Greetings! We have just purchased our 1st home not long ago and it’s a landed home which we intend to make it as our dream home! Since our family only have 3 members (with a corgi) so we don’t really need a really big landed house.

Therefore, after researching several new launches we finally found a landed house that suits our lifestyle and can’t wait to renovate it to how we like and stay there!
Currently the house is still under construction, so we have plenty of time to do planning now, everything is not final. The purpose of my post is to get the professional or experienced people feedback/suggestions.

House Details:
Land Area: 20’ X 60’
Built-Up: 1621 sqft
Rooms: 3
Bathroom: 3

Original Layout:


Proposed Layout:



Pre-plan

As we are rapidly saving up money for renovation, we have decided to keep our target realistic to our renovation objectives. *we have no idea how much would be the actual cost at this moment [May 2021]

Budget Renovation Cost: RM 80,000

So far, we have yet to decide should we hire Interior Designer, but we have roughly designed our dream layout for our home via a game call Sims 4:
Sims 4 Design Draft

Just for reference, this is the show unit design:
Show Unit Design

Renovation touch points:
1. No renovation for bathroom is needed since it’s a new unit.
2. We decided not to renovate our other 2 bedrooms.
3. We decided not to do any tiling for our yard space, will put artificial grass on top.
4. We would like to focus our renovation on Living area and master bedroom only.
5. We intend to get all the heavy drilling/hacking work done first, for other rooms we can do minor renovation.
With excel worksheet, we have calculated that we will spend around RM 72k for our renovation.

You can download our budget excel worksheet here

Budget touch points:
1. To be really honest, we have no idea what are the current market price, so we only estimate price by comparing IKEA, Shopee, Lazada.
2. Why I put lesser amount on Painting and Wiring is because my family member does this business.
3. We don’t intend to get luxurious branding but intend to get long lasting material. For e.g: Panasonic, LG are well branded for their Aircon and Washing Machine respectively.

Misc touch points:
1. Since we are extending our yard wall, local permit is needed
2. Serves 100-plus or kopi peng to the contractors
3. Take a lot of progression photos
4. Clean up cost need to be considered


Since this is our first house and first renovation process, we would much appreciate any pros here can provide us positive feedback and let us know if we missed out anything important!


Quotation & Finalizing Design
Design Draft made by myself:
https://forum.lowyat.net/index.php?showtopi...ost&p=101699783

This post has been edited by jeffboon97: Aug 14 2021, 12:50 PM

To be continued

To be continued

PSA on electrical safety since you haven't started anything.

For water heater safety
WH circuit if you are redoing the wiring for it, use 4.0mm² cables per ST spec.
Good cables from Mega Kabel/Caramay/Fajar Cable cost more. But they are "cheng liu" with all the SIRIM legit certification.
There are elcheapo/fake cables at half price I also don't dare to install in customer premises. Safety first.

More importantly each WH circuit (basically each unit) need its own 10mA RCD/RCBO 0.01A (NOT 0.1A).
Check DB box to see if such thing exist.

For further reading  Guideline_for_The_Design_Installation_Inspection_Testing_Operation_and_Maintenance_of_Water_Heater_Systems__1_.pdf ( 4.49mb ) Number of downloads: 25


Having a 10mA RCD fitted will prevent the likelihood of becoming news material.
https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/se-asia/m...e-having-shower
https://www.malaymail.com/news/malaysia/202...c-shock/1896447


For whole house electrical safety
Per ST (Suruhanjaya Tenaga) regulations - to be fully compliant - you should use a 30mA whole house high sensitivity RCD (0.03A NOT 0.3A) for human life safety.

100mA & 300mA RCDs should only be used in commercial/industrial as they are NOT very useful to protect human life
They are commonly fitted in residential as they are indeed cheap coz less sensitive and they are only good for preventing building from catching fire.

PSA on your 1F yard extension wall design.

Remember kids can and will climb over anything when you are not watching for a moment.
Pls use ONLY either:
solid wall or VERTICAL elements if you are putting in metal rails.

HORIZONTAL elements have been outlawed in the US, UK for staircase railings and safety barriers.
However this is from a newly VPed high-rise project see the danger?

Thank you so much for the guidance! I'll keep this in mind, my brother is an electrician so I don't want to cheap out on electrical else my brother will nag me if I do!

Also, do you prefer AC or DC Water heat?
Based on my research it seems like DC pump is more long last and quieter, but not as powerful as AC?

This design quite trendy in landed yard. I've seen some ID aspiration have this zig zag break design that have gaps in between. I can't believe they built this for high rise omgosh!

Hi there, replying to your post because I am also in the process of designing my new house (double storey terrace) with VP expected around mid May (may be June now due to MCO3.0) and also because I plan to buy a new corgi or Golden for my new house!

I am not sure when the VP for your house is, but I can tell you after recent surveying prices really gone up big! I guess when it comes to house renovation it is pretty price inelastic. Now materials etc in shortage and prices gone up, also people are hungry for a while so they will want their fair share of profit too. I would think next year prices will go up more... So for your RM80k, I think maybe not enough if you intend to engage ID. If you can engage separate contractors at a cheaper price than an ID, my advise is to do it yourself since you pretty much have an idea of what to do. Having ID without the budget might mean your house will be restricted. Unless you need the ID to coordinate activities between the contractors, aka acting as the PM and Quality Assurance Manager.

2. We decided not to renovate our other 2 bedrooms.


I am in the same position as you. 2 to 3 of the rooms will not have anyone staying in. But in the end I decided to go ahead with simple renovations like cabinet, bed, fans and aircon. Reason being lazy to do it later and also the aircon pipes already pre-built. Might as well do it all.

3. We decided not to do any tiling for our yard space, will put artificial grass on top.

Not sure how is your yard at the moment. If your yard has grass on it, it will involve costs to remove them and lay the artificial grass. And good artificial grass that you engage outside vendors to do will not be cheap! You might be surprise simple tiles maybe not much more expensive.

I think things might change after you get your keys eventually, as I mentioned earlier prices really going up. And yes you need to include clean up costs. But why do you need paint when your unit is new? Unless you prefer another colour.

A couple of questions if you don't mind.

1. Your kitchen is aluminum or wood? If IKEA I don't think they have aluminum. I think your kitchen budget is almost there, but your hood and hub I think on the lower side.
2. Your ceiling fan only RM180? How come so cheap? The one I am eyeing Panasonic DC with LED around RM700 to RM740. If you always on your fan, better get one with DC motor.
3. May I know who you engaging for your bathroom cabinet? It seems I need to check if my kitchen and wardrobe cabinet suppliers do bathroom one or not. I missed out on this.
4. You might want to consider costs of water filter, not cheap. POE and POU add up can be around 1 to 3k depending on what you choose.
5. Your costs for lightning includes ceiling plaster?

Seems to me some of your items are reasonably priced but some seems on the low side. Anyway good thread and good luck to you. I only ask questions in this forum on some of the thing, but lazy to do what you do! LOL.

Most welcome. Good to know you've got someone competent to handle the electrical works.
DC pump WH is better than AC. AC pump always noisier than the DC pump.

However if water pressure is good enough (this one really need to bring a hose to test on site) i.e. using just your thumb [fingerprint, not stuffing the thumb inside the hose ] to cover the water flow, try to stop the water, then you may NOT need a pump model.

> If you can stop the water with your thumb = water pressure weak. Get WH pump model.

> If it is virtually impossible to stop the water with your thumb = water pressure good. WH pump optional.

Artificial Grass reply:
Based on the brochure and specification written, the yard will have half cement and half grey tiles.
So if we want to save cost further we have no problem letting it be like that. But we intend to let our corgi run on some grass in the case of rain can't go out. Didn't know the price of the artificial grass, but sometimes I go check on Kaison and MR. DIY doesn't seem super expensive, but surely the quality is not as good as those specialize in doing artificial grass.

1. I am eyeing on Unity Kitchen, so probably is wood since it's a dry kitchen. then under basin I want to put aluminum in case of leaking won't damage the wood. I guess for Hood and Hob and the kitchen cabinet under RM 20000 can settle?
2. Hmm, perhaps I need to raise my fan budget to RM 200- RM 300. I don't mind getting normal KDK. But I am not sure what's the difference between 3 blade or 5 blade?
3. If I intend to go with Unity Kitchen, then most probably ask them to help do Wardrobe also.
4. for Water filter currently my house already have a water purifier which I will transport to the new house hehe!
5. I dont want to do plaster ceiling though, I found there's a easy install downlight like Yeelight. https://www.yeelight.com/en_US/product/luna

Thanks for the testing technique!

Hmm... make sure your corgi doesn't shit or urinate on the artificial grass, especially good quality one! Yes those I see in Jusco also not expensive. But if you want perfect fit then those pieces not big enough.

1. Price range for Kitchen cabinet really depends on the length and top bottom cabinets/material. You see those advertise for less than 10k one, you have to see the real quality of material used before you can decide.
2. According to sales person, 5 blade supposed to have more wind and quieter. Another guy selling 3 blades claim the same. Currently I am using Rubine 3 blades DC motor, very quiet and good. So I still thinking if I should try the Panasonic ones.
4. What about outdoor filter?
5. Your downlight Yeelight seems atas. Even got wifi! lol. You plan to do smart home?

2. Panasonic ones are always good! I have one at home that run 24/7 because of my corgi
3. Hmm might consider to install but have no idea on this matter yet.
4. Hahah I am a huge fan of Xiaomi, Yeelight is a company under Xiaomi which can be connected via Xiaomi Home App. Currently I have several items that is using Xiaomi Home which has worked very well for me. I wouldn't call it smart home with those expensive panels but smart mobile home!

I have a Pana Bayu 4 windless wonder POS fan. It is essentially the biggest regret of my life. I have installed and uninstalled it in 3 rooms from living to MBR to finally stuffing in smallest room. Windless as in even at max speed u put tissue on the table the tissue stay there, will never blow off. Want to donate away to people also I heartache to transfer uselessness to other people.

For ceiling fan
On a budget: The regulator 60" is cheap and produces most wind (8122 cfm or 230m³/min) it just doesnt look pretty.

Remote fan 56" <300 bucks usually metal blade. KDK OK. Pana latest range are POS, 2018 model windless, 2014 one strong wind.

Remote fan 56" 400 bucks Vtouch Jr/515 bucks Sensa 4 ABS blade, there is some better tech in the blade angle and they are excellent cfm too (225m³/min). These all use the same blade, tried and true design.

To reiterate NEVER ever buy a Pana POS remote fan (Bayu 4). Many forumer also regret in ceiling fan threads. Get a KDK.

KDK and Pana made in same factory, but Pana factory can modify Pana design and cost cutting suka hati as they are the principal.
KDK model made under license, local Pana assembler cannot modify spec, design, or cost cut without principal approval.
That is the fundamental difference.

This post has been edited by ceo684: May 8 2021, 10:29 PM

I have the Bayu 4.. no issue with wind... how high is your ceiling

My wet kitchen full height wall tiles cost me RM3-4k alone.

Also you seems like missed out curtain/windows blind for other rooms and house grille.

Thanks for the heads up. May I know what is POS fan?

Can you comment on these two model? I almost bought the panasonic one during 5 5 promotion.

Rubine Celling Fan Gavia 56" DC Motor RCF-GAVIA56
https://www.lazada.com.my//products/i202954...YL&urlFlag=true

PANASONIC F-M15GWSQH/F-M15GWSRH 60" DC MOTOR CEILING FAN
https://www.lazada.com.my//products/i143931...YL&urlFlag=true

Or can you recommend a good DC KDK model? Energy saving, super quiet and with LED. Thanks.

Rumaweep 9.5 feet. Brand new in box POS.
I made the mistake of buying in 2018. Installed in 2019, no warranty.
It make a lot of grok grok noise at slow speed 1-2 even if i stripped the "dinner plate" naked.

P.S. I installed many fans in my lifetime, this was my 2nd Bayu 4.

I have a 2014 variant which works beautifully.

POS = Piece of Shite.

Sensa 4 (around RM515), DC brushless.
https://shopee.com.my/KDK-K14ZW-56-Sensa-4-...5032.5642458864

All AC motor are brushless.
DC motor can be brushed or brushless type so need to make sure its brushless for long life.





Sensa 4 (DC) is using same blades as Vtouch Jr (AC) and the previous EOL model Sensa 4 (AC).
This 56" blade design makes about 225m3/min wind which is very plentiful.
ABS blade is very quiet. No funny sounds like the POS Bayu 4 scraping against the center core.
Also, the safety device for Vtouch Jr/Sensa is using metal hook to the center core chassis.

The POS Bayu 4 design is using a "clothes peg wire" as the safety device to prevent blade from flying off.

You can go up to the Sensa 5 (DC) current model as well. The more fancy Nikko, Kaze are more nice-to-haves and doesn't make more wind lol.



No noticeable difference, I have a whole mix of fans 3-4-5 blades as long as it is not a faulty unit.
Wind sound is silent.

There is some slight differences in power consumption and cfm between the 4- and 5- bladed variants but it is within a few % you won't notice in a blind test.
4-bladed balancing is easier to do. 5-bladed ones more tricky to balance.

This post has been edited by ceo684: May 8 2021, 11:28 PM

Installed kdk sensa 4 and 5 in throughout my house. Damn happy with it. Looks amazing too. Modern. But pay premium la vs others.

May I know does your wall tiles cover the washing area as well? As my sink area couldn't install much wall tiles since there's window there.

I am living in a GnG community thinking should I skip out on house grille :/



If 3 blade KDK any recommendation?