Post Renovation Enquiry

[googocat 0]

Hi all

Not sure if anyone remembered me? A few weeks ago, I briefly shared my unpleasant renovation experience with my contractor. Finally, after 3 months of renovation work (and after many unpleasant encounters with my contractor's workers), me and my husband decided to move into our new house pending some other misc works to be done by the contractor. This was 2 weeks ago. We spend our last 2 weekends rectifying some of the paint jobs, checking all out telephone connection in each room (cos the Singtel ppl said that the electrician messed up my lines) and to complete some pending misc work in our house.

Now I have new problems, firstly, the contractor has sent me a variation order and to me and my husband's horror, the balance payable is $4K+ . This is how they calculated our final payment. they listed out the deductions and additions in a separate excel spread sheet and then added the net amount into the balance 10% payable. The way i had calculated is just deduct directly from overall price quotation and then add those extra costs incurred to get my final balance, which is 1k+ only. Really appreciate if anyone can advise whether my calculation is correct.

Secondly, the stainless steel piping in my house is starting to oxidise (brown brown spots developing). Is this normal? I checked with the contractor and he said that when their supplier supplied them with the stainless steel piping already oxidised. So i have no choice but to accept and he asked me to clean them myself. The question is does stainless steel piping so fast oxidise?

[rierie 0]

Personally, I think the way u did it is correct. Those things that are deducted or added should be taken out/in right from the grand total (cuz u paid the 90% aly), then take into account what u have paid so far. If going from the way they do it for u, that means u are paying for things that u took out during the reno (i.e. the 90%). Get what I mean?

For example, u took out an item of $100 during the reno. But u paid 90% of the grand total (before taking this item out). That means u have paid 90 for this item that u did not do. So, if going by the way he calculate for u, he’s including this 90 in. by right, u shouldn’t be paying for it.

And, about the stainless steel piping. He said that when their supplier supplied them with the stainless steel piping already oxidized. That’s his problem. Not urs. And by no means u should be the one cleaning it. Get him to change it for u before u pay the remaining 1K+.

Hope this helps u

[googocat 0]

Personally, I think the way u did it is correct. Those things that are deducted or added should be taken out/in right from the grand total (cuz u paid the 90% aly), then take into account what u have paid so far. If going from the way they do it for u, that means u are paying for things that u took out during the reno (i.e. the 90%). Get what I mean?

For example, u took out an item of $100 during the reno. But u paid 90% of the grand total (before taking this item out). That means u have paid 90 for this item that u did not do. So, if going by the way he calculate for u, he’s including this 90 in. by right, u shouldn’t be paying for it.

And, about the stainless steel piping. He said that when their supplier supplied them with the stainless steel piping already oxidized. That’s his problem. Not urs. And by no means u should be the one cleaning it. Get him to change it for u before u pay the remaining 1K+.

Hope this helps u

Hi

Thanks for confirming my understanding on the calculation part. I thought there was some mystery involved in the way the calculate the final balance payment. Do you think there would be any problem if i refuse to pay them the $1K plus considering the trouble and delay they have put me and my husband through for the last 3 months? Btw, un-used tiles in all sizes and paint and some tools have been left in my house. I have shifted the tiles outside and called the contractor to come clear them. The contractor said ok but no one came. Which means i have to manually remove them to the rubbish chute downstairs....

As for the piping, i doubt they will change for me. Even if they want to do it now, i do not welcome them into my house.

[DKCH 0]

Why not keep the un-used tiles? If any of your tiles get chipped or damaged, you can use these tiles to replace the damaged ones. The tiles you see in the shop today may not be sold next year...

[kthc 0]

Hi Googocat,

I remember your posts.... sounds quite bad but no idea what you can do. Maybe can write to RADAC and seek advise, not sure how much clout they have though. RADAC = Renovation & Decoration Advisory Centre: http://www.radac.org.sg/

Keep the spare tiles, hopefully you'll never have to use them but just in case your tiles crack, can get someone to replace them. Different batches of tiles may have different color variation and as DKCH said, maybe 2-3yrs later, can't find the same one.

Good luck.

[googocat 0]

Thanks for all the advices!

As for the tiles, I will think about it again and see how many pieces i would like to retain for future uses (if necessary) considering the space area i have.

I will also go check out the radac website for more information. I don actually wish to blow up the matter cos i already moved in and just want to move on. The only thing that i feel indifference about is i don wish to pay them the balance 10%.

Any advice on not paying them? What can they do to me?????

[Pinklady 0]

the way your contractor added is definitely wrong. the last VOs should be caculated on the extra things that you have added by metres or by sq meters etc. Net amt added into the 10%>? that's the 1st time i have heard. he's just trying to get more extra money out from you leh!

btw, i think you shouldn't have thrown out the entire set of tiles. should you kept at least a few pieces of the tiles each, so that next time, if you wana replace some worn out parts, you can still do it.

[rierie 0]

Hi

Thanks for confirming my understanding on the calculation part. I thought there was some mystery involved in the way the calculate the final balance payment. Do you think there would be any problem if i refuse to pay them the $1K plus considering the trouble and delay they have put me and my husband through for the last 3 months? Btw, un-used tiles in all sizes and paint and some tools have been left in my house. I have shifted the tiles outside and called the contractor to come clear them. The contractor said ok but no one came. Which means i have to manually remove them to the rubbish chute downstairs....

As for the piping, i doubt they will change for me. Even if they want to do it now, i do not welcome them into my house.

i agree with kthc that u shd ask RADAC. make sure u get something in written from a regulator body if someone say u can dun pay the 1k+. cuz in the contract, u are supposed to give the remaining payment at the point of completion. unless u have a disclaimer clause somewhere.

hahaha..think u shd keep the tiles as what many forummers mentioned. and for the paint, u might want to keep it for future touch up purpose. as for the tools, depends on u aly

[rierie 0]

Thanks for all the advices!

As for the tiles, I will think about it again and see how many pieces i would like to retain for future uses (if necessary) considering the space area i have.

I will also go check out the radac website for more information. I don actually wish to blow up the matter cos i already moved in and just want to move on. The only thing that i feel indifference about is i don wish to pay them the balance 10%.

Any advice on not paying them? What can they do to me?????

err...i'm not a lawyer, so i can't advise u. but based what i learnt about business law, they can sue you for non payment.

[googocat 0]

oh bummer....

I was pretty upset and frustrated with them and i just asked my husband to move the tiles outside. Hopefully they don suddenly become so efficient as to remove my tiles before i get home later...

I will definitely keep the paint. As for the tools, they belong to the irritating painter who clogged my toilet bowl and vaccum cleaner...so i will discard them..

I better hurry up to read up the radac website cos they are comin to my hse this Saturday.......to talk abt the balance.....

[rierie 0]

oh bummer....

I was pretty upset and frustrated with them and i just asked my husband to move the tiles outside. Hopefully they don suddenly become so efficient as to remove my tiles before i get home later...

I will definitely keep the paint. As for the tools, they belong to the irritating painter who clogged my toilet bowl and vaccum cleaner...so i will discard them..

I better hurry up to read up the radac website cos they are comin to my hse this Saturday.......to talk abt the balance.....

yep! better read up the radac website first. if it's too rush for u or u think u have a case, tell them to come at a later date?

[googocat 0]

err...i'm not a lawyer, so i can't advise u. but based what i learnt about business law, they can sue you for non payment.

HUh...........sue me for non payment.....

I think not worth for them to spend a few hundred dollars to issue demand letter just to recover $1K +......how how???

[rierie 0]

HUh...........sue me for non payment.....

I think not worth for them to spend a few hundred dollars to issue demand letter just to recover $1K +......how how???

hahahhaha...not worth to u doesn't mean it's not worth to them right? think it'll be better for u to get legal advise

[merryman 0]

Hi all

Not sure if anyone remembered me? A few weeks ago, I briefly shared my unpleasant renovation experience with my contractor. Finally, after 3 months of renovation work (and after many unpleasant encounters with my contractor's workers), me and my husband decided to move into our new house pending some other misc works to be done by the contractor. This was 2 weeks ago. We spend our last 2 weekends rectifying some of the paint jobs, checking all out telephone connection in each room (cos the Singtel ppl said that the electrician messed up my lines) and to complete some pending misc work in our house.

Now I have new problems, firstly, the contractor has sent me a variation order and to me and my husband's horror, the balance payable is $4K+ . This is how they calculated our final payment. they listed out the deductions and additions in a separate excel spread sheet and then added the net amount into the balance 10% payable. The way i had calculated is just deduct directly from overall price quotation and then add those extra costs incurred to get my final balance, which is 1k+ only. Really appreciate if anyone can advise whether my calculation is correct.

Secondly, the stainless steel piping in my house is starting to oxidise (brown brown spots developing). Is this normal? I checked with the contractor and he said that when their supplier supplied them with the stainless steel piping already oxidised. So i have no choice but to accept and he asked me to clean them myself. The question is does stainless steel piping so fast oxidise?

Thanks for all the advices!

As for the tiles, I will think about it again and see how many pieces i would like to retain for future uses (if necessary) considering the space area i have.

I will also go check out the radac website for more information. I don actually wish to blow up the matter cos i already moved in and just want to move on. The only thing that i feel indifference about is i don wish to pay them the balance 10%.

Any advice on not paying them? What can they do to me?????

err...i'm not a lawyer, so i can't advise u. but based what i learnt about business law, they can sue you for non payment.

From a very simple knowledge of business laws, (not a lawyer though), you don't have to pay until they change the piping for you... and of course, throw them the bill from SingTel because the issue was caused by them...

this is because by not giving you a proper piping, they actually failed to deliver the service... rierie, am I right?!

[rierie 0]

From a very simple knowledge of business laws, (not a lawyer though), you don't have to pay until they change the piping for you... and of course, throw them the bill from SingTel because the issue was caused by them...

this is because by not giving you a proper piping, they actually failed to deliver the service... rierie, am I right?!

merryman...wa..u throw the question back to me ar?

well, in business law (running my memory back to 3 yrs ago), they will sue u because all elements to form a contract are in.

but under the sales of good and services act (if i remember correctly), the service provided to u by the contractor must be acceptable - meaning by the industrial standard. then again, if u ratified (meaning u agreed that it's acceptable to u), the contractor is not liable.

ehh...think ar...u better get legal advise la..dun even know if these are still applicable or not.