Project: Home @ Punggol Spring

[weeeeeee..... 1]

this is a view of how my gas pipe is extended to where my hob is gonna be...

it ran as close to the wall and ceiling as possible, so that the cover-up would be easier.

this is a zoomed-out view to give you a fuller picture of where the gas pipe extension terminates. and it shall be concealed.

also notice the blue duct tapes running across the wall? u should know what that is, right? it ran from the top-left side of my kitchen, go right-bound along the white sewerage pipe near the ceiling, and then came down passed the service yard window, and then left-bound near the floor, and finally went up a little and terminated the water pipe there with the end coming out of the wall. that was what hdb built originally.

but because of my new open-concept kitchen where i locate my sink near the left-side of the below picture, the plumber extended the water inlet pipe left-bound again, and terminated it where my kitchen sink is supposed to be. i told my ID, "i don't want any pipes to show!" and he punched 45-degrees right through the wall and.....

wahaha.... i got nothing to say

[CutieCat 0]

I'm more old-fashioned - I still love carrying spiral notebooks around and writing everything down. Like I suggested to you CutieCat, you don't really need "prove" that somewhere offered a better price. I simply told the HN salesguy "well, they're offering it for $xxx somewhere else" and he would excuse himself to "check the best price", then return to say he'll match it.

I agree with weeeeee's advice about getting everything purchased in time for carpentry. As the pedantic Virgo, I printed out the specs of EVERYTHING - including everything that would go into the TV console, on top of the console, beside the console; the sinks and taps so he can customise the vanity with better precision, the electrical goods so the kitchen cabinets can be planned for better space management, then we can decide on how many drawers/cabinets etc, even down to the size of my laptop so it'd fit the study desk perfectly.

If you haven't engaged an ID yet, you still have time - just jot down the models you like and make phonecalls from home, or check Gain City's/Courts' website. Much easier than physically going down to every store - you'll find yourself very tired indeed.

-Ely

yeah, i learn my lesson already. Btw, i do carry the measuring tape with me, haha, think the salesperson at HM thought i crazy! yes, everything must fit in nicely in any corner of the house. Engaging ID, i am very particular also, the 2 ID has been with me since End Dec, now i requesting to view their completed project and negotiate price, then i can finalise on ID soon.

[weeeeeee..... 1]

did another quick inspection today, and found my false ceilings taking their forms and shapes.

this is the false ceiling in my MBR.

this was what it was before the false ceiling is installed.

[weeeeeee..... 1]

let me show you the magic that my ID did to the air-con trunking in my MBR.

before...

after...

my ID says he did this extra FOC...

[weeeeeee..... 1]

lemme bring you see the false ceilings of my two other rooms.

this is the false ceiling in my kid's bedroom.

and the false ceiling in my study room.

notice the air-con trunking in these two rooms? look kinda ugly, ain't they? some of our friends said it's OK, it'll not be as starking after the rooms are finished with wall paints. but personally, i find them an eyesore. i'm also afraid that the space between the trunking and the false ceiling will collect dust, or lizards sh|t, or grow cobwebs.

i asked my ID, why can't he do the same like what he did for my MBR? he said he did the MBR one FOC, as the area to patch is relatively small. to do the same patching on these two rooms, which involves great lengths, FOC is not possible. i asked how much to do the similar patch, he said need to ask his false ceiling guy, estimated $300-$400....

how? some friends advised against it, saying that if there's a need to service the air-con pipe in the future, the patch would be wasted as there's a need to break apart the trunking. another round of costs would be involved, and we may not be able to get the same paint colour after the re-patch. but i asked myself, what are the chances of having the need to break apart the trunking to service the pipings within?

any opinions?

[weeeeeee..... 1]

this is the false ceiling in my living room...

the false ceiling of my living room also came down quite close to the ventilation vent of my HHS. i actually intended to hang a wall clock or some painting to cover this ugly metallic piece... but now it seems a little bit more difficult, though not impossible.

[weeeeeee..... 1]

this is the false wall that is going to be where my cooking activities gonna be.

before the false wall is installed, it looked like this...

the purpose of this false wall is to conceal the extended gas pipe and the default wall tiles. on this false wall, a glass backing would be mounted to achieve this...

[hafiizh 0]

how? some friends advised against it, saying that if there's a need to service the air-con pipe in the future, the patch would be wasted as there's a need to break apart the trunking. another round of costs would be involved, and we may not be able to get the same paint colour after the re-patch. but i asked myself, what are the chances of having the need to break apart the trunking to service the pipings within?

any opinions?

i think to your friends and id are trying to dissuade you because of the extra costs - whether its worth the $300 - $400.

but from what i read, you seem really bothered by it and i can understand the desire to have everything concealed - especially since its a new flat and you are going through renovation, might as well get it done properly.

personally i'm with you - if can hide might as well. just be aware the other trunking to the living room air con would probably still be jutting out.

[footprint 0]

Erm, u can ask ur id to cover up the HHS ventilation hole the. Not seen le.

[rmgthatsme 0]

i think to your friends and id are trying to dissuade you because of the extra costs - whether its worth the $300 - $400.

but from what i read, you seem really bothered by it and i can understand the desire to have everything concealed - especially since its a new flat and you are going through renovation, might as well get it done properly.

personally i'm with you - if can hide might as well. just be aware the other trunking to the living room air con would probably still be jutting out.

Personally 100% agree with this. I hate visible piping and wiring and wherever possible am having it concealed. It's true that if there are issues with piping leaks (a/c, water, sewage, gas) you will have to break the box up work but to me that is a risk I am fully willing to take. In all the other countries I have lived incl. Beijing where I am now such works have been done without issue. I do believe it really depends on the confidence level you have in your ID/Contractor on their piping work supervision & quality. I say go for it otherwise it's a bit like saying "I never go swimming as I'm afraid to drown" or "I never drive because I'm afraid to crash". Your insurance is the quality of your ID/Contractor's work...if you've chosen with due dligence then it's a well considered risk in my opinion. Good luck with whichever option you decide to take.

[jaskel 2]

lemme bring you see the false ceilings of my two other rooms.

this is the false ceiling in my kid's bedroom.

and the false ceiling in my study room.

notice the air-con trunking in these two rooms? look kinda ugly, ain't they? some of our friends said it's OK, it'll not be as starking after the rooms are finished with wall paints. but personally, i find them an eyesore. i'm also afraid that the space between the trunking and the false ceiling will collect dust, or lizards sh|t, or grow cobwebs.

i asked my ID, why can't he do the same like what he did for my MBR? he said he did the MBR one FOC, as the area to patch is relatively small. to do the same patching on these two rooms, which involves great lengths, FOC is not possible. i asked how much to do the similar patch, he said need to ask his false ceiling guy, estimated $300-$400....

how? some friends advised against it, saying that if there's a need to service the air-con pipe in the future, the patch would be wasted as there's a need to break apart the trunking. another round of costs would be involved, and we may not be able to get the same paint colour after the re-patch. but i asked myself, what are the chances of having the need to break apart the trunking to service the pipings within?

any opinions?

Chances to dismantle it and service the piping is maybe 7yrs onwards or the moment u start using it. Why was it so was because in the first place, if was not installed properly for the water discharge piping, it will leak from the joint when u start using your air-con. If not, it will leak from your unit first if the piping is chocked. So good maintenance will last longer.

Gas leakage is possible also but maybe 6 years onwards or the same, the moment u start using it. But the chances for those 2 to happen is quite slim.

[weeeeeee..... 1]

i think to your friends and id are trying to dissuade you because of the extra costs - whether its worth the $300 - $400.

but from what i read, you seem really bothered by it and i can understand the desire to have everything concealed - especially since its a new flat and you are going through renovation, might as well get it done properly.

personally i'm with you - if can hide might as well. just be aware the other trunking to the living room air con would probably still be jutting out.

u know what? my ID called me today say it'll cost $450. i bargained with him but he explained to me the difficulty. he said he already gave me a lot of things FOC, but this one susah. i have no choice but to accept.... otherwise, how?

[weeeeeee..... 1]

Erm, u can ask ur id to cover up the HHS ventilation hole the. Not seen le.

there are two HHS vents. one is this one, and the other is above the HHS door. as i am building a feature wall to conceal the ugly HHS door, the vent above it shall be covered. don't know whether is HDB or SCDF say must leave at least one vent uncovered, i have to choose this and intend to hang a clock here.

[weeeeeee..... 1]

ok, thanks goodness. the ugly air-con trunking are finally concealed.

before this, it was like that...

[weeeeeee..... 1]

similarly for my kid's bedroom, the air-con trunking are concealed as well

before this, it was like that...

phew! feel so much better now. hope my $450 extra is worth spending, man!