DAY 12 OF RENO

nothing was done today. one day wasted.

tiler called to say he's not coming due to heavy rain at in the afternoon?! all aircon related works were halted till we resolved trunking issue. and these partition board which were left here over the weekend... workers are coming in either Tuesday or Wednesday.

these are heavy! hope it wont fall and crush me to death!
due to the trunking dispute, aircon guys stopped all work till we finalised the issue with ID. so, we met up on site to discuss the trunking again...

messy bunch of piping from study
another messy bunch from MBR's bathroom
view is so clear even from the MSCP.
the trunking for this room is done this way because this will ensure all connection are done within ease of reach for workers and their tools. if we insist on not doing the trunking, the connection will end up across the hall wall, not in the corner behind the doors because it's a right angle, the tools might not be able to reach. and since we are doing a box up in the hall way, it will not be practical because future maintenance will be very costly and almost not possible without damaging the box up. solutions given were either remove trunking from room and dont do box up in the hall way or do a back-to-back installation with the room next door.

this is the hall way between the MBR and JJ's room. will do a box-up along this stretch so it's not advisable for any trunking to be conceal within. otherwise we will have to cut open the box for any aircon maintenance.

it's a really headache because there's 'beauty' route cant co-exist with 'practical' route. so the conclusion, we have to bear with this unsightly trunking, leave it as it is.

the trunking for MBR ends 3/4 into the room. to beautify the place, instead of doing a 'half' box up, the partition will be extended towards the door frame. the unit will be just above the door.

the only rooms with little or no trunking seen are Jas's room and the study due to smooth connection and false wall.


the whole trunking will be concealed within a false wall
the whole trunking will be either shorten or remove completely
the aircon guys did this trunking in the 1st place because it balance up with the room next door. it also helps to hid any gap between the unit and the wall. but we decided it's not very nice and not necessary, so we decided to remove the trunking. even if it cant be removed completely, a short portion of the trunking will be hidden behind the door.

one day wasted, no work except talk... anyway now that the trunking issue is settled, hopefully work can resume asap so we can move in for X'mas.

PHILLIPS CARNIVAL SALE 2011

lights and only lights, nothing else.

we were there for less than an hour, mainly for the SGD80 Easy Scene Starter Set.


pay cash and get ur lights on the spot
lights for various rooms were purchased from different shops along Balestier Road. Will post once they are up and ready.

if not for the crowd and mess at payment/collection line, i would love a new standing garment steaming, perhaps the new air fryer... it's fun even if it's just a look see.

DAY 9 & 10 OF RENO

so gratful to tiler who redo the table top without much fuss. he has began titling work for the table top.

new table top, new measurements completed with tiles
markings and allowances for cabinet base
from 10", the distance between sink and stove is now 17"
i'm so happy with the before/after look... hopefully tiler can finish the cabinet base soon.

raw look, tile finishing
as for aircon installation, works has stopped temporarily. the trunking and casing position are not what we visualise previously. even though we have spoken to the aircon guys prior installation, the trunking for this particular bedroom is really unacceptable.

why must the piping be extended across the doorframe and across to the left? why can it just be hiding by the corner just below the beam?

this in the mbr is seem ridiculous? trunking stopped 3/4 in the room, yet another outlet is being hacked for the unit from the left?

we are really new to these stuff and it's giving me a terrible headache being the messenger between the ID and the one paying for box-up and other services.

can i just wave my magic wand and let everything fall neatly, nicely yet practically in place?

DAY 8 OF RENO

it's back to work after yesterday's break.

we gotten the sink and stove to the unit as requested by the tiler to redo the table top. i was a bit worried the tiler would blew his top at me due to my fickle-mindedness to widen the space between sink and stove.

later the same afternoon, i was told by ID that the current sample top cant be used because the measurements of the sink and stove given in the catalogues are not accurate, the actual stuff cant be fitted into the mould?!

so, it's not entirely my fault if i've requested the tiler to redo the table. the issue now is the cut-out dimension given by the suppliers are inaccurate. thank god, i'm spared from a scolding from the tiler. anyway, this time round, i specifically and confidently told him i want a distance of at least 15-18" between sink and stove. no more, no less, no more changes.

i'm glad he made these for me within the same day.

new moulds for sink and stove
is this for sink or stove?
sink or stove? the indent is for tap? battery ignition?
aircon trunking was also being done today, the bedrooms are all done up but due to heavy downpour, outdoor work seems a bit delayed.

trunking left dangling on the aircon latch
trunking for bedroom 2 and 3, across hallway
trunking for study

RUBINE SINK & RINNAI HOB

self collect these from Poh Seng today.

still in strink wrap!
tiler took out to take measurements den return the items nicely into the box
i'm re-doing my table top due to spacing issue. lucky we brought the items to site and let the tiler took measurements, he later feedback that the dimension given in the product catalogues are inaccurate for both sink and hob.

so even without the sink and stove spacing issue, he has to redo the table top because the items wont be able to fit in.

DEEPAVALI - DAY 7 OF RENO

no work today due to public holiday.

ID given us 4 books of laminates, and honestly, i really have little and no idea how this small pieces of 4 x 2cm sample is going to be on a larger scale?


Despite having done our homework, we went to ID's office and spent more than 3 hours confirming the theme of the house. chosen various colors for our bedrooms, different types of laminates for shoe cabinets, wardrobes, feature walls and cabinets in bathrooms and kitchen.

the 2nd draft of 3D drawings should be ready by this weekend, if all is OK, the carpenters will start the construction of cabinets.

DAY 6 OF RENO

seems like not much been done today?

electrician shifted the location of my kitchen's light switches and tidied up his work station.


the current switch location will get block by my swing door, so have to relocate it
tiler gotten more bags of cement, seems like he getting ready for kitchen and washing machine based.

the moulds for sink and hob are up. but i really cant accept the small space of 10inches between the water and fire so i requested he reconstruct the moulds with a distance of 15inches.

the moulds are up, see the small space between the sink and hob? it's not even enough to put a decent chopping board.

tiler even did a smooth finishing beneath the mould so that my hands wont be cut by rough edges.

really hate to request the tiler to reconstruct the mould but really got no choice as the space is unbearable.

tomorrow is holiday, will be heading to ID's office to confirm the laminate and color theme.

DAY 5 OF RENO

yesterday was sunday.

tiler finished up the shower kerbs in the both bathrooms today. nice job!

kerb finished with original hdb tiles in master bathroom
same finishing in the common bathroom
but all happiness were short-lived and i had a rude shock when i saw this wire casing out of no where on my kitchen wall!
now i know why my ID said that the gas pipe should turn right then down instead of the current position the citygas guy did...zzzz. now i'll end up with 2 box up or i just leave the wire casing as it is. sianz to the max liao lor!

now just hope that cabinets would be up soon to cover up this casing.

DAY 3 OF RENO

tiler did up the shower kerb for both bathrooms and also did a sample mould top for my sink and hob.

raw kerb in common bathroom
raw kerb in master bathroom
hob mould on left, sink mould on right
electrician tied up loose wires, shifted light and heater switches to other side of wall and did a new concealed outlet for the study room.

wires are tied up neatly
new switches position on the left
hacked new conceal outlet for scv point and double socket
a short week ~ end of week 1.

next week, the base and titles for the kitchen base should be up, washing machine base will be constructed, aircon trunking also scheduled on thursday noon, after the deepavali holidays.

DAY 2 OF RENO

the action begins today! citygas installation, electrical works and construction of kitchen base.

i cant believed i was locked out of my own unit b'cos i couldnt get the lock to open?!? i gave up after trying for 15mins.

the appointment time for citygas installation supposed to be between 1100 - 1330hrs, but i gotten a call at 0920hrs, the guy asking if i'm at my unit?!? PANIC ~ how? i cant get my lock to unlock and the workers not here yet...zzz. anyway, after asking for help finally open the tupid lock with the citygas guy showing up within 5mins.

this guy is really expert liao! one look at the kitchen, he confirm the position of the pipes, measure the necessary, give the copper pipes a few bends, drill a few holes, clip the pipes in place...THAT'S IT! he proceed to the riser outside the unit, check the pressure, signed a OK and he's off - GONE IN LESS THAN 10MINS!!

all nicely done!
electricians came punctually, much to my relieved. after a short discussion and they are down to work!! efficient lor!

machiam octopus' tentacles ^^
and a pleasant surprise after lunch. the tiler actually did all these by himself in an hour's time?! wow!

this 3 pillars is going to support my sink and stove, it's still raw but will be done up nicely with my harfary tiles.

such a happening day 2. tomorrow is a weekend, also end of week 1.

动土 - DAY 1 OF RENO

as per my Feng Shui Master instructions, I was at my unit by 0700hrs and the actually prayers took place exactly at 0715hrs.


thereafter, I waited more than 3hrs before my ID and tiler showed up at my doorstep 15mins apart of each other.

anyway, I left quickly after some final instructions to my ID so I dont hinder their work.

i return very much later and found these done.

cement and concrete slabs for the cabinet supports and base are moved into the kitchen.
whole unit covered nicely with brand new protection.
the bedrooms are not spared.

ps. later that evening abt 1840hrs, received a call from my ID that our tiles which we ordered from Hafary were gone. stolen by competitors? stolen by workers to be sold off? taken by mistake? we are not sure. all the stuff were at the loading/unloading bay when we left at 1140hrs, the tiler, the ID, and myself were there, i tot they were going to get help to shift up the stuff, but cant believed it happened! anyway, no police report were made since no one was there to look after the good, the guys went to the mscp for a smoke and i left...so well, Hafary will sent down another batch tomorrow, this time round, i'll make sure they send it up to my unit. haizzz so much for a first day.

A VIDEO OF MY FLAT

with the defects all rectified, reno will officially begin tomorrow.

i took this opportunity to film my unit in it's raw state.



the clip is approx 6mins long.

LAST OF MY DEFECTS

gotten my keys on 14 sept 2011, submitted the defect list on 20 sept 2011 with more than 30 defects ranging from rusty tap filters to hollow timber strips.

some defects were taken care of quickly and efficiently but some are really a pain in the neck!

timber flooring - the hdb should seriously consider SCRAPING THIS ITEM OFF for all future projects! i cant believed that more than half of these timber strips were hollow, scratched in all my 3 bedrooms! not forgetting about maintaining it in future.

hdb doors - forget about taking this option during signing your agreement. none of my doors are perfect! NONE-ZERO! scratches, chipped laminates, door magnets didnt align.

even the metal gate is troublesome! it failed to align and thus, my ID couldnt start work bcos the secure lock cant go thru the holes!

and hdb is taken their own sweet time to get the respective contractors for each job. and this contractors is another bunch of guys who cant be bothered about rectifying the defects!

imagine having made an appointment, and exchange contacts, the contractor got me wasted my whole morning waiting for him to show up with no success only to know, 'opps I forgotten about the appt?!'

fuming! first the troublesome flooring correction now just because of 1 gate, my ID cant start the reno?

volcano erupting! stomp into BSC office, bang table and kbkp liao! results!! give me results and solution and not more problems!!

so this is what i got at the end of the day!

the hdb inspector gotten the contractor to arrange another appt again. NO I WANT IT DONE BY TODAY!

contractor apologised, arranged for mangalis workers to fix it for me this evening.

both hdb inspector and contractor said i need not be present ...blah blah blah, but thanks goodness i did! i stood there, taking pixs and stare hard at them while the 2 busy with the replacement... at the same time, they happily chat chat in their language and even got time to answer calls on hp. ok close one eye to it.

after replacing new gate, now the other side gotten stuck, lock holes are still not align and it's edges are rough. they attempted to kick, bent, drills the 3 panels but honestly, even a 3 yr old knows that they are just making a fool of themselves! mangalis now attempted to walk off saying job done, i didnt bring secure lock so cannot smooth the edges for me blah blah blah shit shit shit nonsense nonsense .... you didnt do a good job in the 1st place, now the correction job you also screwed up worst, you try to bluff me saying it's all done?? FED UP RING UP HDB INSPECTOR TO COME UP NOW!

really these FT, nice to them say foreign talents, not nice really foreign trash! taking me as a toothless tiger!

with the hdb inspector and myself around to LOOK CLOSELY at their work, kuai kuai, keep their hp, get down to serious work. smooth the rough edges align the gates all over again so that my lock can go thru. they even vanish the handles of the gate!

老虎不发威，把我当死描！

now that the last defect is being corrected, i can finally rest and relax for the next 2 days before my reno commences.

3D DRAWINGS - 1st DRAFT

my 3D drawings are here.

main view of living room, shoe cabinet and dinning area
other side of shoe cabinet, living room and feature wall from common bathroom to study room to kitchen, other view of dinning area.
cabinet in common bathroom, should be suspended
kitchen cabinets with imperial black granite top
wardrobe color ok, will paint the wall in my boy's fave color
interior shelving of JJ's wardrobe
dont really like anything here, rooms will be painted in Jas's fave color
my gal's very big 7ft wardrobe
right view of WIW
left view of WIW
some adjustment will be made to the interior
color of cabinet ok, artist forgot to add a mirror cabinet for this drawing
will confirm the measurements, materials and colors...etc with ID in due course, probably towards the end of oct.