Brief Update (10 Apr 2009)

It has been 3 months since my last update.

Throughout the 3 months, we've have been busy with CNY, work, preparation for our ROM and housewarming. Have since moved some clothes over to our new place so that we can stay over whenever we feel like doing so.

On our 1st month anniversary, we went up the SG flyer. It was an interesting experience. However, we didn't stick around after the ride cos the sky looks like it might rain anytime soon.

Currently, we're preparing for our AD. Just had our 1st fitting on 23 Apr.
Bridal photoshoot will be on 11 & 13 May. There after i'll be away for 2 weeks plus starting 15 May for reservist; digging trenches. -_-;;
After reservist, wedding preparation will start to build up steam. Hopefully no major disagreement will take place between me and my wife. :P

Oh yes, just added Big Orange to my MSN listing last night. The first from Linear Green. Hopefully more to come. See you guys around. :)

Brief Update (19 Jan 2009)

8 Jan 2009
Took my first IPPT of RT phase 2. And surprisingly, I manage to pass my 2.4km run by 7 secs. Nothing worth celebrating for some guys but for me, a person who only runs during RT, with only 2 running training plus 1 IPPT test during Phase 1, it was a major achievement.

9 Jan 2009
Handover was done in the morning. Had KFC breakfast with Iris before going up to our unit. =P
Only the ID assistant "C" came over to do handover. "D" was no where to be seen. No explaination offered. "C" handed us the aircon remote and Iris proceed to test the aircon while I busy myself with the final payment.

10 Jan 2009
The remaining items that we've bought came in today.

The first to arrive at 2.30pm are our coffee table and two side tables. They are made from our granite kitchen top cutout with customised stainless steel legs.


Next at 4.30pm, our Sharp TV was delivered by Harvey Norman.

Finally at 5.30pm, our sofa and sofa bed were delivered.

11-19 Jan 2009
We have been doing our cleaning throughout this period. I also bought some stuff from HomeFix and DIY the "sealing" of granite kitchen tops, coffee table and side tables. It seems that no matter how much we clean and mop, the dust never ends. There are still much to clean before CNY comes. Everyone living in the estate gotta endure till everyone finish renovations. And hopefully I can post some photos of our clean and furnished home soon. ;) But after seeing how nice everyone's home looks like on their blog really make our home look really plain. keke.

Brief Update (7 Jan 2009)

I'm now officially into Phase 2 of my RT... sianz... Every Tuesday & Thursday evenings plus Sunday morning need to go back to Bedok Camp... Endure!

2 Jan 2009
The granite tiles workers came in to redo the two tiles in the living room for us. I went up to take a look in the evening. Looks more acceptable now.

5 Jan 2009
Mentioned to "C" that I've spotted some gaps between tiles in one of the bedroom. She sent the tiles workers in to rectify. I also requested "C" to send her foreman (doing our general cleaning) to drop by my parents place at 1.30pm to see the kind of standard I'm expecting the grouting to be. So he can better advise me if that standard can be achieve by doing heavier acid washing or polishing.

The foreman reached 15mins earlier and the moment he saw me, he told me that he was telling my Dad that his granite tiling is very nicely done. Worksmanship is superb. Blah blah blah... I cut the crap and ask him to tell me frankly what can be done to our unit, whether need to polish to achieve the same standard, etc... He told me don't need and he roughly know what I wanted so he will discuss with the tiles laying workers to do the best for us.

"C" SMS me around 4.30pm saying that her workers are at our place since 3pm and will try their best to rectify. She suggested that I drop by after work to check the final outcome and I did. Well, I can see that some effort were made to scrapped the excess grouting from the tiles so after discussing with Iris, we decided to accept the work.

We then arranged to do the Hand Over of the unit on Friday morning.

6 Jan 2009
My dad went to our unit to take a look. And I got him to change the lock for us too.


So that concludes the renovation stage. The next part will be washing, cleaning and bringing in the furnishing. My pockets are burnt with big holes already. -_-;;


Overall experience with "D" and "C" from Ciseern:
"D" only drop by once a week... maybe less... usually after something BIG happens.
"C" is still learning the trade... extremely new... seldom offer any suggestions... missed out measurements that I've passed to her... only good thing is she willing to ask her workers to rectify till we are satisfied.

Overall experience with Ciseern's Sub contractors:
Granite Tiles Laying: Foreman leaves most of the work to his three malaysian workers. He will appear first thing in the morning, take about 20 mins to look at the work done, gives some instructions and went off. Foreman and his wife does the skirting and rectification works needed. Worksmanship wise, they did not "choose" the nicer tiles and lay in living room and MBR resulting in different shades everywhere, quite a number of tiles are uneven, some were chipped but still layed, gap between tiles can be up to 3mm wide, grouting not cleaned up resulting in cured overflows.

Electrical Works: The husband and wife team didn't bother to ask when not sure where to place the lighting points. Do wrong never mind. To save themselve from trouble, they suggested to us to buy another light to put at the original intended location. Even dare to discard safety "clips" for our ceiling lights cos they don't know what those were for after installing the lights. Wiring casement are also done for the seek of doing. The case is not cut properly. Gaps can be seen at joints, at the sides and below the casement. The best part is can tell me already consider do very nice... other people don't even do casement for the wiring... wah... hear liao super duper hot...

Fridge, Kitchen & Washing Machine Base: Very bad worksmanship. Sharp edges, horrible grouting, cracked cement, loose tiles. Can be considered an eyesore. Must ask for touch-up 4 times, before the boss personally come down and do it. All the while, I believe they are done either by "new bird" or some unskilled worker.

Carpentry: The young boss is the best of the lot. He really spent a lot of time checking the work of his workers. They are all Malaysians. Worksmanship wise so so, if we are really picky, there are still a number of things to rectify. One thing that doesn't concern worksmanship is the quality of the laminates used. Be careful of those glossy surface laminates, the glossy layer tend to peel off very easily.

Plumbing Works: No comments yet cos haven't done any heavy washing.

Painting Works: They probably did a sealer coat follow by one more coat of actual paint only. I thought so because I tried to wipe off a stain on a wall with damp cloth. Immediately after doing so, I can see the white sealer coat beneath the paint. That's how thin the painting was done. Quite a number of uneven surface and holes are not plastered before painting. Those that I ask them to rectify, they did so selectively, and they didn't follow-up with painting over the plaster. And I saw one of them happily smoking while painting.


Ok think this is too long a post... I have more to share but I guess I better spare you all... This renovation really makes me loses lots of hair... to the extend that Iris's cousin actually commented to her mum that I'm balding badly... sob sob... but where got $ go to Yun Nam or Beijing 101... keke

Brief Update (1 Jan 2009)

Happy New Year everyone! New Year, New Beginning... I certainly hope so. =)

Anyway, I haven't been updating since 20th Dec. Reason being my ID was trying to resolve the tiling issue and I was "advised" not to check on the rectification progess. haha. -_-;;

23 Dec 2008
I've received a letter from Starhub on 20 Dec advising that their contractor is coming over today to verify the TV points between 2-6pm. Called Starhub in the morning to fixed appointment at between 3-4pm instead.

When I reach my unit at 3.15pm, the granite workers apparently came in not too long before me and were preparing to replace my tiles. Hmm... I was informed by ID assistant "C" that they are suppose to come in at 10am... hmm... dunno why they are late.

Anyway, the Starhub contractor came at around 3.30pm and finished checking in 10-20 mins.

Meantime, the granite tile supplier Marcus dropped by to take a look. The foreman doing the tile ask him to bring over some darker tiles for him to choose. Marcus told him that can only deliver the following morning around 10am.

I left shortly around 4pm after Starhub contractor left.

By end of the day, only two tiles in the Masterbed room was replaced. The two tiles in the living room has to wait till next day when new tiles are brought in.

24 Dec 2008
Informed by "C" that the tiles has been replaced at 12.40pm. "C" requested that my Dad meet-up with the workers doing general cleaning at 1.30pm. They are washing the floors again as I'm not satisfied with the initial washing. "C" says the foreman wanted to show my Dad the propotion of acid used and test clean a small potion before proceding.

Dropped by the unit to check in the evening. It's then that I discover something really bad. It's with regards to the two living room tiles that have been replaced in the morning. I believe the grouting has not cured. Thus the acid mixture "washed" away the cement grouting exposing the grout in between the tiles. Another point noted is, the tiles are not layed levelled to the surrounding tiles. They are at least 1-2mm higher on certain sides and vice vesa on the diagonal opposite sides. The 3rd point, I still find that the result of the wash is still not good enough. I can still feel the hump at the grouting with the ball of my foot.

As my ID "D" and his assistant "C" are going away for holiday from 24-28. I decided to feedback to them only when they come back. However, I did sms "C" that still have issue to settle when they come back.

29 Dec 2008
Informed "C" of the issues. She says will go down the next day to take a look and requested that either myself or my Dad meet-up with her at the unit at 12pm. As I can't take leave, I asked my Dad to meet her.

30 Dec 2008
My dad showed her the problems and ask her to get the worker to rectify. If cannot rectify then replace the tiles again. "C" says will get to worker down immediately to see what they can do. At around 6pm, "C" smsed me that her "granite worker do his best to touch up e tiles already" and requested me to drop by the same evening to take a look and let her know if it's ok.

I dropped by to see as requested. However I'm not too pleased. The worker merely covered up the grouting. The tiles are thus still uneven. After discussing with Iris, we decided to ask "C" to get her worker to hack up the tiles and redo. Sigh. "C" replied with 2 SMS. The first reply contains only "Noted". The second one says that will bring up another 5 pcs of tile the next day. The worker will redo on the 2nd Jan 2009.

31 Dec 2008
After doing some research on the previous night, I've decided that I wanna try to clean the excess cured grouting myself. So I dropped by Home Fix at Marina Square in the evening with Iris to buy a bottle of cleaning liquid and some other items. Will attempt to do so on this coming Sat, 3 Jan 2009. Wish me luck. If all goes well, I can proudly tell my ID that I can do a much better job compared to his so called general cleaning specialist. =P


Oh Shit... I've missed the countdown and fireworks... -_-;;