I started my renovation without deposit. Also no payment when material arrive. He only asked for money when he finished a job from the quotation for example foundation, footing, wood pile, relocation of water meter, hack kitchen wall..then i pay him those completed and he dont even ask for full but he ask for nice numbers..say total is 8400..he asked for 8000, then next round need to pay 7200+previous 400, i pay him 8000. So plus minus few hundred its ok to me since those on-going didnt pay, so consider the few hundred extra as on-going

My contractor is not cheap, but i like his process and style...as long as it is reasonable market price, I'm ok..no need too cheap..too cheap also i'm afraid somewhere somehow is short of something...he's very cina ahpek old man..so I'm afraid that he will cheat me

sorry, typo..not afraid. he dont collect money before doing, so should not be afraid. I only have communication problem with him...i cannot speak much mandarin and i dunno any commercial hokkien.,just basic hokkien...and he use very advanced mandarin and hokkien with me...abit pening...

I dunno how to explain recessed and undermount...so everything use picture and show him...and he say measurement in chinese..like inches and ft...I'm always confuse...last week he called me when i was in sg, he said something about tabletop and some measurement..i thought he was talking about thickness but actually he was talking about the height..hahaha....

Har....what do you mean crawling? cockroaches? OMG! What kind of precaution should I take?? before tiling and doing the garden, I got my dad's worker to poured concentrated termite treatment solution in my garden, when it rain, it will spread throughout the ground! Also did the same during the fence piling and footing..anything that they dig and loosen, we poured. Already did it twice, will do many times. Before leveling and cement work also, we spray & pour on the ground, then before tiling also spray again. On the other area, I already send my dad's worker to spray and 'paint' crevices with termite solution also...I think can deter some cockroaches...and lizards too..can see few days no cats in my compound..otherwise everyday they will come and have fun and poopoo outside the house LOL but not sure for how long..

I know enuf hokkien to communicate, but not terror old man's hokkien and definitely dont know construction hokkien..I told him concrete>sink>tile...then he ohhhh...so I think ok

yeah, I got the cert for termite treatment from them, but since do renovation, the waranty is actually voided..so I just do extra..

Centipede is super dangerous man! I havent see any yet, but yes i saw a few dragonfly before..i Think the termite treatment smell can deter them kua..

haha..We are staying in a park..We have 11 parks there..small and big...thanks for tell me this..Maybe i have to put ants powder before moving in also..before any food stuff is in the house

No worries la...Not moving in for another 6 or so months..and not planting anything also...

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Added on July 29, 2012, 11:02 pmErm...the ground there is pretty soft, alot of water during foundation work, water retention is really bad there..I will most would have been gone by the time i stay there..plus I don't plant anything to eat..should be ok right? Anyway I still see millipedes around..should be ok

This post has been edited by craftsnknots: Jul 29 2012, 11:02 PM

Erm...but I only do it during rainy seasons...pass month has been raining like mad in the evening (these days are hotter than oven) so I think it kinda dissolves in the garden and spread throughout..

But I though those termite treatment guys also drill holes into the ground then pump in? How much are they charging? Anyone doing this with economical way? spray spray or also drill holes? Drill holes is so ugly....would cockroach goes in after years when the chemical wears out to breed? Just wondering