diy Top @Kew Drive

[BunBun 5]

I would use it if I can but I currently have 2 blenders and not enough countertop space for the juicer.

Only option to sell it.. Or else wasted since brand new!

[back to Table of Contents]

I think you should use it. Some of my electrical items do not work after a long time of non-use.

The slow juicer can also make purée. It makes fruit juices with much less wastage as compared to normal juicer. You can adjust according to how much pulp you want in the juice.

Edited November 18, 2014 by BunBun

[X6GT 3]

The contractor quoted the following repairs:

I learnt quite a bit from this contractor. He did a quick drawing for me to show that for the toilet floor, there should be a first layer of tiles/marble, followed by a porous cement/sand screed, then the water-proof membrane which sits just above the hard concrete floor slab. I had thought that the water-proofing is done somewhere just below the tiles, to prevent the water from penetrating into the floor, but he said no. He said many contractors just hack away the tiles to do the water-proofing but this is wrong. He says the correct way is to hack away not just the tiles but also the cement/sand screed all the way to the hard concrete.

He further explained that water is bound to seep between the tiles into the cement/sand screed. But this layer is porous and meant to allow the water to flow to the floor trap. And that is why if you look at the floor trap closely, the sides of the first few cm of the down pipe are very rough, made up of cement/sand screed only. It is only further down that the sides are smooth PVC. If the sides of your down pipe are smooth all the way from the opening to down below, it looks really nice but it is wrong!

I also came across a HDB video clip on inter-floor seepage repairs. The process is similar to what my contractor described.

Hi bro, your this contractor seems pretty good and forthright. Is the workmanship good, are you having any problems at this juncture? Do they do small wet works jobs? And most importantly, are they decently priced...? If so, could you please share their contact? Thanks

[Ks Toh 74]

Hi bro, your this contractor seems pretty good and forthright. Is the workmanship good, are you having any problems at this juncture? Do they do small wet works jobs? And most importantly, are they decently priced...? If so, could you please share their contact? Thanks

Hi, I posted his contact here.

After the initial repair, the yard roof continued to have small leaks. All the other places were fine. The contractor came back at least twice. Currently, there is still a small leak sometimes at the yard roof when it rains. But it may not be the contractor's fault. Short of changing the entire roof, it is quite difficult to arrest the leak completely for this roof.

I would still recommend this contractor as he appears decent. There is no harm asking him for a quote.

[Ks Toh 74]

Nurseries at Bah Soon Pah Road (off Sembawang Road)

In my earlier posts, I named a number of nurseries that I frequent: Pioneer, Far East Flora, Lai Seng etc. One of my favourites is World Farm (Hua Hng) at 15 Bah Soon Pah Road. This place is just next to Khatib Camp, opposite Dieppe Barracks (my former reservist camp!). They have a wide selection of potted plants and prices are usually cheaper than your neighbourhood nursery.

Edited January 19, 2016 by Ks Toh

[Ks Toh 74]

Recycling

Over the weekend, I visited the farm to buy some potted plants and organic liquid fertiliser for my vertical garden. I brought along some of their empty organic liquid fertiliser containers, as it was printed on the containers that I could get $2 off for each empty container I returned.

To my surprise, the assistant who attended to me appeared genuinely shocked when I produced the empty containers and asked for $2 off for each new container I was purchasing. It seemed like I was the first person ever to ask for the $2. He referred me to the female supervisor who promptly proclaimed that the price of $6.80 they were selling was already $2 discounted off the normal price of $8.

This is exactly the same sales tactic used by LPG suppliers like Union Gas and Tan Brothers. I don't know why Singapore merchants never honour promises. I did not bother to argue with the supervisor. Did not bother to tell her that the price label on all the containers and on their website was normal $6.80. I did not want to quibble over $2 (total $6 as I had three bottles) or look silly in front of other customers. So, i just paid up. But I purposely take back my empty containers (they did not ask anyway) to throw into my recycling bin back home. I also did not bother to tell her that she undercharged me $1 each for 5 of my plants (I normally would have).

I wonder if perhaps there is some scheme by NEA whereby the merchant gets some incentive or grant for this kind of recycling scheme. So the merchant pretends to implement it or merely pays lip service?

Edited January 19, 2016 by Ks Toh

[Ks Toh 74]

I put the empty plastic bottles into my blue recycling bin.

In Singapore, it is fairly easy as you do not need to sort out the recyclables. You can put glass, paper, plastic and metal into the same bin.

Edited November 26, 2014 by kstoh

[Ks Toh 74]

When I stayed at a few days in a motel in Yokohama, Japan, the innkeeper gave me an A4 piece of paper with detailed instructions and told me to study it carefully. The instructions were so detailed to the point of being ridiculous.

Every morning before the designated time, you had to bring the specified type of recyclables to the recycling point. You could not cheat because the items had to be in clear transparent plastic bags and the recycling point was visible to everyone. It was really too difficult for visitors like me.

Edited November 26, 2014 by kstoh

[BunBun 5]

If you notice that in Japan, the streets are really clean! During my stay in japan last time, I couldn't even see any rubbish litter on the streets. Even there are no rubbish outside of the bins unlike

how the rubbish is strewn around the bins in HDB void decks & surroundings when the bins are full. I discovered that the japanese are extremely FIT because their train exits are via 2-3 stories of staircases as well.

There are those who stay in apartments and recycling is done manually on designated days because if one misses the time to throw out the garbage, the garbage will have to stay with him until the next time.

Frankly, the values of being clean, organized and clutter free is pretty much doctrined in japanese people that they clean up after them which I think is not bad because it teaches youngsters the same value and the youngsters also see their seniors walk the talk too.

When I stayed at a few days in a motel in Yokohama, Japan, the innkeeper gave me an A4 piece of paper with detailed instructions and told me to study it carefully. The instructions were so detailed to the point of being ridiculous.

Every morning before the designated time, you had to bring the specified type of recyclables to the recycling point. You could not cheat because the items had to be in clear transparent plastic bags and the recycling point was visible to everyone. It was really too difficult for visitors like me.

[Ks Toh 74]

Just came across this iPhone app that is SO COOL. If I am doing renovations now, I will definitely use it. I don't even mind paying S$5.98 for the Pro version.

Download the iPhone App from here:

https://itunes.apple.com/sg/app/roomscan-app-that-draws-floor/id571436618?mt=8

This is the Pro version, if you are interested.

Edited January 30, 2015 by Ks Toh

[MrK 2]

hi KS Toh, I'm looking for indoor plants. Where will be a good place to start?

[sweetmoomoo 0]

HI MR Toh!

Several things:

1. Your blog is really really informative!

2. Your house is stunning!

I am currently in the midst of shortlisting several IDs/contractors. Like your wife, I already have a really clear idea on what the style/design/material I intend to use for my renovation, and hence whoever I choose to work with will mainly be doing the wetworks/ project coordination. I also intend to get a kitchen specialist to do my kitchen.

Can I please find out the contact of your ID? It looks like whoever did your tiling did a good job (based on what I can see from photos anyway). I need to cast my net a little wider because the contractor I thought I will end up working with, had less than mediocare workmanship, especially when it comes to tiling.

Sorry to be asking you this question (when you have been asked this countless times), but I am nearly vomiting blood with this ID/contractor hunt. Hope to hear from you. Thanks!

Edited March 12, 2015 by sweetmoomoo

[Ks Toh 74]

Hi

Apologies as I missed your questions.

hi KS Toh, I'm looking for indoor plants. Where will be a good place to start?

I normally buy my plants from the row of nurseries along Bedok South Road, although I also buy from Ikea, World Farm & Pioneer nurseries along Bah Soon Pah Road. I gave details in one of my earlier posts.

HI MR Toh!

Several things:

1. Your blog is really really informative!

2. Your house is stunning!

I am currently in the midst of shortlisting several IDs/contractors. Like your wife, I already have a really clear idea on what the style/design/material I intend to use for my renovation, and hence whoever I choose to work with will mainly be doing the wetworks/ project coordination. I also intend to get a kitchen specialist to do my kitchen.

Can I please find out the contact of your ID? It looks like whoever did your tiling did a good job (based on what I can see from photos anyway). I need to cast my net a little wider because the contractor I thought I will end up working with, had less than mediocare workmanship, especially when it comes to tiling.

Sorry to be asking you this question (when you have been asked this countless times), but I am nearly vomiting blood with this ID/contractor hunt. Hope to hear from you. Thanks!

The ID I used left his previous firm, one of the bigger ones. He is a young easy going chap and now on his own. I can give you his contact by PM if you want. I think the more important question is the tiler he uses. That makes all the difference. Not so much the ID.

[Ks Toh 74]

I had no time to post this earlier. Then Mr LKY passed away and I did not think it was appropriate to post something so cheerful. Anyway, now that it is over ...

Chinese New Year 2015

Every Chinese New Year, we like to put up some decorations and some pots of plants. The favourite for the main door will be the Four Season Lime. Last year, I bought from Pioneer Landscape. This year, I found the best place to buy such plants: Thong Hup Gardens at Jurong West St 25, off Jalan Bahar. I saw the biggest selection of CNY plants, especially Four Season Lime. The prices here were much cheaper than elsewhere. I bought my 12" Four Season Lime for $68. At the nurseries in Bedok, they were selling at $98 to $108. I bought two of them plus some other plants and one box mandarin oranges to add up to $200 for free delivery.

Yes, these are the gigantic ones found outside banks and large departmental stores.

Edited April 3, 2015 by Ks Toh

[Ks Toh 74]

Four Season Lime is from China where the climate is different. After CNY, you can plant the lime in the ground or continue to use the pot. They will survive but not as much lime as you first saw.

The two middle ones are freshly planted from this year's. The two taller outside ones are from last year.

Edited April 3, 2015 by Ks Toh

[Ks Toh 74]

Long Reach Prunner

For those with tall plants, a long reach prunner (also called bypass cutting fruit picker) is very useful. I first saw it in Phuket but did not know how to bring it back as it was very long. I saw it at Bedok Nursery at $150+. Then I saw it at World Farm at $68. I immediately bought it. It is very useful.

It is telescopic and extendable up to 3 metres.

Edited April 3, 2015 by Ks Toh