Friday, 29 June 2018

How to Choose a Best Home Renovation Contractor in Singapore

The choice of renovation of premises needs to be followed up by the choice of the right contractor to commence and conclude the revamp of your home. This is perhaps the most important aspect of the renovation. A poor or wrong choice of contractor can result in a situation where all your designs, HDB living room ideas, expensive materials and dreams will get shattered in one go as a result of poor execution. Here is how you can go about finding the right contractor to handle your renovation.

Maintaining the structural integrity of existing construction

The renovation should never affect or impact the structural integrity of the existing living room design. Singapore home owners need to bear this in mind especially in the case of temporary leaseholds. It is therefore necessary to choose an experienced contractor who has the exposure and the ideas and the resources to be able to execute the revamp without affecting the structure in any way. You can also play a proactive role by limiting your revamp designs to superficial modifications that do not require any alteration in the structure of living room design. HDB flats that are on temporary leaseholds need to remain undisturbed on the structural aspect.

The need for hiring the services of a registered – DRC listed contractor

The safest bet is to use the services of a contractor who is registered and listed with the DRC (Directory of Renovation Contractors). This will ensure that the contractor will be fully aware of the structural design and will ensure that revamp does not affect the structure in any way. The contractor should also have the right kind of resources to handle the renovation. Singapore homeowners can then enjoy the benefits of changes as desired. Without the right kind of ideas or resources to help you in your transformation efforts, it would be difficult to get your ideas translated.

Checkout the portfolio of executed renovations

An experienced contractor will maintain a portfolio of executed renovations in addition to concepts for fresh renovations Singapore. Renovation contractors’ ability needs to be ascertained and the ideas of the contractors need to be evaluated to ensure alignment with your concepts. It is necessary to employ the services of a contractor who has extensive experience in renovation, which is a lot different from a fresh construction.

Avoid Common Mistakes While Renovation Your Living Room

A large number of individuals remain united in the errors that they make when it comes to renovating their homes. This may be because the decision to renovate may have been taken in haste and this may not have given adequate time to plan and decide accordingly. However, it is necessary to avoid mistakes while renovating your HDB living room and here are useful tips that will help you to be on the right side of the decision making process when you opt for renovation of your homes.

Not choosing the right contractor 

Not choosing the right contractor will very seriously impact the output of your renovation. Singapore homeowners need to be aware that the contractor is chosen with great care. This will ensure that the results of the renovation are as expected, in addition to protecting the appeal of the living room design. Singapore homeowners also need to ensure that renovation does not affect other residents of apartment complexes.

Not working on a budget

The need to work out a budget and stick to it as far as possible is necessary to complete the renovation as planned. For instance, if the renovation is not planned or budgeted, then it is highly likely that as costs escalate you may find it difficult to meet the expenses and end up leaving the renovation incomplete or stretching it for longer than necessary. Work out a budget and stick to it.

Choice of substandard material as an option to cut costs

This can actually result in costing you dearly. For instance, you may choose to opt for low cost and low quality paint in an effort to cut costs of sprucing up your home. Singapore renovation costs will actually escalate if the paint starts to deteriorate in quality after a few months or under a year, coming off the walls in patches and blotches. You will then have to spend on another round of painting, which will take your time in addition to the expenses.

Wednesday, 6 June 2018

Get Innovative Ideas for Your 4 Room BTO Renovation

Renovation of accommodation is ideally intended to transform the present appearance into something that is new and more appealing. And in the case of 4 room BTO renovation, it is all the more important because a simple fact that the owner has chosen the location and waited for a particular period of time before taking possession of the apartment. With so much of investment and waiting that has gone into the apartment, it is necessary to look for innovative ideas when you actually decide to renovate.  Here are a few tips that you can use when you redo your BTO apartment.

Renovate the entire apartment
Renovation should typically be for the entire apartment and not restricted to specific rooms. This is a more prudent choice because of the cost factor. When you opt for renovating piecemeal, you will actually end up spending more over a period of time. And it is highly likely that you may end up with certain materials that are different and mismatched. Do not leave out any particular portion of your home during renovation - all that it takes is an incomplete portion to spoil the overall appeal of the home.

Speak to your interior designer about the lighting
When you renovate your home it would be a good idea to also going for a change of light fittings. This would give your home a transformed appearance. When you decide to change the lighting in your apartment as part of the renovation, it would be a good idea to speak to interior designer for innovative concepts in lighting to match or complement the renovation of the premises.

Carry out repairs prior to renovation
It is possible that you may have noticed a leak in your bathroom are loose and plaster in some area of your home. Before you good with the renovation, ensure that the repair is fully complete. This will help to cut down on unwanted expenses of carrying out repairs after the renovation has been completed. Not only will it involve additional costs, this will also delay the completion of the renovation and can mar the appearance of the renovated interiors.

Get Perfect Interior Design Idea for a Drawing Room

Your drawing room is a reflection of your personality and when you decide to spruce up the drawing room you need to look for suitable hdb living room ideas. Choose from any of the many ideas that are available renovating living rooms.  However, it is important to note that dimensions a very important for the perfect execution of a design idea. What appears impressive and exciting in a large space may not have the same results on small spaces. Here are a few tips for designing your living room.

Make use of creativity for meeting a functional requirement
This is the age of gadgets and appliances. Every home we have a large number of wired products, and as a result living rooms typically witness dangling wires criss crossing the spaces. The best way to handle this problem and turn it into a design is to shape the wires in the form of figures of buildings or other iconic art forms on the walls. This way you need not spend on channels or ducts to conceal the wiring, while at the same time giving an exciting twist with creativity living room design. Singapore residents would love the idea of turning an issue into an advantage.

Choose inspiring wall art
In all the rooms the maximum surface area is visible on the walls and the ceiling. Make use of these open spaces to spruce up the interior with decorative wall and ceiling art.  If you have the budget, you can also look at frescos on the walls as living room design. Hdb dwelling units with these older art forms where a painting is done when the walls are still wet with plaster will create a fascinating appearance. This feels the painting into the walls giving it an interesting look.

Make use of mirrors to increase dimension of space
Designers often resort to the use of mirrors for increasing the dimension of space within rooms. You could also try it out by placing decorative mirrors strategically in your living room. The mirrors will also offer a functional element, in addition to the decorative aspect. However, it is important to note that drawing rooms that open up to large open spaces may not be the best places to position mirrors as natural light may stream in and cause discomfort at times.

Friday, 20 April 2018

Home Renovation Ideas for New Home Owners and Young Couples on a Budget

At times, renovation costs can sometimes appear to be prohibitive to new home owners and young couples who are either cost conscious or who have a smaller budget. With typical 4 room flats costing around $57K for renovation, it may sometimes become difficult on the purse strings. However, it is possible to get renovation done at considerably cheaper costs without compromising on the quality. Here are a few renovation ideas, Singapore home owners can use to slash costs.

Choose and pick the spots that need refurbishing

It may not be necessary to fully renovate your home; you can actually achieve a fabulous look by choosing and picking areas in your home in Singapore. Renovation ideas should focus on the most important and easily noted elements in your home. It could be the ceiling, or the walls, or some design element that captures the attention of an occupant or visitor. Focus your ideas and budget on redoing and sprucing up that aspect for a stunning finish. Give a vibrant appearance to the selected area and transform the look of the whole room easily, and at relatively cheaper costs.

Plan the colour combination properly to slash costs

If you have a proper plan in place, you can cut down on the costs by choosing a colour theme for all features in your home in Singapore. Renovation ideas that selectively and creatively use the colour combination can cut down on the costs towards painting and refurbishing. For instance, if you have moved into a home newly and the home has been painted in a particular colour with a proper finish, all you need to do is look at matching the other features with the existing colour. 

Choose storage options wisely

Storage options in any room will set you back by a minimum of three to five thousand dollars.  Therefore plan the storage options, and consider making use of the existing structure in your home to make modifications for low cost but pleasing storage options. With the right interior designer and smart renovation ideas, Singapore residents can easily get their homes refurbished at a lower cost.

Home Renovations: How to Save Your Penny

Renovation, unlike piecemeal repairs, will sometimes involve redoing most of the interiors, fittings, plumbing and wiring of a home. With refurbishing, a home can be transformed to a new and vibrant or elegant look, depending on the quality of the work. For the best renovation quotes, Singapore residents need to actually look at comparative data and quotes to identify the best service provider who offers services at reasonable prices. Here is a broad idea of the costs that could be involved in getting your home renovated.


Sl.No.
Nature of work
Rate per unit
Unit area/specification
01.
Dismantling services
$40 – $80
Square meter
02.
Wall finishing
$15 - $ 120
Square meter
03.
Floor finishing
$20 - $120
Square meter
04.
False ceiling
$50 - $130
Square meter
05.
Carpentry
$500 - $1500
Square meter*
06.
Electrical 
$60 - $180
Rate per unit installation
07.
Plumbing 
$50 - $300
Rate per set installation

* PER RUNNING SQUARE METER – This unit is typically used to price a service on the basis of the length, for a standard/known width

The above table is a broad compilation of renovation quotes. Singapore residents can use this to arrive at a basic idea of the approximate costs that will be involved in refurbishing a home. Within each service category, there are many aspects that need to be considered. The materials and specifications used will determine the cost of the service. For instance, the thickness of false ceiling materials determine if the unit rate is $50 or $130. Similarly, cement floor finishes cost $20, whereas mosaic floor finishes cost $120.

Average overall price

The average overall costs involved in renovating a typical Singapore flat comprising four rooms spread over 100 square meters will work out to around $57,000. This is the ball park and will vary depending on the materials, and the actual space. With a ballpark estimate it is possible to ascertain from renovators about the quotes and settle for a reasonable service, without compromising on quality. Remember, getting a bargain should not be the only criteria when you seek discounts. What’s important here, is the need to get the best services from the agency at reasonable prices.

Decorating a Modern Loft

Spaces will always be in demand, regardless of the size of a structure. In a home, lofts are versatile storage spaces that double up as one of many ideas or options in a home. Many loft design ideas have transformed empty spaces directly beneath the roof to useful functional storage and utilitarian spaces. However, it is important to ensure that the loft space transformation is carried out with a proper plan to create a contiguous or standout design element. Here are a few ideas that have been used to great effect by occupants of homes.

#1 Storage racks with small compartments for multiple objects

One of the more common loft design ideas are the use of the space as storage for small objects with compartments. Fully sealed smaller doors, will offer a compact space for storage of small sized objects that can be positioned or retrieved easily. With small doors, it is possible to make access a lot more uncomplicated. For instance, a very large door may require it to be opened fully to access a little object in one corner of the loft.

#2 Book rack with fixed ladder

A loft can make an ideal book rack with a fixed ladder leading to the rack. Here care needs to be taken to ensure that the space is inlaid with wood or other protective material to safeguard the books from being exposed to damp conditions. Books and the wood work should be free from chances of moulding or infestation of micro organisms. This will create an excellent ambience in a bedroom, in addition to saving up storage space that may have been necessary for the book racks.

#3 Walled lofts for installation of split air conditioning or lighting

The lofts can also be walled up and used for installation of split air conditioning units and lighting systems. This will free up wall space in bedrooms for other decorative purposes, in addition to giving the right profile height for the air conditioning units. The loft space can also be used as the conduit for the cables that connect the air conditioning units to the external units.