Renovation- The Do and Don't

Obviously, this is not about how you are supposed to carry out the design of your condominium. But bear in mind, budget will affect much of your plan on renovation. It can range from 10K to 150K. There’s no right and wrong about this. Eventually, you are the ones will stay or owns the said property.

At current global economic slow down, i’m sure contractor will definitely charge less compared to last year same period. I got a close friend received at least 30% discount recently on the kitchen cabinet which comes with a good deals which actually cost higher if she signed the deal end of last year.

Nevertheless, there are few things need to note down before you or your contractor start breaking tiles and put up cement. Before the work start, please pay RM1K of refundable deposit to the management office. I would suggest you to use your cheque book as paying in cash may takes longer time for you to get refund which sometimes may drag up to 45 days upon completion.

Here are the few things to note:
1. Water piping
Please get hold of the master plan of the piping for your unit if you plan to modify the inlet and outlet of the water. Some may choose to install water filter inside their house , so getting the exact location is definitely important to work well with the design.
2. Intercom
Strictly no modification to this. Apparently, any interupption to this intercom may directly affect the whole system after the block. Maybe this could be reasons why few owners in Block B including myself still own a faulty intercom system.
3. Wiring
Please get a certified electrician to do all sort of work for you, switch, power plug, fan, additional air con wiring and heater wiring. As such they should know the best what can fit for your unit. For instance getting a dedicated power line for your water heater directly from the main switch box instead or sharing from other wiring.
4. Compressor
Previously, there were restrcition on the position of the compresor whereby, they were only allowed on selected area and position only. Kindly check with the management office before you decide where to position it. I’m sure, you dont want to be paying the penalty for carring out the work which is not approved and that you are not awared. Knowing the exact location may actually save you cost as you can aarange the compressor properly hence saving the cost of extra piping which run at RM30/foot.
5. Fascade of buidling
Any work resulting in change of the fascade of the building is definitely not allowed. Like hackoing a wall and install a new window or enlarging the existing window or sealed up a window. Hacking on the beam is stricly not allowed as it will affect the structural stability for whole buiding. This is why many owners choose minimun paster ceiling instalation to hide the bad looking beam in the middle of the living hall ceiling.
6. Work time
Is strictly on Monday to Saturday, 9am to 5 pm only. Please make sure your contractor follow exactly what is stated here as this will cause much problem especially the sound pollution affected to your direct neighbour.
7. Grill at the entrance, balcony, kitchen and window.
Make sure the one you going to install comply with the color code/specification provided by the management.
8. Debris
Some of the contractor prefer to work on the common area. But they are responsible to ensure all the rubbish are well taken of. Especially heavy and bulky dirt are not supposed to throw into the rubbish bin room. They need to handle it by taking it away . Please monitor how your contractor work as the managment has the right to penalise you if they found out your contractor did not comply with the rules stated.
9. Paint
You have to make enquiry on the Serial/Product code for the floor and bathroom tiles, the paints for the whole unit as this will aid in getting the right one just in case you need to replace few part of the whole. I remember, trying to get the floor tile for my wet kitchen which was not availble outside and end up hacking all the floor tiles and and replace with a new and better tiles. So, plan for this.

Hope the above points may help to prevent any unwanted situation and your plan on renovation can goes smoothly.