't run so fast.. cannot see u la

I think I'm going mad liao..

talking to ants

[booksntoys 0]

U will find sometime, u are talking to the ants

move la..

u don't move.. how I know where are u..

how to kill u..

where u come from.. where is ur friends..

don't run so fast.. cannot see u la

I think I'm going mad liao..

talking to ants

Haha, u so funny

Use the combat ants killer - squarish ones. Can't rem the names.

Can get from NTUC.

They're really effective.

I stuck them EVERYWHERE (where ever i see ants trail) when I first moved into a rental unit with ants-invested kitchen.

But take note of the date. Gotta change every few months or when u see ants appearing again.

[Pinklady 0]

mine problem is also white solid surface counter top, its driving me nuts! despite always cleaning it diligently everyday. and definitely 200% regret installing the hood on top. seldom used and of course also the glass hob too. pretty also no use. u cannot wipe immediately after cooking something. the glass will crack

[madapple 0]

My regret items:

1. Accepted ID designer to install toilet bi-fold doors in kitchen and masterbed room. Bi-fold doors are not easy to maintain. Moulds grew and could not get rid. Be it with mr.muscle, kao toilet bleach, brown bottle bleach, etc,etc. There are 6 members in the household and i have No Maid to do cleaning daily. I should check out the latest and easy to clean doors.

2. Installed undermount kitchen basin beneath solid surface. Water seepage through leaking silicone !!!

Re-patched silicone by 1st Contractor and last less than 6 months.

Removed and re-patched by 2nd NTUC home service and again, water seepage into area below less than 6 months.

I do not what to do next?

3. I should not let the Contractor to lay lengthy Solid Surface, covering cooking area to Kitchen sink. Might have to dismantle the long long solid surface if i need contractor to change undermount basin to top mount one.

[rummi 0]

....glass hob too. pretty also no use. u cannot wipe immediately after cooking something. the glass will crack

Hi pinklady, no need to be overly-careful with the glass hob. I cannot be bothered with coming back for the cleaning job a second time, and thus had been soap-wiping doen my glass hob immediately after cooking for the last 3yrs. More cautious abt blistering my skin against the heated pot-holders than cracking the glass.

[marshmallow 0]

2. Installed undermount kitchen basin beneath solid surface. Water seepage through leaking silicone !!!

Re-patched silicone by 1st Contractor and last less than 6 months.

Removed and re-patched by 2nd NTUC home service and again, water seepage into area below less than 6 months.

I do not what to do next?

3. I should not let the Contractor to lay lengthy Solid Surface, covering cooking area to Kitchen sink. Might have to dismantle the long long solid surface if i need contractor to change undermount basin to top mount one.

It's more about the workmanship... Top mount one also will have leakage if the sealing is not done properly... my parent's home and my sis home have been using undermount for soooo many years and never encounter water seepage.

[Honeygal 1]

i may have said this before: my $180 Claytan toilet bowl is the ultimate worst purchase ever.

1)doesn't flush well (gotta flush twice at least)

2)despite the weak flushing system, the water splashes all over the rim and OUTSIDE onto the floor and walls! i did not discover this until recently - i kept seeing all these stains and black specks on the floor and wall (they are poo fyi).

and the plastic cover does not fit nor cover completely. looks awful too.

gosh, this toilet bowl is causing me sooooo much grieve!

[RimBlock 0]

i may have said this before: my $180 Claytan toilet bowl is the ultimate worst purchase ever.

1)doesn't flush well (gotta flush twice at least)

2)despite the weak flushing system, the water splashes all over the rim and OUTSIDE onto the floor and walls! i did not discover this until recently - i kept seeing all these stains and black specks on the floor and wall (they are poo fyi).

and the plastic cover does not fit nor cover completely. looks awful too.

gosh, this toilet bowl is causing me sooooo much grieve!

Why not spend another $200 or so plus fitting and get it changed. No point living with it if it is causing so much hardship.

I in my wisdom got a normal Baron toilet in the common toilet and as I am an English guy, though I would get a slightly bigger baron toilet for the master bathroom, you know, to fit my err slightly bigger butt.

The common toilet one is great, size is fine for me, flushes one flush very good. Slightly bigger model in the master toilet needs at least two flushes, fits fine but the 'designer' toilet seats my wife likes (you know the clear ones with sea shells and the like) will not fit it so she is quite disappointed. This time we will go for a couple of standard Baron $200 toilets. Found a one piece toilet for $280 with soft close lid and seat but seat shape not matching the 'designer' seats and my youngest (almost 3) gets frustrated with the soft close and tries to push it down faster which will break it in the end .

Be careful when estimating your storage water heater capacity.

The sales man kept on finding it amazing that I would want over a 40 litre storage heater for two rain showers. This was until he asked if I keep the water running all the way through the shower. Yes, of course I do. It is standard in my original country. As long as people are not silly in other areas with water (washing their cars with a hosepipe etc) then it really should have very little affect. Our PUB bill shows our water usage to be on or below the average for our unit size and we have 4 people in a 3 room. Once the sales person knew how we used the shower he agreed and recommended a bigger size storage tank . People assume you use stuff the same as them until you tell them different.

RB

[steelze 0]

MK Switches

When switching on /off our MK switches, we have to bear with a very loud "TAD" sound. This often frightens our small baby boy who is in deep sleep. we should NOT have gone for MK brand just because the website says it is an Ang Mo brand. Electrican warned me about this before... silly me... =(

Edited March 28, 2011 by steelze

[sugiboy 0]

Before you install false ceiling, think not only of what you want to have now but also think of what you plan to have in the future so that you won't end up hacking it down just to install speaker wire. :-(

[marshmallow 0]

MK Switches

When switching on /off our MK switches, we have to bear with a very loud "TAD" sound. This often frightens our small baby boy who is in deep sleep. we should NOT have gone for MK brand just because the website says it is an Ang Mo brand. Electrican warned me about this before... silly me... =(

i dun have this problem leh... maybe i am used to pressing all switches slowly and softly...

[steelze 0]

i dun have this problem leh... maybe i am used to pressing all switches slowly and softly...

urs totally no sound ah? probably u r right... my family on /off the switch very fast. cannot imagine myself standing there for 2 seconds, press on the switch and slowly release my finger energy to let the internal switch process "click" before letting go my fingers.. hahaha.. kancheong me..

[GetFuzzy 0]

this thread caught my attention immediately. i diy-ed reno, so these are my own mistakes in selection <img src="http://203.142.16.149/forum/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/tongue.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid="" border="0" alt="tongue.gif" />

1) Ditto mentioned above on chrome toilet fittings n accessories. tarnish within the year.

2) Stainless steel pipes are big effort to keep shiny. in the end i had them all painted over.

3) White bathroom floor tiles gets dirty too quick. note tat we dun wear slippers at home.

4) Designer switches n sockets are waste of money. i dun remember even taking a second look at them after moving in. its just a fantasy-item during reno and reno-shopping. (note: very expensive mistale given the number of switches n sockets installed).

5) 1x1metres glass coffee table is great to admire, but a pain to clean everyday if u hv a pet (like mine) who luv to go sit/sleep on it cos its cool surface.

6) White/pale seat covers are challenging with pets ard. paws marks!

Misc : Despite all the concerns i read on tis forum abt white glossy laminates in the kitchen, none of the probems accur in our white-glossy-laminated kitchen. so go ahead, do it <img src="http://203.142.16.149/forum/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid="" border="0" alt="smile.gif" />

I laughed when I read your post on point 5 & 6! Can imagine your pet climbing on the cool glass to zzzz. Reminds me of my dog who loves to laze on our furniture. LOL.