Hi All, anyone does experience in installing kitchen cabinet for his/her new home?

These days I have met a few kitchen cabinet makers and getting a bit confuse about the materials they are using for my cabinet's door.

Common and economical material being used is ABS melamine board type.

However, there are some makers called this as Chipboard as well.


They claimed ABS melamine actually is Chipboard which I am not sure whether it is correct.

My understanding is that Chip Board is a kind of compressed of fibre wood materials that is even worse than Melamine board.

Anyone know the differences between these 2 materials?

Thanks.

abs melamine is basically laminted chipboard. previously the quality of the lamination was not very good in terms of water proofing etc. such that the chipboard will expand if the cabinet becomes wet, hot etc. and this will result in cracking on the cabinet door. however now, the quality of the lamination has improved tremendously, and i see the cabinets lasting much longer.

however, one problem is the strength of the cabinet in terms of holding screws. which will tend to become loose after a while.

solid wood is always the longest lasting.

Share some concepts and ideas of the kitchen cabinet for all of u~














This post has been edited by Erny_Looi: Feb 23 2011, 02:19 AM

erny looi, your designs are not bad at all.. are you doing reno or are you the contractor? i am surveying for kitchen cabinet currently

agreed...design not too bad at all...am looking for contractor too...sent pm but no reeply yet...

Hi Erny,

Are you sisblings of Patric Looi, the contractor you mentioned to me?

Photos below shown some completed projects.


















This post has been edited by Erny_Looi: Feb 23 2011, 02:20 AM

Hey,

I also know him, he is very famous in some other forums.
Currently i also dealing with him regarding my kitchen cabinet.
Reasonable price because direct from his factory, n he also quite frenly and honest.

My house will install the cabinets 2 months later, perhaps can post some photos and share with u guys~!

This post has been edited by xPrisx: May 19 2009, 04:10 PM

how much do you charge one of those?

wah.. the red one is so gorgeous.
but for my house, i prefer it to be black and white. black on top.
btw, how much is the price?

all cabinet is direct from factory so u don't hav to pay commission to showroom agent.

If any1 interested on this, PM me n i'll send u the contact num.

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Added on May 21, 2009, 8:57 amYa, normally those colour like red or green is request by young couple.
Black n white is the perfect match, but majority colour must be white, then black will be like secondary colour.
If u use black for whole cabinet, it look dark. uncless mix with aluminium or mirror.



This post has been edited by Erny_Looi: Mar 29 2010, 04:32 PM

Hi Erny,

kindly please PM me the contact as well .....appreciated your help , thank you !

Is very difficult to tell 1 by 1 here, or I show 1 of his quotation to u as reference,

]

Like the cabinet shown above,

Granite for table surface, around rm190 pfr. (factory price)
If u order your cabinet from showroom, normally they charge rm260 pfr.

The price always depend on the design, material and accessories as well.

For those who wan to meet their budget, the price still can adjust due to different kind of materials.

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Added on May 21, 2009, 11:04 amAldi PM u, remember to ask for free accessory ya, haha!

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Added on May 21, 2009, 11:28 amHi Mr 007,

Aldi PM u.

Have a nice day!


This post has been edited by Erny_Looi: Mar 29 2010, 04:34 PM

Hi Erny,

Could you share the contact no

pfr means?

pfr = per feet run

if rm100 pfr tats means rm100 for every 1 ft.

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Added on May 26, 2009, 10:31 amI already PM u.
Have a nice day!

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Added on May 27, 2009, 2:02 pmShare some new projects~


















Enjoy veiwing~

This post has been edited by Erny_Looi: Feb 23 2011, 02:23 AM

Wow, nice cabinet..

How much is that TV cabinet.
PM me pls..thx!

nice kabinet....which contractor?

This contractor have many supporters in a famous forum.
I think there is 360,000++ view in his thread.

My new cabinet also will done by him,

I PM u his contact

Hehe, thanks!

He is my brother + patner --> Patric Looi

Hi Erny Looi, where is the location of ur contractor? Any shop?
Thanks.

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Added on May 29, 2009, 1:55 pmSome others completed projects share with u all~














This post has been edited by Erny_Looi: May 29 2009, 01:55 PM

for those oven "integrated"into the kitchen cabinet, if the oven rosak, how to repair?
Need to break the cabinet?

this is Build-in oven, just design the cabinet to fit the oven..
don't worry, it can be removed.

ic..ic.. how about the heat dissipation? where the heat goes after usage?

Ovens nowdays usually dissipates heat thru the front and back iianm. In any case, the back portion of the oven is also usually hollow, so there's room to breathe.

New and popular colour in the market.

Hi Erny,

There's 3 compartment pulled out there, 2 drawers and what's the other vertical one called? What is it used for?

The vertical drawer is fit with bottle basket.
Designed to put some bottles like tomato source, cooking oil...etc

Very practical design.
Many peoples like this~

This post has been edited by Erny_Looi: Jun 2 2009, 02:30 PM

IMO, the design is practical if you have another basket to but the bottles or the whole row of drawer is completed occupied by bottles.
Imagine if only got 2-3 bottles, when the drawer moving in and out, for sure the thin-shaped bottle will collapse.

This drawer is quite heavy, especially 3G door or nyatoh door. When u pull out, it move slow and smooth. This is for those like to seperate their things into categories.
As what I see normally cabinet is always full with a lot of things. So far never heard people complaint about this.

There is steel basket together with the drawer, so no need to put another basket.
Or another way is use swing door but fix the bottle basket inside cabinet.

Hi, just bought a 7 year old house. Need contractor to renovate the house esp the kitchen. Can u please pm me u and ur bro's contact no? TQ

I had PM u. Thanks!

Some peoples PM me and asked about the different between granite and solid surface.

Granite Counters
Granite is the countertop material of choice and it becomes more widespread nowadays. The beauty of the stone contributes to the beauty of even the most modest kitchen.

Pros: holds up to heat; comes in a range of almost 3000 colors; looks permanent and substantial; will last a lifetime; new sealers are almost maintenance-free; 2nd highest hardness rating after diamonds; has a high value to home buyers.

Cons: expensive, but becoming more affordable; requires some maintenance; some stones absorbs stains if not sealed; knives can become dull if you cut on it; can crack if stressed or improperly installed.

Solid Surface
Because solid surface counters are just what they're called, solid, any scratches can be sanded out. The countertops are custom-made based on the shape required.

Pros: comes in many colors and patterns; seamless; stain resistant.

Cons: vulnerable to hot pans and stains which can damage the surface; can be moderately expensive.

The price direct from factory is not much different with solid surface. So my brother always advice people to choose granite, it's easier to take care.

Hope this info can help u to make a choice.

how much budget shall we prepare for this
can u give us the figure ....
I may consider it for my coming new house

This set of cabinet use the latest colour in market.
It's look very high class and quite popular now.

Check PM ya.

can pm me as well the cost ?

PM me also.

Thanks

PM me too

Thanks

Hi ! Do you hav agent in other state bside KL ? How bout Sarawak ?

pm me as well~~

oh well Erny, a rough estimate will be good

Just to share some info with u all,

Price direct from factory,
Granite rm170 pfr

Price from showroom or agent,
Granite rm200++ pfr.

Melamine board + aluminium edging, price direct from factory,
Cabinet below rm180 pfr.
Cabinet above rm120 pfr.
If your kitchen already have concrete table.
Cabinet below rm100 pfr.

Melamine board + aluminium edging, price from showroom or agent,
Cabinet below rm200 pfr.
Cabinet above rm150 pfr.
If your kitchen already have concrete table.
Cabinet below rm120 pfr.

Factory always give free accessory or special offer if u order more than 5k.

That's all i know, hope this info can help those want to order cabinet.

Thanks~

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Added on June 5, 2009, 8:55 amMy brother don't have any agent..he do everything, haha!
Only workers in factory.
Wish 1 day he also able to open factory in Sarawak ya.



This post has been edited by Erny_Looi: Jun 26 2009, 04:17 PM

Erny, thanks for the info, at least we can do some price comparison and estimate from the above

Welcome, but make sure u ask your contractor to quote a final price for u.
Some contractor they offer very cheap price in prf, when come to final total amount you have to pay, they add this and that.
Finally ur price is much more higher.

Contractor's attitube is very important.

This post has been edited by Erny_Looi: Jun 5 2009, 01:36 PM

anyone can share if its really practical to have induction cooker for families that that cook regularly?
especially our local culture used to cook with "big fire"... must got enuf "foh hau"...

This post has been edited by trojant: Jun 5 2009, 03:45 PM

Better use normal cooker.

bro, built-in cabinet around this size how much? thanks!

Actually you can control the power and increase "Foh Hou" and the cooker "Foh Hou" level is higher than a normal gas cooker but you must buy those good induction cooker lar, I have brought "Aowa" for my home use very good cooker

Just wish to clarify the above, that is just price per sq ft for the granite countertop right? Excluding any cabinets? Edit: in one of your posts above you said granite price was RM170 pfr. Here you said it is psf. So, is it pfr or psf?

The price applies to all kinds of granite or is this an average price?

This post has been edited by jchong: Jun 6 2009, 11:22 PM

Ya, rm170 per sq ft is for all types of granite counter top.

Hi,

what is pfr? thanks

pfr = per foot run. In other words, cost is measured by the length, not length x width.

1 foot run would be 300mm (length) by 600mm (depth of the countertop)

Hi, it is clear now. Thanks a lot!!

hi erny... has your brother done any work in Tamarind condo before? I am moving in to my new house soon.

Hi Erny. Thanks and appreciate the useful information you provided. This will give some hints regarding the price I would expect my future kitchen to be.

Btw do you know the price does the cabinet price include the hinge/soft rest etc or that's on separate quote? Thx!!!

hi erny,

do you mind to share the contact no. to me..
tq.

Hi Erny, can you pm me the contact number? Thanks

Yes, am interested to know too ... Please advise.

Ya, pfr means calculate by 1 ft run.
For example, if the cabinet 5 ft length and it cost rm100 pfr, ----> rm100 x 5 = rm500

In the other hand, if calculate in psf, it means 1ft x 1ft = 1 fts.
For example, if the cabinet 5 ft length and 2 ft width and it cost rm40 psf, --------->rm 40 x (5x2) = rm400

Have a nice day~

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Added on June 10, 2009, 11:46 pmOk, I had PM u all.
Have a nice day~

Cheers~!!

This post has been edited by Erny_Looi: Jun 12 2009, 08:48 AM

That's quite confusing isn't it? Why calculate pfr by 1 meter run? In that case you should call it pmr = per meter run. This is the 1st time I hear that pfr is calculated by 1 meter run.

Your second line about psf also confusing. First u say "if calculate in psf, it means 1ft x 1ft = 1 fts". Then in your example you use meters. There's a big difference u know?

This post has been edited by jchong: Jun 11 2009, 10:14 AM

Erny

Can you PM me the price of that nice brown color big kitchen that you posted. Thanks!

I need to prepare my budget for it.

Haha, so sorry, becoz i always use meter in my work, so I make this stupid mistake. haha! By the way, I'm structure design engineer (Building).
Ya, u r right. i had edited the info.
Thanks!

Have a nice day!

This post has been edited by Erny_Looi: Jun 12 2009, 10:17 AM

Erny, does the above price include door handles? Pls PM me the contact no. also. Thanks.

Avoid china made door handles at all cost.

Erny

Is there a shop/showroom that we can drop by to check things out?

Ya, u can choose to go factory or showroom.

may I know where is the showroom/factory? thanks

This post has been edited by Homerun: Jun 14 2009, 08:10 PM

Aldi PM u the location.
Actually if u deal with cabinet contractor, easiet way is bring him to your new house.
So he can direct measure exact dimensions and give u the 3D design and quotation on the spot.

By the way, I'm MALE~~~
Some1 PM me n call me MISS ERNY.....

PLease pm me the price for this ?
bcos i really like this design
TQ very much.

Hi all....

Is there any way to change the colour of my cabinet??
Or do I have to get new ones??

Wish it's as easy as changing wallpaper on PC......

This is the famous colour right now, many ppls choose this colour.

bcos this color very grand look

1st time I heard ppl wan to change cabinet's colour...
Maybe is not that easy.. even though it is 3G door. After u change the colour, the 3G door also will not look nice anymore.
Good luck~
Cheers!

about the tiles "at the cooker part" (the small small tiles)... is that still popular nowadays?
i saw that 2-3 yrs ago.

Ya, especally with free aluminium frame and free bar handle. haha!
u can choose to put the stripe in horizontal or vertical way.
When u put it in horizontal, u can feel your cabinet look wider and modern.
when u put it in vertical, u can feel your cabinet look taller and classic.

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Added on June 15, 2009, 5:32 pmYa, I think ppl start using this in interior design since few years ago, but there are many kinds of this small tiles. The design for this small tiles are keep changing. (This is not the small tiles we found in kopitiam toilet )

Actually this is very practical way since it is easier to clean up compare to painted wall.
Many ppl prefer to mix this small tiles with 1x2 tiles.



This post has been edited by Erny_Looi: Jun 15 2009, 05:32 PM

Those small tiles are called mosaic tiles I believe.

Anyway, I have been told that using those mosaic tiles for the wall behind the cooking hob will cause more work with cleaning and maintenance. This is because with Asian cooking there is a lot of oil being vaporised and flying about. Yes you have the hood to absorb most of the oil, but some will still stick to the wall. Because those mosaic tiles have a lot of groove lines the oil is harder to remove and you need more time and care in wiping. Just something to bear in mind.

Painted wall maintenance depends on the paint type. The cheaper type may be a bit porous so some oil penetrates the paint and cannot be wiped off. Or if you wipe too often the paint will peel. If you use high quality paint it might be better.

Better is to use larger tiles then less groove lines. I've also seen some people use a single sheet of stainless steel or single piece of coloured glass - then wiping is very easy - but it depends if you like the look.

This post has been edited by jchong: Jun 15 2009, 09:16 PM

Ya, for those cook often, bigger tiles of course better.
My kitchen also use big tiles.
Small mosaic too expensive for me..

How much are those mosaic tiles usually?

Hi, I am looking around for good kitchen cabinet designer. Signature Kitchen came highly recommended by my architect but I also do hear many sad experiences with them.

So far, I am looking at Kitchen Haus from TTDI, Kian Classic, Lifestyle Kitchen from TTDI and also Kitchen Palace at Dataran Sunway.

Would appreciate any feedbacks or experiences one had with one of those above.

This small mosaic for 10ft x 2.5ft is around 1k...
Now the new type is the tile's size is 10 inch x 8 inch. But the surface of the tile look excatly like many small mosaic on it.
This kind of tiles for 10ft x 2.5ft aound rm600-700.

This post has been edited by Erny_Looi: Jun 16 2009, 09:22 PM

your estimation above is inclusive of tiling work or just the tiles alone ?
around how much is these 10 inch x 8 inch per piece ?

That is total price, just pay 1k and the mosaic will be on your wall.
For the small mosaic, 1ft x 1ft i think around rm18-20..plus the tiling work fee..So total need 1k for 10ft x 2.5ft.
Erm....for 10 inch x 8 inch, how much per piece i don't know, never ask before. But cheaper and easier to install. That's why the total price is cheaper. Like Jchong said:"bigger tile, less groove line, easier to clean"

So, total price for mosaic tiles is 1k for 25 ft2. That means RM40 psf. If the mosaic tiles themselves are RM20 psf, means the tiling workmanship is RM20 psf. I think that's very high for the workmanship!

Ya lo, rm20 psf tiling workmanship if u employ chinese worker. For indonesian is cheaper. But not everyone prefer indonesian's work.

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Added on June 18, 2009, 5:43 pm
Many people plan to choose tiles for their countertop, but most people do not realize that concrete is porous. In fact, more porous than Swiss cheese! The pores constitute 12 to 18% of the concrete but the pores are invisible, much smaller that human hair. After concrete is poured, almost a half of the water has to evaporate. As this surplus water pushes to the surface, it leaves behind a network of capillaries (pores) inside the concrete.

The pores are much larger than water molecules. Water vapor or gases flow easily right through, drawn in by the lower pressure inside buildings. But liquid water is initially held back by its surface tension, as the glob of water gets stuck inside the microscopic dry pore. However, as water enlarges the pores or they get wet by condensation, water starts seeping in. And eventually, the pores start actively pulling in water by capillary action.

Concrete blocks, particularly cinder blocks, are more permeable to water vapor than poured concrete. They all start as impermeable to liquid water but, when exposed to water, their porosity increases and they start seeping water.

2 to 3 years later, if you are using 2x2 tiles, the problem above may occur.
You can choose smaller tiles to avoid this problem. Anyway, granite still will be the best choice for now.

This post has been edited by Erny_Looi: Jun 18 2009, 05:43 PM

Not only water seeping... its also potential kitchen biohazard! Its a perfect breeding ground for dangerous and harmful bacteria!

Actually Erny, wouldn't granite top have the same issues although not as bad as concrete. Most granite have tiny microscopic holes as well.

BTW, I sent my floor plan to your brother on Monday.. today no sound yet... maybe lots of business. Can you chase him up please? I follow up with him on Wed if he have gotten my mail....

Concrete has porous becoz the water in there evapurate after sometime, therefore porous forming inside the concrete. This make the concrete become weaker and weaker. The problem is your tiles will start losing the bonding within the concrete.

Granite consist porous but this is the natural product, all kind of stones absorb water but not really fast. For example, u put a few drops of water on it, then come back later and wipe the area. If the area is darker then the rest of your granite it means that it has adsorbed some of the water rendering it porous. But even granite consist porous within it, but u will have no problem with this porous because normally people using water to clean it and immediately dry it up. Unless u pour black oil on white granite and leave it for few hours, then u are in problem..

Ok bro, I will remind him. sorry to keep u waiting.
Have a nice day!

thot of one issue... how about leaving a cup of cold drink on the surface? probably will it cause a circle on the surface?
I hv this kind of issue on tiles, granite too??

U mean u cause the circle on tile and it can't be removed? Are u put the glass there for few years?
I think it will not have any effect on this, it is a hard nature stone.
Even u pour a glass of water on tile or granite, but u clean it in few minutes, it will not have any issue.

it's indeed a circle permanently on the tiles, definately not for few years.
on other tiles, sometimes, the circle appears for a few minutes than gone.

Some others projects for sharing~

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Added on June 24, 2009, 9:26 am











This post has been edited by Erny_Looi: Jun 24 2009, 09:26 AM

nice work done there ... pls share more in future ... i am a fan of ID ...

How much for this entire make over?

Hehe, thanks!
That's all my brother's projects, so I don't know the exact price..

Currently i work as structure design engineer, but i prefer architecture field...more to design..sigh~..