Be careful of tree's roots. Tree fern is nice.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cyathea_cooperi

I haven't been updating much on this site as I'm away for a week in home town celebrating mid autumn festival with my beloved parent. Picture below are some leveling work at the first floor which was done around 4 days back. So far, I kinda satistfied with the workmanship of the contractor and I'm pretty impressed as they are doing such a good house keeping each and every time they demolish anything. It is totally not the 'dirty' site that I've imagine it could be. 



The site is always kept clean and tidy.

I really like to ask if anyone can share their experience who has came across this situation which I'm not sure whether it's a normal thing to happen during renovation... After the leveling work at first floor when the cements are still wet...i observed there are quite some water patches and some water dripping thru the ground floor's ceiling...is this what it supposed to happen?

Talking about my initial plan to plant a tree in the courtyard...i'm so upset that I need to call it off.
I went for a ba-zi reading 2 days back and my ba-zi chart does shown that wood element should be avoided as it clashes with my main earth stars which will also affect my health and that's the main reason i decided a 'No' to the ground-rooted tree...Hence, I've no choice but to get my contractor to fill up the hole again....
However, i will still want to cover up the whole courtyard with stones and pebbles. Then, i gonna plant the fig tree but it will just be in a pot this time so that it wont be overgrown...

I'm finally back in town again..after away for almost 1 week....

Renovation progress has been steady but slightly slow as there were only 2 workers assigned for my site from the beginning. I've request more workers from the contractor so that things could be sped up, in order to meet the dateline of moving in latest by end of Nov. Hopefully I could get more work force soon.

Following are some updates as of the 20th day:

- BRC wire mesh is ready for the front porch footing. As you can see from picture below, the part for soil and planting has been made smaller so that the car porch has more width space especially when we park 2 cars side-by-side. It gives a wider walk space so that we do not need to step on the grass.

- Tiles has arrived but yet to see the tiler. Contractor said the tiling sifu has pretty tight schedule...
Hope he can secure a time slot for me very soon and I do hope he get me a good sifu with good workmanship coz i'm pretty particular on the tiling quality. I will definitely vomit blood till die if the tiling job is not good... 

- leveling work for 1st floor and stairs was done. I don't plan to install any glass or railing for the staircase stepping down. Will just do the laminate (without riser).


- The old sliding door at courtyard has been taken away and the contractor suggested to hack the upper part, making the opening 1 foot higher, and it actually turns out better with such higher opening. Will do BRC roof slab for each opening to the courtyard to avoid splashing of rain..


- New opening at 1st floor family hall and master bedroom.




- The ceiling at 1st floor has been all removed to receive new plaster ceiling later.




- Kitchen wall has been hacked away. Can't wait for the kitchen extension work.

For a renovation, we went to many exhibition fairs, visited various vendors and of coz paid lots of deposits..
So, how do u guys manage all your reno-related docs, such as invoices, quotation, etc?
I put them in a plastic file case like u see in the pic below. It is easier for me to bring along when i go out and it can keep all papers in place nice and neat.
For the receipts, I keep them in a smaller zipper bag which I can put it inside the plastic case as well.

Why your power point cables coming from bottom?

Some updates as of 2 days ago:

One thing good about the contractor that I must admit...eventhough there are couple of overlooked mistakes happened from time to time, they have not push the responsibility away but put immediate action to rectify problem or redo...

I am interested to know about this motion sensor function that you are installing.
This motion sensor is to detect movement and then turn on the lights being looped to do so.
So this lights are only sensor control or is it able to function as a normal on and off light switch as well?
Thought of installing this for the common areas during night time when lights are off and activate this function for safety and security.

Possible to do so? Any idea what is the range?
Thanks.

Actually, I'm kinda curious how did you guys tell your contractor on what colour to paint on which wall?
To avoid mistakes and confusion, I've sent my contractor the following few pics, plotted out which part and which colour that I want (based on nippon paint colours brochure) . My contractor said he was amazed to see so many polka dots when he opened up the files....guess I'm the first ever client of his doing this...     









The first layer of paint was done and I'm kinda satisfied with the chosen colours accept the living room and family hall which has been painted in 'hush white'. The 'hush white' colour is too yellowish/creamy to my liking. It makes the room looks smaller and the walls were looked like those already painted for more than 10 years...
I failed to convince myself accepting the colours so I have to tell the contractor to re-paint it to another brighter colour (orchid white). I think I better change it now since it is just painted the 1st layer, rather than regretting for many years to come living in it... 

Thanks bro, yet to finish...still many parts to be be continue after CNY...now most vendors has gone on cny holidays and some even resuming work after chap goh meh... Envious me.... 

You must have been enjoying and getting excited to celebrate your first CNY at the new sanctuary right? Wish you and family a very prosperous CNY!

Btw, did you still manage to keep your home at the state of minimalist now?