Builder Vs Architect

[jumbopanther 2]

Hi All,

Thanks for sharing so much insights.

I've just bought an inter-terrace and would like to have your recommendations on builders/architects. Please send your recommendations to me directly at doreamon272@yahoo.com.sg

Hope to hear from you as this thread haven't been active for a long while.

Thanks.

U should go to T blog section, more info there

[pantieileen 2]

Went down with 2 contractors. One of them gave a rough quote of $120K for the works incl PE and submissions but excl materials to replace (e.g. tiles ..). All in shld be abt $160K plus. What was worrying was the timeframe - he gave 3 to 4 months.... that would be another $16K of rental for me while waiting for completion....

1-2week to clear the debri in the house like old furniture, set up toilet (now must build cannot use mobile toilet liao), canvas your house to protect neighbors

2-3weeks to hack down all the walls that you don't wnat and the old tiles so that's almost 1month liao

during this 1month they apply for submissions etc sometimes might delay and by the time u get approval maybe 2months

w/o approval after submissions, they cannot do anything otherwise illegal

then the next month onwards the real work start. 3-4months is about right. but if u sign contract now confirm stamp chop guarantee cannot complete before CNY

[rolex 0]

Hi all,

Been lurking ard since I sign my OTP. Now my excercise is almost completed, I will start my A&A works next week. Hope to learn from all the fellow forumers here!

[lawchensp 0]

Hi Forummers,

I need recommendations and review of builders for A&A/Reconstruction to my inter-terrace.

Appreciate your help to pm the review & contacts.

Thanks.

[jecheng 1]

Hi all,

After 2 mths of selection... i got myself a builder. This fella has been doing constructions for houses in the vicinity. So he has a good knowledge of the current house structure and terrain. He even brought me to view 6 already-done houses in the neighbourhood, which the owners warmly welcome him and me as their guests. Now talk about good rapport with past customers.... that is one builder I can trust.

Price $399k for A&A

Include

2000sqft to 3000sqft built up

2 sty to 2.5 sty

option of tiled (German flat tiles) or flat concrete rooftop

Airwell and super big sky light

DB to each sty

auto gate

all bedrooms, toilets and main door

chopping down of two existing trees

electrical wirings and plumbing pipings

only the staircase is retained... all other walls will be torn down

'envelope' facade walls all the way to the setback boundary

800 x 800 homo floor tiles (opt for all tiles as I dun like parquet)

Not Included

PE $18.5k (builder's partner... abit pricey, but since they got years of experience in the neighbourhood, they knew where are the problematic beams and columns... so can 'tackle' it, and submit for a-first-try-can-get-approve design.

aircon

toilet and kitchen vanity

lightings

carpentry

Will update all on my building progress.

Oh yah, to put up your construction for tender may not mean cheaper quotes. Tell you all next time.

Hello iamken,

The builder you used sounds good. Could you give me the builder's contact? And if convenient, advise on matters that I should take note of re A&A. I ca be contacted via jen.mrsliew@gmail.com

Thank you so much!!

[Guest Yiling Tan]

i just completed mine too. 2.5, i agree with what some the comments here, go with reliable instead of cheap... will save you in the long run. mine was the vicinity contractor as i observed his works first before engaging him.

in the end my neighbour also engaged him after she saw my done up place. im quite pleased with it also, aesthetics and praticality wise.

[Guest Yiling Tan]

see one day if im free can share some snapshots...till then

[MetalTab 3]

In the midst of re-con of a 2400 land inter

2-sty to 3-sty+roof terrace

from 2700sf to 4900sf

started Dec14 and TOP inspection next month.

Very happy with builder who has his own stable of workers - mix of PRC supervisors and Indian/Bangladeshi workers.

Builder organises them into 4 teams and each specialises in different stages of the building process - initial removal of walls, digging of RC trench; team 2 for the laying of the cement structures, footings and steel structures, team 3 for the brickwork, plastering, glasswork and tiling, team 4 for the painting, general cleaning.

He works with others for air-con, electricity and plumbing.

must say that these 8 months have been anxious period for my wife and I since this is the first time we are undertaking such a massive project.

But the builder has been a god-sent. Truly.

Not money-face

Not Mr VO (many I hear in the industry will come in cheap for quote and VO us to death...)

Not Mr Lazy

Not sub-standard

He is very responsible - they have been on schedule, in fact ahead of schedule by 3 months.

He does not take short cuts - I witnessed him instructing his workers to hack up some cement flooring that I thought was fine. I asked him why, and he said that he wasn't satisfied that the old flooring was good enough standard. OK, the cynics will say that he wayang... but that's hacking up 2 rooms of such old flooring after what seems like all cement work has been completed. And that took another 1week to re-do.

We went to the site almost everyday... and each time, there were about 8pax of workers around. They seemed to know their jobs, and were a happy bunch.

The carpenter I employed remarked that the kungfu of the workers were very good (my eyes can't really tell, but he told me that the quality of finishing shows their pride in their work).

Oh, my wife can be fickle ... changed the paint colour for different parts of the house like 2x and each time, the builder said "mei wen ti" (no problem). We felt bad, but he said that he wanted us to be happy as this is a big investment to us.

And he is quite fierce to his workers; was told by the supervisor that he can scold them until cry... I suppose it's good that they fear him...

Can't believe this right? Well, if you told me this, i wouldn't either... as in truth, this is my second builder... the first run off after I paid close to a CAT A COE of deposit... and set us back by a good half a year. So I suppose things even out in the end.

Guess, the industry is dipping with fewer projects, and choosing the right builder is most important.

Hope most of you will get the same type as this second builder.

About a month+ to go... and what a journey it has been.

Albest to all under-going and about to undergo their re-build, re-con, A+A.

Edited July 21, 2015 by MetalTab

[pkh 0]

In the midst of re-con of a 2400 land inter

2-sty to 3-sty+roof terrace

from 2700sf to 4900sf

started Dec14 and TOP inspection next month.

Very happy with builder who has his own stable of workers - mix of PRC supervisors and Indian/Bangladeshi workers.

Builder organises them into 4 teams and each specialises in different stages of the building process - initial removal of walls, digging of RC trench; team 2 for the laying of the cement structures, footings and steel structures, team 3 for the brickwork, plastering, glasswork and tiling, team 4 for the painting, general cleaning.

He works with others for air-con, electricity and plumbing.

must say that these 8 months have been anxious period for my wife and I since this is the first time we are undertaking such a massive project.

But the builder has been a god-sent. Truly.

Not money-face

Not Mr VO (many I hear in the industry will come in cheap for quote and VO us to death...)

Not Mr Lazy

Not sub-standard

He is very responsible - they have been on schedule, in fact ahead of schedule by 3 months.

He does not take short cuts - I witnessed him instructing his workers to hack up some cement flooring that I thought was fine. I asked him why, and he said that he wasn't satisfied that the old flooring was good enough standard. OK, the cynics will say that he wayang... but that's hacking up 2 rooms of such old flooring after what seems like all cement work has been completed. And that took another 1week to re-do.

We went to the site almost everyday... and each time, there were about 8pax of workers around. They seemed to know their jobs, and were a happy bunch.

The carpenter I employed remarked that the kungfu of the workers were very good (my eyes can't really tell, but he told me that the quality of finishing shows their pride in their work).

Oh, my wife can be fickle ... changed the paint colour for different parts of the house like 2x and each time, the builder said "mei wen ti" (no problem). We felt bad, but he said that he wanted us to be happy as this is a big investment to us.

And he is quite fierce to his workers; was told by the supervisor that he can scold them until cry... I suppose it's good that they fear him...

Can't believe this right? Well, if you told me this, i wouldn't either... as in truth, this is my second builder... the first run off after I paid close to a CAT A COE of deposit... and set us back by a good half a year. So I suppose things even out in the end.

Guess, the industry is dipping with fewer projects, and choosing the right builder is most important.

Hope most of you will get the same type as this second builder.

About a month+ to go... and what a journey it has been.

Albest to all under-going and about to undergo their re-build, re-con, A+A.

Did you start with an architect or builder? I am in the planning stage to recon my house. May I have your builder or achitect contact? How much did you spend? If you don't mind, may I drive by to take a look from outside? My email: paykh@hotmail.com. Thanks.

[fatpanda 0]

I am still in the midst of reconstructing my terrace (now building the attic). I went through the same phase as you do - whether to get an architect first or just work through the builder.

After weighing various factors (e.g. costs, experience and trustworthiness of builder) and visited various completed projects by different builders, I decided to work with my current builder. So far, the progress has been very good and he offered a very competitive quote.

[pkh 0]

I am still in the midst of reconstructing my terrace (now building the attic). I went through the same phase as you do - whether to get an architect first or just work through the builder.

After weighing various factors (e.g. costs, experience and trustworthiness of builder) and visited various completed projects by different builders, I decided to work with my current builder. So far, the progress has been very good and he offered a very competitive quote.

May I have your builder's contact? Thank you.

[fatpanda 0]

May I have your builder's contact? Thank you.

Hi pkh, I just PM you the builder's contact. Cheers!

[reesekimberlysg 0]

I myself am still confused on the difference between the two. Read somewhere that if you engage contractors, you will be the one planning different timelines and processes. They just build according to the design you provided. Hence, if you know an architect, consult with him/her first.

[serangoony 0]

In the midst of re-con of a 2400 land inter

2-sty to 3-sty+roof terrace

from 2700sf to 4900sf

started Dec14 and TOP inspection next month.

Very happy with builder who has his own stable of workers - mix of PRC supervisors and Indian/Bangladeshi workers.

Builder organises them into 4 teams and each specialises in different stages of the building process - initial removal of walls, digging of RC trench; team 2 for the laying of the cement structures, footings and steel structures, team 3 for the brickwork, plastering, glasswork and tiling, team 4 for the painting, general cleaning.

He works with others for air-con, electricity and plumbing.

must say that these 8 months have been anxious period for my wife and I since this is the first time we are undertaking such a massive project.

But the builder has been a god-sent. Truly.

Not money-face

Not Mr VO (many I hear in the industry will come in cheap for quote and VO us to death...)

Not Mr Lazy

Not sub-standard

He is very responsible - they have been on schedule, in fact ahead of schedule by 3 months.

He does not take short cuts - I witnessed him instructing his workers to hack up some cement flooring that I thought was fine. I asked him why, and he said that he wasn't satisfied that the old flooring was good enough standard. OK, the cynics will say that he wayang... but that's hacking up 2 rooms of such old flooring after what seems like all cement work has been completed. And that took another 1week to re-do.

We went to the site almost everyday... and each time, there were about 8pax of workers around. They seemed to know their jobs, and were a happy bunch.

The carpenter I employed remarked that the kungfu of the workers were very good (my eyes can't really tell, but he told me that the quality of finishing shows their pride in their work).

Oh, my wife can be fickle ... changed the paint colour for different parts of the house like 2x and each time, the builder said "mei wen ti" (no problem). We felt bad, but he said that he wanted us to be happy as this is a big investment to us.

And he is quite fierce to his workers; was told by the supervisor that he can scold them until cry... I suppose it's good that they fear him...

Can't believe this right? Well, if you told me this, i wouldn't either... as in truth, this is my second builder... the first run off after I paid close to a CAT A COE of deposit... and set us back by a good half a year. So I suppose things even out in the end.

Guess, the industry is dipping with fewer projects, and choosing the right builder is most important.

Hope most of you will get the same type as this second builder.

About a month+ to go... and what a journey it has been.

Albest to all under-going and about to undergo their re-build, re-con, A+A.

Hi MetalTab, could you kindly PM me your builder contact?

[aaronsia 0]

Hi all.

Just bought a 2 sty terrace 2000sqft land. Want to convert it into a 2.5 sty with the usual touch up to the current interior.

Have approached a few builders who have took copies of my structural drawings to conceptualise (with their architects and PEs) designs and get back to me on the estimated costs (no obligations).

However, another builder strongly suggests that I get my own architect to design the new layout. Then base on that layout, I go approach builders for building quotes.

Can anyone advise which is the better option? Kinda blur here. Any recommendation on architects or builders?

The builders I have approached:

Aaeon

Koong Yee

Eurobuilders

Acespeed

John-Best

Appreciate any help from forumners. Cheers.

i would recommend my builder who did design & build for me at Bishan & Joo Chiat Semi.

they are efficient and honest.

you may reach them at kl.design@outlook.sg ( Kwong Long Building Construction Pte Ltd)