Extreme Makeover @ Pandan Gardens

[steelze 0]

I am sure most home owners & forumers here are fully aware that you can't expect problem-free renovation & workmanship, especially for a complete makeover of an old 31 year old flat! It also depends on your level of quality expectations & how diligent do you conduct QC checks! Moreover, it boils down to how honest you are, when commenting on your reno progress, and your level of quality acceptance! If you say 100% good workmanship, it is either you are not sincere, or your standards of acceptance is only so so, not up to my mark! Sorry to say this, but my ID almost broke down handling me & my reno project!

As I am putting up my reno blog primarily for my sons to be informed of reno status, I list down every details & " stories" that come along the way!

Nothing to hide, as I am the proud home owner, and ID is engaged by me after due selection process.

yeaa,, agreed with your saying. it is rather impossible to have perfect reno. No matter how good the ID or his workers are, there are bound to be areas which fall below owners' expectation.

The painters are coming this sat for a 3rd round painting. I am as anal as you on painting work as well. I hate uneven paint line on door frames, uneven paint colour on bathroom pipes and so on. dun understand why painting job can never be smooth for most onwers. is it becuase ID firms /contractors just hire any any tom, dick and harry as painters? give them the brushes and paints and let them suka suka paint the wall like spread kaya on bread? haizzz.

my initial impression of plumbing work by LuckyKoon (engaged by SDS) was a good one. After barely 1 week, things are falling apart as well... both hot water piping are leaking badly until have to shut off the entire water control in my house.

sorry to complain here... hehehehe... anyway, can see urs is coming to an end too. jia you!

[May_dream1 14]

yeaa,, agreed with your saying. it is rather impossible to have perfect reno. No matter how good the ID or his workers are, there are bound to be areas which fall below owners' expectation.

The painters are coming this sat for a 3rd round painting. I am as anal as you on painting work as well. I hate uneven paint line on door frames, uneven paint colour on bathroom pipes and so on. dun understand why painting job can never be smooth for most onwers. is it becuase ID firms /contractors just hire any any tom, dick and harry as painters? give them the brushes and paints and let them suka suka paint the wall like spread kaya on bread? haizzz.

my initial impression of plumbing work by LuckyKoon (engaged by SDS) was a good one. After barely 1 week, things are falling apart as well... both hot water piping are leaking badly until have to shut off the entire water control in my house.

sorry to complain here... hehehehe... anyway, can see urs is coming to an end too. jia you!

Did you do plastering of the whole house? after doing plastering, then its easier to have even painting. Or else, the painting will not be as smooth.... not that they want to do it that way.

But on door frame and bathroom pipes should be quite easy since its not big piece of wall.... hhhmmm.......

[mae29 2]

Did you do plastering of the whole house? after doing plastering, then its easier to have even painting. Or else, the painting will not be as smooth.... not that they want to do it that way.

But on door frame and bathroom pipes should be quite easy since its not big piece of wall.... hhhmmm.......

For me, we do plastering of the whole house. The problem lies with the painter boss who didnt provide sufficient masking tapes and proper brushes to his workers to touch up the interface between ceiling & walls.

Sigh....just like what Reiki had mention 'painting & repaintings are the order of the day'.

[mae29 2]

should put the pot then take picture, really looks like the 3d rendering leh ahahahaha

Good idea! Let me polish my pot & pans and then take another shot at the same angle to make it exactly like 3D rendering.

[May_dream1 14]

For me, we do plastering of the whole house. The problem lies with the painter boss who didnt provide sufficient masking tapes and proper brushes to his workers to touch up the interface between ceiling & walls.

Sigh....just like what Reiki had mention 'painting & repaintings are the order of the day'.

then the painter boss is not doing a good job.....

[steelze 0]

i never plaster my wall becuase of budget.

plaster whole house wall & ceiling = $2.2k

plaster for whole house ceiling = $800

I chose the 2nd option becuase my eiling is rock stone effect. in fact, i didnt even wanna spend a single cent on plastering, but rock stone ceiling left me no choice. haiz..

no wonder now my un-plastered wall paint so cui, but ceiling painting so sweee.. haiz..

[mae29 2]

then the painter boss is not doing a good job.....

May, you are right! My ID had fired the painter boss!

Edited March 6, 2011 by mae29

[mae29 2]

i never plaster my wall becuase of budget.

plaster whole house wall & ceiling = $2.2k

plaster for whole house ceiling = $800

I chose the 2nd option becuase my eiling is rock stone effect. in fact, i didnt even wanna spend a single cent on plastering, but rock stone ceiling left me no choice. haiz..

no wonder now my un-plastered wall paint so cui, but ceiling painting so sweee.. haiz..

Thanks goodness we both are able to move in for CNY!

Btw, your baby is very adorable!

[May_dream1 14]

i never plaster my wall becuase of budget.

plaster whole house wall & ceiling = $2.2k

plaster for whole house ceiling = $800

I chose the 2nd option becuase my eiling is rock stone effect. in fact, i didnt even wanna spend a single cent on plastering, but rock stone ceiling left me no choice. haiz..

no wonder now my un-plastered wall paint so cui, but ceiling painting so sweee.. haiz..

ya, mine also ex... 2.4k to plaster whole house but no choice or else the walls and ceilings will look very ugly.

[steelze 0]

Thanks goodness we both are able to move in for CNY!

Btw, your baby is very adorable!

yea, can stock up CNY goodies over the weekends!!! thankx for your comment on my baby. think all babies r cute n adorable.

ya, mine also ex... 2.4k to plaster whole house but no choice or else the walls and ceilings will look very ugly.

yea.. exp. but i regretted not doing it. it's some of those reno item which u cannot save de. cause the final outcome can be very different.

[mae29 2]

ya, mine also ex... 2.4k to plaster whole house but no choice or else the walls and ceilings will look very ugly.

Lol, my ID underquoted my plastering!

When he came to sign the contract, I asked him to add plastering at $1.8k, the same price from one of my contractor! He accepts the deal! I understand my ID paid $1.9 k to the plaster!

[mae29 2]

Activities update:

Furnitures delivery:

Sealy Posturepedic mattresses for MBR and Bedroom 3 delivered last night.

X'clusive Home will deliver the dining set & one Super single LaContessa tonight.

Mode Studio will also be delivering the sofa set today.

Looks like all furniture delivery is complete. I was busy unpacking & keeping vigilant on carpenter who was here on last 3 days to complete the installation of sliding window at dining area, and sliding door at toilet of MBR.

Pole system installer came at 8:40am to replace the doors which I rejected when we moved back. I spotted scratches & white spots on the black glass doors, and it was obvious on the black door wardrobe in Bedroom 4.

Just spoken to ID to change the colour of 4 door frames since they are repainting today! It looks yellowish & I really don't like the combination with the brown veneer door. I gave him 2 options: either match the veneer door or the Wall. ID texted me to inform me that he matches the wall colour at dining, that is Sandstone.

Now, I am trying to find time to shop for bedsheets today!

Edited January 29, 2011 by mae29

[vratenza 0]

Our block was built by JTC in the 1979, and the ceiling is much higher than other estates.

The other day, while I was doing QC after the contractors left (I checked daily the tall piece of side panel as that is the area they would pass by when using the toilet or dustbin), I saw a joint & thought it was a scratch initially. The joint is at the bottom about 3-4 inches away from the lowest edge.

As we have unusually high ceilings, I understand that my ID 'underquoted' the wall tiles!

Oh...so yours is similar situation as mine...i initially thought it was a scratch.....had a big conference with my ID and carpenter.....

in the end my ID said she will source for a customized 1 piece laminate that can go beyond 8 feet?...i'm not sure if there is such a laminate..we shall see....

The issue here is that the ID did not forewarn us that there will be a jointline due to standard maximum runs of laminate. If we have been told, at least we can decide if we can live with the jointline or chose a different cabinet design to avoid the jointline.

[vratenza 0]

While I was searching for flats way back in 1999, I scouted around many estates and realised that I could lift my hand and almost touching the ceilings at some estate, like Teban Gardens Block 4 (I am 1.65m tall).

When I came to visit my current place, I can see the total difference in height of ceiling. Maybe I go back tonight and measure for you to compare.

sorry to bother u again, but do you have the height of your cabinet with the laminate joints?

if u have a picture of the jointline it will be even better as i can compare the workmanship of the carpenter. Thanks!

[mae29 2]

sorry to bother u again, but do you have the height of your cabinet with the laminate joints?

if u have a picture of the jointline it will be even better as i can compare the workmanship of the carpenter. Thanks!

My kitchen is now levelled with the livingroom.

The top full height laminate is 238cm and the joint portion is 13cm.

I have taken a few shots of the joints, tomorrow then I post up them.