Hacking & Renovation
As we know that every design of a building or a structure has a lifespan know as design life. Demolition of a building is the process of dismantling a structure after its life span or serviceability. In other words, it means dismantling, destroying or wrecking of any building or structure or any part thereof.
Winway Home Services provides fast, reliable & affordable solutions to commercial and residential demolition & renovation request. No job is too big or too small for us. Our staffs are well trained and experienced. We can accommodate your needs from designing, hacking, reinstatement or renovation to build your dream home together.
Types Of Demolition
Demolition can be a minor demolition such as a small furniture removal, or major demolition which is a complete tear down of a building. Sometimes, demolition involves the use of hydraulic equipment with specialized attachments, cranes, loaders, wrecking balls and in some cases explosives. There are few common types of demolition.
Interior Demolition
Selective Demolition
Total Demolition
Interior Demolition
It only breaks the interior portions of a structure while preserving the exterior, such as removal of walls, ceilings, pipes, floors, furniture etc. This kind of non-structural demolishing of spaces within a structure usually done in preparation for reuse and upgrading of the space.
Selective Demolition
When a complete demolition of a structure is unnecessary and only partial of a building or home require demolition, we call this a selective demolition. It means an extremely delicate demolition within an existing structure, which involves the removal of specific interior or exterior portions of a building while protecting the remaining structure and nearby areas.
Total Demolition
Deconstruction of an entire structure, involving the act of deliberately destroying an entire building/structure, often in order to build something else in its place. It can be achieved by using specialized mechanical equipment and tools such as hydraulic excavators equipped with specialized attachments to break concrete and steel, effectively “chewing” the structure apart. Smaller equipment may also be used such as skid steers loaders.
Demolition / Renovation of old houses in Singapore
In land-scarce Singapore, new spaces for total new buildings is very limited. Buildings that have been demolished to make way for urban redevelopment do not always make the news. Therefore, we often heard about old buildings being torn down in Singapore and replaced by a new structure with more functionality. For example, the Old Kallang Stadium was demolished to make way for a new Sports Hub that possesses state-of-the-art sporting infrastructure and serves as a venue that can accommodate large-scale sports events and concerts, which is considered a functional upgrade.
As for residential buildings, in Singapore’s unique property market, “new” doesn’t make up for more critical advantages, instead resale houses are the main choice for many Singaporeans. Among all, HDB has the highest demand of all types of house.
When you buy a resale HDB and plan to demolish the entire structure to build your own dreamhouse, you have to bear in mind that you can’t just knock down any walls you want. You’ll have to avoid structural walls. These walls are there to uphold the structure of the whole building and ensure that the ceiling within your home doesn’t come crashing down. A licensed and professional contractor can easily figure out which walls to avoid by checking your HDB floor plan. Other than this, there are several guidelines to take note when you plan your HDB renovation, such as use of tools types, use of pre-packed material, timing to carry out the renovation etc. Engaging the right contractor is important to ensure you do not breach the regulation of HDB renovation. For example, in regulation, it is clearly state that exposed pipes cannot be permanently concealed. Even if you feel the urge to cover up the exposed pipes in your bathroom or kitchen. As much of an eyesore as they are, pipes cannot be permanently concealed. In case of clogs, HDB must be able to access the pipes to investigate further. You may leave this to contractor because they will know the do’s and don’ts.
After assigning a contractor to do the work for you, you job scope is, if possible, advise your contractor to close the main door of your flat while works are ongoing, to help reduce noise disturbance to your neighbours. Do remember to inform them as well in advance of any works that may generate noise.
How much does a HDB renovation in Singapore cost and what are the factors involved?
According to renovation portal Qanvast, averagely a 4-room HDB BTO flat renovation is estimated to cost about $43,000 to $45,000 in 2020. Making over a resale flat is more extensive and therefore more expensive, which is expected to cost around $45,000 to $52,000. However, this is just a ballpark figure because there are so many variables involved. You can always engage a contractor for a site visit, tell them what you want to get a more accurate cost for your own home.
Another important factor is the type of finishing/materials you choose for your walls, floors and other surfaces like kitchen countertops. There are lots of countertop options on the market include granite, marble, quartz, and more. Each material has its positive and negative aspects. Some are very strong while some can be marred. There is a large price gap for different quality of countertop as certain materials cost a lot more than others.
Not only these, toilets and bathrooms are the most common root to leakage problem especially in older houses. Over time waterproofing membrane in the cement ground worn out usually from cleaning or showering. Consequently, water sips through between the tiles and may cause water damage to the ceiling below or neighbouring wall. Therefore waterproofing is needed in these wet areas when you move in to a resale house.
Besides, wiring cost is one of the factors that contribute to your overall renovation cost. In general, the pricing and services depend heavily on the job scope, location, or even level of expertise. In Singapore, it is advisable to engage an EMA licensed professional to carry out your wiring work. For basic wiring only, the price ranging from $1000-3000, depending on HDB type, exclude installation of other necessary electrical appliances such as fans and lights.
Again, it is good to engage a professional contractor to do a site visit, and advise you the necessary upgrades based on current house condition, then get a quotation in order to meet your renovation budget. If you are looking for a contractor, you can be rest assured to engage Winway Home Services team. We will send in experienced professionals to help you.
Demolition / Reinstatement / Renovation of Offices & Factories
A lot of business owners consider leasing rather than buying commercial property. However the choice to buy or to rent commercial property is not black or white. It depends on your business nature and business planning. To some people, buying commercial property will lock in your money and space. As your business grows, you may even have to sell the property you bought and find a larger space to accommodate the increased scale of the business. On the other hand, leasing space is more flexible because you can choose to move to a new or more suitable location after the tenant ends. With these factors around, leasing offices/shophouses is very common.
When started using the new premise, depending on the agreement, usually a tenant may need to hire the right and professional personnel to redesign/renovate the office layout or shophouse layout in order to create the best working space for staffs. When returning premise to landlord, in most cases, it is again the tenant’s obligation to reinstate the premise to its original condition.
Reinstatement
In most commercial tenancy agreements, the tenant is responsible to reinstate the premises to its original condition before handing back the premises to the landlord. As the tenant is contractually obligated to fulfil this condition, failing to do so will result in deduction of the reinstatement amount from the deposit or legal action to claim back the reinstatement works amount from the tenant. After years of service or major renovation of the building during tenancy period, generally, to restore the premise to its original condition is always quite a tedious and hectic task.
It is important to note that office reinstatement does not involve just clearing out of furniture and fittings but also restoring the original floor, lightings and any other aspect of the office that may have been altered.
If you are looking for a contractor to reinstate your offices or shophouses, you may engage Winway Home Services team. We have done various reinstatement projects for offices and shophouses to put it back to original condition. Contact us and we will do a site tour to give you professional advices.
Office Renovation
When you decide to go in for office renovation, you need ensure you have in mind a rough design changes or the layout you need for your office in a new and better way. It is always advisable to ask for and use professional advice, as it will help you to get best result. Usually, experienced contractor will give you proper advices without having to pay a lot.
A commercial renovation generally consists of two parts:
Capital Improvements
This is an enhancement by beautifying the building itself. This typically includes the lobbies, restrooms, and any common-area or exterior lighting work. Some business owners will set up high-end fitness centers, first-class common conference rooms, 24/7 chill zones with soft seating, Wi-Fi and laptop bars, adding extra bathroom etc, depending on the business nature or individual likings. Other improvements include adding new built-in appliances, wall-to-wall carpeting or flooring, or even improvements to a home's exterior, such as replacing the roof, siding, or storm windows.
Tenant Improvements
Commercial office units usually don’t come pre-built with fixtures, walls and finishes the way apartments or houses do. The tenants usually get a bare box that they then upgrade to their own specifications. Changes can be made by landlords or new tenant. Any changes made are tailored to the specific needs of a tenant and make the space more attractive and appealing to them. These tenant improvements are a business asset because they are attached to property and can depreciate. The tenant should keep track of all costs of the improvements and monitor their return of investment on the premise. The downside of tenant improvements is that they cannot come with you once you leave a space and the money you spent on the improvements isn’t recoverable. For example, you cannot pull out a new bathroom or wiring or new walls to get back what you have invested. Many tenants spend too much on tenant improvements and in the end this initial investment affects their net gain from their business. Therefore, it is a good idea to consult with a contractor when it comes to renovation of a leased building/space.
Winway Home Services understands the money concern from business owners and the downside of renovating a leased building. As client is our motto, one of our most important aim is to make all of the vacant spaces great for staffs and bring it up to a very modern look, at your most comfortable budget. If you have any enquiry, feel free to contact us for a site visit and professional advice.