The Journey To My Home Sweet Home: Modern Contemporary 3-Bedroom Condo

[OurLittleSmarties 0]

Outdoor Wood Decking:

We’re going to have an after-work husband-and-wife chillax corner, a kid’s outdoor play area (mini putting green), and a small garden (with hanging plants) in our front balcony with the size of 5m x 2m.

A combination of artificial green turf and wood-decking is very beautiful, so I certainly recommend it. Combining the chillax corner with kid’s play area, this idea is practical and low maintenance too. We love putting live plants to enhance the beauty of our balcony. A beautiful wall with hanging planters instantly brings us the ‘fresh garden vibes’ without wasting our precious floor space.

Edited November 29, 2015 by OurLittleSmarties

[OurLittleSmarties 0]

Here’s sharing with you some important pointers that I’ve learnt from my own experience thus far on balcony renovation.

1. Outdoor flooring options

In general, there are 7 types of outdoor flooring options – ceramic tiles, pebble wash, cement screed, natural wood, wood-plastic composite (WPC), artificial turf and outdoor rugs.

The original tiles in my balcony still look acceptable to me, albeit plain-looking. But I don’t think I’ll ever get down to my knees to scrub the tiles. My worst fear is when moulds started to grow in the grouts, and I’m so OCD, I’ll be very annoyed looking at it. Thus, laying wood decking is a must to me.

WPC is timber made of 100% recycled plastic and wood materials. It’s widely used in outdoor decking nowadays because it’s more environmentally-friendly and requires less maintenance than solid wood. As this is a processed wood, it does not have the natural weakness of solid timber (i.e. warping, splitting and cracks), making it a durable product that is sure to last.

I also love to have a lot of “greens” in my house, which is why I choose artificial turf. Contrary to misconception that artificial turf is difficult to clean, it’s actually pretty easy to maintain. Just vacuum it using a vacuum cleaner or spray it with a hose to remove dust and other small debris that have accumulated between the grass fibres.

Beneath the artificial turf, there’s a layer of high-quality fibres (white layer) that acts as a backing system and an AirDrain System (the black plastic pockets that you see in the picture) that provides rapid water drainage to prevent surface ponding.

2. Design and space planning

To design your outdoor space, take into considerations: 1) usage and function of your outdoor areas, 2) colour options, 3) size, 4) safety and child-friendliness, 5) amount of sunlight and rain you’ll be getting, 6) outdoor furniture, and 7) lighting.

The first and most important question to ask is – What do you intend to use your outdoor space for? An after-work chill corner, reading, kid’s play area, gardening, alfresco dining, relaxation, exercising, storage, or simply hanging your laundries (I gotta be honest!). From there, take into considerations the other factors I’ve listed above.

3. Maintenance fees to upkeep

Be realistic, nothing is completely maintenance-free. For WPC, it’s recommended to do a protective coat re-varnishing every 2 years to maintain its glossy look. Do check on the maintenance fees and procedures with your vendor before deciding on your decking options.

4. Installation process, warranty period from vendor, and guidelines from developers

Every developer has their own rules and regulations for outdoor space renovation. Be sure to check your resident’s handbook before you start renovating your outdoor spaces.

I can’t emphasize the importance of engaging a reliable and experienced vendor to carry-out your outdoor renovation works. Be sure to check on their warranty period as well as installation process. I understand that there are various decking installation processes – they can be a permanent fixture, semi-permanent or removable.

5. Budget

Lastly, setting a budget is the most important part of your renovation. Price everything out first, stay within your means, and maximize the most out of your budget. Bear in mind that most interior design companies outsource the “non-core” works like wood decking and painting to other vendors. You may be able to save some costs by engaging a vendor directly to carry-out your outdoor decking, rather than paying a mark-up price to your ID.

Read my detailed blog here if you're interested: Outdoor Wood Decking

Edited November 29, 2015 by OurLittleSmarties

[lovejade 0]

can i ask what is the dimension of the study room? mm v mm. thanks

[lovejade 0]

can i ask what is the dimension of the study room? mm v mm. thanks

[Relacker 1]

So nice still need to reno ??? Lol

[Lyamani 21]

Hi glad to have come across someone who's gotten a new condo n looking at enhancing it.very eager to see ur progress n end result as we are looking at a similar plan in a few years time..do update us!

[EmilyChong 0]

Hi,

Looking for good review ID and electrician. Any recommendation?

Thanks in advanced.

emilyvoon1982@gmail.com

[OurLittleSmarties 0]

Sorry for not updating for so long. I have moved in and here's a long post on my new home tour that I've painstakingly recorded on my blog. 

Read the full post here: http://ourlittlesmarties.com/2016/04/bartley-residences-home-tour/

 

[jamescoane 2]

This is just awesome, I think this is perfect with all facilities every thing is there, don't need to go outside...