The Pinnacle@Duxton, Singapore

zevth · 20th Storey Joined: 19 May 2009 Posts: 315 : Items

Hey guys,

As our keys collection draws closer, I just wanted to check how many of you doing your own renovation coordination, ie. instead of going to a ID or contractor, you go direct to carpenter, electrician, plumber etc. Anyone who has experience in this have any advice? How easy/stressful is it to coordinate? What is the order to do the stuff, such as window grills first, then aircon, then wiring, then carpentry then painting? What are the common issues, conflicts between these different pple. Any other info required to get things done as smooth as possible?

gaz0307 · Posted: Mon Nov 16, 2009 1:54 pm Post subject: Re: Renovation Coordination

zevth · 20th Storey Joined: 19 May 2009 Posts: 315 : Items

dXter · Moderator Joined: 15 Apr 2005 Posts: 3393 : Items

I think if you only intended to put in furniture and "plugged" in the lights with minimum overlapping works to be done, then really no point looking for a contractor or ID.

If you are looking to "facelift" the unit in some way, add in false ceiling, extensive carpentry works, re-design the unit layout, then getting professional help to co-ordinate is good.
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bruce · Ground Level Joined: 10 Oct 2009 Posts: 35 : Items

gaz0307 · Posted: Sat Dec 12, 2009 10:49 pm Post subject:

Get a contractor. Browse through a few of those home design books and show the contractor what you'd like...

bruce · Ground Level Joined: 10 Oct 2009 Posts: 35 : Items

dXter · Moderator Joined: 15 Apr 2005 Posts: 3393 : Items

ikea does kitchen too and has designs with different budgets in mind. I think you can consider asking them for their views.
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bruce · Ground Level Joined: 10 Oct 2009 Posts: 35 : Items

pinnacle2009 · Posted: Sun Dec 13, 2009 10:22 pm Post subject:

I was told that we cannot put the sink anywhere in the kitchen. It has to be near the drainage hole which is quite an inconvenience place to form the L-shaped kitchen cabinet. Any idea whether is it true that the sink cannot be place anywhere in the kitchen or the ID designer is too lazy to lay the piping?

zoom · Basement Carpark Joined: 31 Jan 2010 Posts: 1 : Items

zevth: How's the renovation going along? I am also tinkering with the idea of coordinating everything on my own. How has your experience been so far?

graceakaclouds · Basement Carpark Joined: 14 Dec 2009 Posts: 16 : Items

previously for my parents' place, which was also a BTO flat, we did our own coordination too...yes, indeed coordination is quite a task but it does save middlemen costs...

zevth, ur process more or less, correct or in the same way tat we did ours before...

bruce, get freelance carpenter.....like those from sungei kadut kinds....tat will reduce the costs somewhat...n they need not spend much time at ur place for kitchen....they will do the measurements n parts of the cabinet in their workshop...then they will put them in order in ur kitchen....

ikea kitchen u get materials frm them but in the end, u still need a contractor or someone to fit everything together....n their materials for some aren't tat cheap too

zevth · 20th Storey Joined: 19 May 2009 Posts: 315 : Items

zeenie · 5th Storey Joined: 16 Feb 2009 Posts: 85 : Items

For our place, we decided not to hack any walls, so it was mainly carpentry work forming the bulk of our renovation. So we coordinated most of the things ourselves, but did get some stuff like the doors through the carpenter as his doors were cheaper. IMO, painting is one of those basic things that needs to be done in order for everything else to proceed but it must be done after air con installation.

FYI, the order of build:

defects checking, submit defects list, begin work.
At this stage, we decided to be kiasu and paint one layer of varnish on the parquet to protect it. One step further would be to then get someone to cover it all with cardboard.
Next it was air con installation, lotsa holes to drill (big ones!) so very dusty.
Then painting was next, with everything painted, from ceiling to door frames to doors and air con trunking.
At the same time, you can get citygas to route the gas pipe in preparation for your kitchen cabinet. Of course you have to know the rough location of your stove at this point (discuss with your kitchen cabinet people). Point to note, you can also install the water heater at any time now and can go with the citygas gas heater (we didn't).

Some people installed lights before painting, but we did it after, so lights came in at this point (can work at night now!)
Electrician also installed the various power points needed for the kitchen, e.g. extra power points and switches for oven and hob.
By this time the kitchen cabinets were done after being made in the factory, and these were delivered, assembled and adjusted on-site.
Then comes the installation of oven, stove and hob. Alongside with the kitchen cabinets, any bedroom built-in can also be done concurrently (once painting completed).
Bedroom and kitchen doors were also installed at this point although this can be done at any time, not having it yet can facilitate the installation of bedroom cabinetry.
Curtains can also be installed after the painting is done.
Shower stalls can also be done.

After the kitchen cabinetry is done, the sink can be installed by the plumber and he will also link up the pipes for you.

Some point in time, need to arrange for internet (very important! lol).

That pretty much sums up the process, hope it helps!

Silencer · 20th Storey Joined: 18 Feb 2005 Posts: 337 : Items

if u feel confidence and capable to design/coordinate everything urself...then juz do it
if scare this scare that and dunno this or that can be done or not...then better get a ID to coordinate
Diff pple have diff abilities and diff contractors got their own attitude and schedule so its very hard to judge and give comment
On paper is easy...but when put into action is another thing Cool

graceakaclouds · Basement Carpark Joined: 14 Dec 2009 Posts: 16 : Items

gaz0307 · Posted: Wed Feb 03, 2010 4:48 pm Post subject:

fran0610 · 15th Storey Joined: 04 Mar 2010 Posts: 219 : Items

My hubby-to-be is coordinating the whole thing. It is a very stressful for him as we are doing a lot of renovation work for false ceiling, different types of lighting (cove, down, spotlight) and etc. The learning curve is very steep and you do not know what you do not know.

Key thing is you must find reliable contractors for each part of the project. Also it helps to read the forum threads which fellow P@D homeowners are generous to share their experience and advice. If not for my hubby-to-be, I will have to rely on a ID house to do the job. Till now, I still do not know which is a reliable ID house. I find my current contractor more honest, reliable and knowledgeble than the IDs I have interviewed. If you have to pick an ID, do ask him to let you take a look at an ongoing renovation project to see the work quality.

Nicholas · Basement Carpark Joined: 13 Mar 2010 Posts: 12 : Items

fran0610 · 15th Storey Joined: 04 Mar 2010 Posts: 219 : Items

sori nicholas, while my contractor for lights, false ceilings, knocking down walls is good and extremely patient. we changed the placement for our lights quite a few times and he did it for us. His workers are also intelligent and take the initiative to point out potential problems for you and give good suggestions.

for the carpentry side, we are having problems. so .. better not recommend to you.

if you want the contact for the lights and false ceilings bit, PM me.