Documenting The Construction Journey

[petunialee 4]

Hi... for all who will be building their house, I put all my related blogposts here for easy reference.

Architect and Tender Process

http://petunialee.blogspot.com/2010/09/house-construction-1-architect.html

Demolition

http://petunialee.blogspot.com/2010/10/house-construction-2-demolition.html

Buy Sanitary Ware

http://petunialee.blogspot.com/2010/11/house-construction-3-sanitary-ware.html

Dealing With Neighbours

http://petunialee.blogspot.com/2010/11/house-construction-neighbours.html

CCTV of Sewage Pipes

http://petunialee.blogspot.com/2010/11/house-construction-5-making-dirty-video.html

Constructing Drops

http://petunialee.blogspot.com/2010/11/house-construction-6-drops-all-over.html

Waterproofing Floor Slab

http://petunialee.blogspot.com/2010/12/water-proofing-1st-storey-floor.html

Casting the Floor Slab

http://petunialee.blogspot.com/2010/12/house-construction-9-milk-foam-no%7a%7ale.html

The Contractor Himself

http://petunialee.blogspot.com/2011/02/house-construction-10-my-building.html

Coring the Slab

http://petunialee.blogspot.com/2011/03/house-construction-11-coring-slab.html

Managing the Team

http://petunialee.blogspot.com/2011/04/house-construction-13-some-lessons-on.html

Some Weird Quirks to the House

http://petunialee.blogspot.com/2011/06/house-construction-14.html

Roofing

http://petunialee.blogspot.com/2011/06/about-metal-roofs.html

Waterproofing Flat Roofs

http://petunialee.blogspot.com/2011/06/about-waterproofing-flat-roofs-and.html

WHO IS MY BUILDER?

http://petunialee.blogspot.com/2011/06/who-is-panda.html

Some things I learnt when waterproofing bathrooms

http://petunialee.blogspot.com/2011/08/waterproofing-your-bathroom.html

Awnings

http://petunialee.blogspot.com/2011/11/reliable-contractors-1-elite-deco-pte.html

Owner-Developers: If you don't make sure you have stiffeners no one will.

http://petunialee.blogspot.com/2012/04/stiffeners.html

http://petunialee.blogspot.com/2012/04/stiffeners.html

Edited April 2, 2012 by petunialee

[leechaorui 2]

Thanks for sharing

Information is useful for those who plan to rebuild their houses.

[petunialee 4]

Thanks for sharing

Information is useful for those who plan to rebuild their houses.

You're welcome! I just updated with the 11th post on Coring the Slab.

[GreenTur2011 0]

I am also in the process of looking for an architect and builder.

can you pm me your architect & builder? The QS - did the architect help you to find him or you found him thro other mean?

[gong 0]

Hi Petunialee,

Have been following yr updates closely and would really like to use the builder that u've hired. Could u pls pm me his contact.

Thanks alot!

[iamken 0]

Hi Petunialee,

Great blog. But it will be better if you can tell us who's in your wonderful building team.... PE, architect, builder.

Cheers

[petunialee 4]

Hi Petunialee,

Great blog. But it will be better if you can tell us who's in your wonderful building team.... PE, architect, builder.

Cheers

Apologies... I only just saw all these posts. I can't let anyone know who my builder and architect are until next month when my project ends.

[yrfren 0]

Apologies... I only just saw all these posts. I can't let anyone know who my builder and architect are until next month when my project ends.

Hi petunialee,

I have been reading yr posts and yr project, can u PM me yr architect and builder once yr project ends next month? I am about to embark on a similair project myself.

Million Thanks.

[petunialee 4]

So many people have PM-ed me for my builder's contact that I feel very paiseh. I went to ask my builder and he told me that he doesn't want to be disturbed by marketing and sales issues at the present because he has 3 houses to do and to do well. My house is at the tail end and requires a lot of co-ordination between the different services - aircon, electrician, plumber, tiler, windows etc... and also with me. There seems to be a hundred and one changes to the smallest detail.

My archi is not much good though once the project started... I don't recommend him.

[pantieileen 2]

So many people have PM-ed me for my builder's contact that I feel very paiseh. I went to ask my builder and he told me that he doesn't want to be disturbed by marketing and sales issues at the present because he has 3 houses to do and to do well. My house is at the tail end and requires a lot of co-ordination between the different services - aircon, electrician, plumber, tiler, windows etc... and also with me. There seems to be a hundred and one changes to the smallest detail.

My archi is not much good though once the project started... I don't recommend him.

hmm...then does it mean my builder not that good coz he said in 2010, he built (i think he means erection, A&A, reconstruct) slight more than 100houses! Before i sign up with my architect, i was in his office and i saw his 2010 projects (on his computer) also look like more than 50 coz they were in folders on his computer

I think i'm going to hijack your thread and post my builder and architect's contact coz i'm sick of replying to countless pm on contacts. Every time i'm out of town i receive PM then don't reply feel bad. Reply like waste my sleeping time.

Details of my project

1) Reconstruction (hack everything except pillars and staircase)

2) New walls for entire house using red bricks (even boundary walls)

3) 2storey become 2.5storey

4) 4rooms become 5rooms

5) 2toilets become 4toilets

6) land size 1846sqft buildup (i think it's 2800sqft,never ask before) before was about 2000sqft

7) no piling, did new footings

8) Did not share projects with others or neighbors etc.

9) No tender done

SL Goh Builders

Ben Goh

6447 9703

9693 7064

Design Archcrylic

Kelvin Quah

6570 9856

93878056

Kitchen Koncept

William Teo

6270 8548

9296 2518

My ++ Interior (friend)

Ronnie Lin

9746 7020

generally happy with all of the above. I can work peacefully without having to worry about them communicating with each other and i don't have to keep going down to check on the site. Pleased that i'm able to solve issues through the phone! So i guess this means project management good?

Edited August 11, 2011 by pantieileen

[petunialee 4]

I can't comment on whether builders who build 50 houses a year are better (or as good as) those who prefer to build only 6 a year and give it personal attention. I do know that I like my main con, but would not recommend my archi. I check the site everyday, and even with a strong team, I find things to raise with my main contractor.

I requested an extra stiffener for a wall that faces a sort of wind tunnel. I spotted a missing kerb in the bathroom which could pose problem to waterproofing later... As the house was being built and things get translated from plan to reality, I found myself making adjustments, and I was pleased that the contractor was available to meet me at site (at some periods where there is a lotta activity) almost everyday to discuss adjustments... and make conceptual changes before he starts to build. I am there to observe how they set out my bathroom so I can stand in the space and really feel how I am gonna use it. How I will move from one area to another. Even 10cm can make a lotta difference to how one experiences a space. Some of my adjustments went to 50cm. What is on paper may not feel right once it is built. I made countless adjustments, and I tried to get these adjustments right before the thing was built. This means making a myriad small decisions (at some periods on a daily basis at the morning brief to workers). Just yesterday, I bought coffee for the plumber so that he would help me move the water inlet pipe to the exact place I decided that I wanted whilst standing in the bathroom and feeling the space. Changed powerpoint positions. Changed lighting positions. Changed door placements etc... material for the door etc...

I was there at every important milestone. Gosh... I even watched the cement test being done and insisted to climb up the scaffolding to examine the welds of the steel roof structure. The contractor gave me my own hard hat and steel boots. With all this close attention, my archi didn't pass scrutiny but my main contractor did. In fact, my main contractor gave me some design ideas which my archi should have tried to think of, except that he (the archi) was so busy with plenty other projects (other multi-million dollar factory contracts, and a contract to build a zoo), I was just another digit in his accounting books. My archi was not amenable to discussing space use etc once everything was drawn up. He didn't really care. After the roof went up, my contractor saw potential for a small loft in each of my children's rooms, and he actually designed it with me (costed it for me) before I asked my archi to do the paperwork.

I was paranoid about structural safety. I used my RTO thoroughly... made him check and inspect everything. My RTO made life difficult for my contractor. As for interior and kitchen designers, I don't have them. These I considered surface issues. Kitchens and interiors can be easily changed. The important thing for me was to get the structural works right, so the RTO was more important than the kitchen/interior designer to me.

Our styles are very different. This may help forummers decide which style they prefer, and what type of contractor to engage.

Edited May 4, 2011 by petunialee

[leechaorui 2]

Agree with Petunialee. I was also in her shoes when the construction work of my house started. Have to be at the site regularly to make small adjustments so that the place will turn out to fit you better. Lots of effort and hard work to improve the design and also to control the quality of materials.

Even after I moved in, I got my contractor quite a number of times to come back to touch up and make minor adjustments for my place.

[patsy_sg 1]

this is a great thread... am contemplating a corner terrace now and am getting so much good info here!

[twothumbs 0]

Hi... for all who will be building their house, I put all my related blogposts here for easy reference.

Architect and Tender Process

http://petunialee.blogspot.com/2010/09/house-construction-1-architect.html

Demolition

http://petunialee.blogspot.com/2010/10/house-construction-2-demolition.html

Buy Sanitary Ware

<a href="http://petunialee.blogspot.com/2010/11/house-construction-3-sanitary-ware.html" target="_blank">http://petunialee.blogspot.com/2010/11/hou...itary-ware.html</a>

Dealing With Neighbours

http://petunialee.blogspot.com/2010/11/house-construction-neighbours.html

CCTV of Sewage Pipes

http://petunialee.blogspot.com/2010/11/house-construction-5-making-dirty-video.html

Constructing Drops

http://petunialee.blogspot.com/2010/11/house-construction-6-drops-all-over.html

Waterproofing Floor Slab

http://petunialee.blogspot.com/2010/12/water-proofing-1st-storey-floor.html

Casting the Floor Slab

http://petunialee.blogspot.com/2010/12/house-construction-9-milk-foam-no%7a%7ale.html

The Contractor Himself

http://petunialee.blogspot.com/2011/02/house-construction-10-my-building.html

Coring the Slab

http://petunialee.blogspot.com/2011/03/house-construction-11-coring-slab.html

Managing the Team

http://petunialee.blogspot.com/2011/04/house-construction-13-some-lessons-on.html

[twothumbs 0]

hmm...then does it mean my builder not that good coz he said in 2010, he built (i think he means erection, A&A, reconstruct) slight more than 100houses! Before i sign up with my architect, i was in his office and i saw his 2010 projects (on his computer) also look like more than 50 coz they were in folders on his computer

I think i'm going to hijack your thread and post my builder and architect's contact coz i'm sick of replying to countless pm on contacts. Every time i'm out of town i receive PM then don't reply feel bad. Reply like waste my sleeping time.

Details of my project

1) Reconstruction (hack everything except pillars and staircase)

2) New walls for entire house using red bricks (even boundary walls)

3) 2storey become 2.5storey

4) 4rooms become 5rooms

5) 2toilets become 4toilets

6) land size 1846sqft buildup (i think it's 2800sqft,never ask before) before was about 2000sqft

7) no piling, did new footings

8) Did not share projects with others or neighbors etc.

9) No tender done

Owner : eileen (since i put my nick big big already and if u are going to call them for quotes, u need to mention my name so they know u are referred and they won't suka suka quote etc...u know what i mean lah)

Location : St Patrick's Road (guess i should be proud of my house and anyway St Patrick's road so bloody long, unless you are serious in building then i guess u'll go search for it)

SL Goh Builders

Ben Goh

6447 9703

9693 7064

Design Archcrylic

Kelvin Quah

6570 9856

93878056

Kitchen Koncept

William Teo

6270 8548

9296 2518

My ++ Interior (friend)

Ronnie Lin

9746 7020

generally happy with all of the above. I can work peacefully without having to worry about them communicating with each other and i don't have to keep going down to check on the site. Pleased that i'm able to solve issues through the phone! So i guess this means project management good?

Hi you mentioned you chose Kitchen Koncept. Do you mind sharing how much it cost for this italian made kitchen? My builder gave me an estimate of $25K for a locally made kitchen. Wonder if my $25k can buy an italian kitchen from Kitchen Koncept. Also, my electrical quotation for power, lighting (points only, without fixtures)and DB came up to $24K for a built up of 3500sq ft, land 4300 sq ft. Working on tight budget so really wish to know if my quotes are reasonable.