Ray Tay Hong Choon 4 Report post Posted April 16, 2014 The laying of tiles started on 12 Apr. The kitchen tiles has been hacked including the tiles on the wall edge. The kitchen will appear smaller but I will gain a bigger space for my dining area. Due to some workmanship issue during the cement screening done by the HDB main con, the living room tiles will not be levelled with the kitchen tiles. The kitchen tiles will be slightly lower which turned out to be a good thing as I can wash the kitchen without worrying flooding the hall. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Puggy 13 Report post Posted April 16, 2014 My loot from taobao finally arrived on 9 Apr by sea after more than 1 month.Almost $3,000 worth of items which include basins, taps, lights, wallpaper, rain shower set, TV wall mount bracket, ceiling fan, curtain rod etc....wahhhooooWow S$3k worth of taobao stuff! Which freight forwarder did you use? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BH72 8 Report post Posted April 16, 2014 The next stage is the most demanding process, ID or contractor, design? Everyone seems to be pushing their ID/contractor to me. Met up with a few of them and finally decided since new HDB are almost the same, I shall engage myself as the ID and design something that reflect my own personality and practical for my own use. I decided to take the Zen approach and select the contractor which are tested with positive feedback and reasonable costs.I ended with 3 major groups, 1 x main con responsible for flooring, false ceiling and wall and hacking of wall, 1 x electrician and 1 x carpentry. The rest of the miscellaneous installation will be handled by myself, namely, doors, gas heater, storage rack for bomb shelter and glass door for MBR toilet. The reason I have chosen this route is because time is not an essence but quality is.I came up with a 2D drawing to instruct the contractors what I want and the 3D drawings is in my head Doors are not easy to install by yourself. You done it before?You will sand and varnish the bedroom doors too? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BH72 8 Report post Posted April 16, 2014 The sand haulage done on 10 Apr. The cost was $950 direct from the main con!! :curse:The sand must have contained gold element for it to command such a high price. As the per the reno contractor, the sand haulage for a 5rm re-sale flat is about $300. But the reno contractor is forced to buy the sand only from the main con for new BTO. The big profit dun know goes into whose pockets? Even the tiles have been monopolised, you can't find any similar tiles in the market and you can only buy the tiles from the main con. The cost for a 1ft by 1ft of ceramic tile is $5! They really penalised the owner for not opting in on the flooring Ya, the sand is very expensive. Premixed mortar or even tile adhesive would not have cost so much. At least you don't need to add sand and the proportion is correctly mixed in factory. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ray Tay Hong Choon 4 Report post Posted April 16, 2014 Wow S$3k worth of taobao stuff! Which freight forwarder did you use?I'm using Trading One, they are prompt in their reply and service is good. Had ordered many times from them and satisfied with their level of service.Doors are not easy to install by yourself. You done it before?You will sand and varnish the bedroom doors too?Not going to DIY the door. Will coordinate myself to install the door from ****Ya, the sand is very expensive. Premixed mortar or even tile adhesive would not have cost so much. At least you don't need to add sand and the proportion is correctly mixed in factory.I am comparing the raw sand haulage price for both resale and BTO. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BH72 8 Report post Posted April 16, 2014 oic. Looking forward to see your reno progress Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ray Tay Hong Choon 4 Report post Posted April 19, 2014 Not much progress for the past few days except for the tiling for the walls have been done. Things are starting to fall into place as what I have visualized. Took the opportunity to paint the sealer on the false ceiling over the weekends.Yes, the painting works will be DIY as my whole family likes to paint It does not require much skills to do the job and I can use the best paint available than to outsource and use a lower quality paint. Next week, the lights will be up follow by more painting. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ray Tay Hong Choon 4 Report post Posted May 23, 2014 (edited) Have not been updating my thread for sometime due to my busy schedule. The contractors have done a good job and the flooring and the doors have been installed. Now still in DIYing phase for painting and all the fixtures installation before commencing on the carpentry works.The birds have decided to make a nest with lights at my MBR Full stainless steel rain shower setLED kitchen lightMini baby fanEmergency light to fit the theme for the bomb shelterMirror on the ceiling to see my balding headVento Sole wannabe ceiling light fanAll conceal aircon ductingThe only exposed piping for aircon at the cm toliet Edited May 23, 2014 by DeadEnd Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ray Tay Hong Choon 4 Report post Posted June 10, 2014 (edited) My reno is progressing slowly but is slowing taking shape.Pano view of the living room with sun flower liked ceiling light fan.The gas water heater is installed on the opposite wall of the tap inlet for the washing machine. The reason is to tap the cold water supply from the common toilet basin so that the person bathing will not be scorch by the hot water when the washing machine is in operation.Premium L series rack made of aluminum from Storage Rack. Price slightly more expensive but it is real nice to look at. A small price to pay compared to the useful life of the rack.Pano view of MBR. Yet to have the time to DIY the wallpaper on the 2 feature wall. Edited June 10, 2014 by DeadEnd Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ray Tay Hong Choon 4 Report post Posted June 16, 2014 Lights up! Now all works have been completed except for carpentry. My renovation journey have been very smooth so far even through I have split my contractors into 4 groups with all the coordination works handled by me. The contractors have been given the detail plan of the renovation requirements before the start and they just execute to my plan accordingly. It isn't an nightmare as most describe and in fact I have learned a lot from the contractors by talking to them and observing their works.1) Maincon - hacking false ceiling, false wall, wall tiling and flooring tiling2) Subcon 1 - electrical rewiring and aircon3) Subcon 2 Carpentry4) Subcon 3 (ME) - renovation design, taobao purchaser, run network cable, install ceiling light, install ceiling fan, painting, paste wallpaper, coordinate door, gas heater installation and storeroom rack.The purpose of appointing a few contractors are not only for cost saving but also getting a contractor which has been tested by my friends and I have seen their works personally. It also allowed by wallet to get a breather and I can break the work into different phase as I am not in a hurry to complete it.So far, all my purchases from Taobao is working fine and I am expecting my 3rd batch of shipment this week! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ray Tay Hong Choon 4 Report post Posted June 19, 2014 (edited) Yippee, my 3rd batch of Taobao arrived.And here is the eagerly awaited valve amp being enclosed in solid wooden carton box.Tested it last nite and it definitely sounds better than my solid state MF on first run. Edited June 19, 2014 by DeadEnd Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Songz 132 Report post Posted June 24, 2014 Great work for your Reno. Must have been tiring to do the planning and over seeing the works. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
HansamuQ 5 Report post Posted June 25, 2014 Looking good your pictures. Saw that you are using rain shower set with gas heater, how is the water pressure? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ray Tay Hong Choon 4 Report post Posted June 26, 2014 Water pressure still useable even when turn to full hot water. But I think I will set the heater temp to max and use less hot water so that i can enjoy the heavy downpour from the rain shower.Does anyone know if there is any difference in term of gas consumption if one set to a lower temp but uses more hot water to the mix and the other set higher temp and uses less hot water to the mix to achieve the desire shower temp? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ray Tay Hong Choon 4 Report post Posted June 30, 2014 Finally able to took some time off to clean the house and hang the painting.Pasted the wallpaper behind my bed headboardThe toilet look more Atas with addition of warm lights even with original fittings and tiling.Airport runway at foyer 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
