Hi guys,

I'm getting my house key in end of Feb. it is a basic unit thus a lot of reno shall be done.
I'm really confuse what job to do first and which of them can be done parallel. Moreover, I'm going over seas soon, left my wife to do all these thing, I hope i can support her remotely.

Below are the things I would like to do, hope you guys can advice me on this:

1. Flooring:
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living room flooring (paint first or flooring first as afraid the paint will mess on the floor and vice versa, or plaster ceiling first as afraid the tools or stair case would scratch the floor)
kitchen flooring (cabinet/wardrobe first or flooring first?)
rooms Flooring (cabinet/wardrobe first or flooring first?)

2. Plaster ceiling + electrical + lighting + fan:
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electrical job (i believe this one come before the paint)
Plaster Ceiling ( plaster ceiling first or paint first ? as plaster ceiling need to be paint again after finished ??)
painting (on plaster ceiling too??)


3. Painting

at last are:

Furniture + electronic appliances + curtain

First house... really pening ~~ hope you guys can give some advice

Your contractor should know what to do. For first timers, it is better to get a main contractor to 'pau' the different works. If something goes wrong, they always try to point fingers at each other. Better to hold one person responsible.


This post has been edited by tehtmc: Feb 5 2012, 11:59 AM

would suggest that you do reno when you are around. your wife may not be able to handle it alone, the contractors can be difficult at times. also, 1st house reno must be discussed properly with your wife, so both of u have an agreement as to how it shld be. after reno, you will live in it for years, and the next reno will not come after ur next upgrade, so pls think over. unless you let ur wife have total say as to how it shld be, then no argument . my experience, my wife tells the contractors wht she likes, then I supervise them. so now after 10yrs, no complain

Sequence as follows:

Wetworks:
Basically means any extension or cement/concreting work. This is the absolute first thing to be done.

Electrical & plumbing:
Comes after wetworks or running concurrently towards tailend. This should include plaster ceiling lighting points. Plumbing is for any additional taps, inlets & outlets as required or installation of pump. Moving water main should be done at this point.

Plaster ceiling/Skim coating of walls:
Next in line for progress is installation of plaster ceiling as this can be messy. Skim coating of walls only if necessary or if budget allows.

Tiling:
After plaster ceiling is done in specific areas you can start tiling the toilets, kitchen or living hall.

Painting & door installation:
1st coat of paint for walls and plaster ceiling. If changing doors, these can start going in here. Door frames have to be installed before this point if being changed.

Installation of timber/laminate/engineered flooring:
With the glue and all being used, this flooring to be done last after aircond, lights, fans are installed.

Retiling porch, rebuilding gate pillars:
This is for finishing the outer part of your house. Basically the inside is more or less done. Installation of outdoor water filter.

2nd painting round:
Self explanatory.

Installation of built-ins:
Cupboards, kitchen cabinets, etc can be now installed. Tell supplier to not scratch your floor if using timber flooring.

Polishing of flooring (applicable for marble flooring only)

This is just a general guideline. Some of the items can be done to some extent overlapping with each other usually during tail end of each process. Time for each is dependant on your requirements. Hope that helps a lil.

leave it to the contractors/construction people to think & just get your wife to see the results. Supervision wise; just do it once awhile like 3/4 to finishing. Hold payment if there is problem. Its not your wife jobs also if she isnt good in looking this construction stuffs.

A good communication is the basic to achieving good outcome.

thanks! this is very very useful to everyone who is first timer as well.

I also got my double storey 24''x90'' house key recently but yet to do anything. currently, the developer still touching up after our complaint letter submitted.

I also do not have idea which one to go first as we have limited budget. as we are not in hurry, so we plan to do it slowly.

so referring to your sequence.

is it alright if i start with my car porch and backyard first? i gotta to tiling for both car porch and backyard. no extension on car porch. this is wetworks as well?

as for the interior of the house, we will retain the original tiling. but maybe will be doing laminated flooring from the staircase up to first floor. I should start this first or electrical/plumbing first?

please advise..

Best to do the inside of your house first. You don't want to do your porch and get it damaged while doing the inside.

Contractor will bully women. I have total control of what I want for my house reno, as my hubby always busy with his work. But contractor very often told me this cannot be done, that cannot be done. Or they will say this one need extra money, that one need to pay more. Then I ask my hubby to tell them, they shut up and do it!