6 HDB Carpentry Mistakes To Avoid

Good carpentry work not only adds on to the aesthetics of your HDB while making it your own but also adds value to it. Carpentry is an art which is why not every carpenter can give you exactly what you want. Choosing the right carpenter is a key factor in order to avoid any carpentry mistakes. This is only one of the mistakes one can make but regardless of which one it is always costly. They say that experience is the best teacher but in this case it is a costly teacher. You can always learn from the mistakes of fellow Singaporeans and save yourself a lot of trouble and money. These mistakes can easily be avoided since this will go along way in saving your money. We have ensured that you are well on the way to getting fabulous carpentry work by equipping you with 6 carpentry mistakes to avoid when renovating your HDB.


· Lack of a plan

Knowing exactly what you want is essential to ensuring that you avoid any carpentry mistakes. Going into carpentry work blindly will most likely result in a costly mistake. Any carpentry or renovation project entails a lot of planning and preparations to ensure every detail is looked into and well catered for. The plan will include the exact type of carpentry work you need done, the materials needed and their cost, labor costs, time frame required, a budget for the project and the legal requirements if any. The budget will ensure that you do not incur some unexpected costs that you cannot fund during the course of the renovation. Your budget is extremely important when making a decision the as it determines the design you chose. You should also ensure that you identify your HDB’s the electrical and plumbing lay out in order to ensure that the carpentry work does not interfere with them.

· Not attaining the necessary permits

The Housing and Development Board in Singapore requires owners of HDB flats to apply for permits before undertaking major renovations on your flat. Depending on the extent of carpentry work you plan on undertaking a permit might be necessary. It is easier to get your permit if you enlist the services of a professional to apply for the renovations permit on your behalf. If your renovations are minor you do not need to apply for a permit but the renovations need to follow the set guidelines on safety and sanitation. Ensure that you are on the right side of the law when it comes to installing your renovations to ensure you are not penalized.

· Hiring the wrong carpentry service and embarking on major carpentry DIY projects

Research is key when hiring a carpentry service to ensure you hire one that is qualified to do the job and do it well. Customer satisfaction reviews are essential to help you decide on the right carpentry service for the job. You should also check the credentials of the carpenter you chose to hire. The saying that cheap is expensive is extremely relevant when picking a carpenter or carpentry service as you are likely to get better service from carpenters who charge a fair market price.

DIY projects are usually cute and great to look at but at times they end up looking a little amateurish. This might actually bring down the price of your HDB, in future when you are trying to resell it. It is advisable to stick to professional work when getting major carpentry work done on your flat.


· Using sub-standard materials

At the present time it might seem like the better option to buy cheaper materials but this might be costly in the long run. Sub- standard materials can be the source of numerous challenges in the use and aesthetics of your carpentry work. The fixtures tend to break and fall apart easily while moisture and heat will have adverse effects on the fixtures. Good quality materials will be long lasting, less prone to breakage and maintain its aesthetics for a long period of time. When making purchases on your fixtures and materials you need to consult a professional or do adequate research on good quality materials and the different brands in the market.

· Changing the plan after work has began

Making a concrete plan is something that is extremely essential that is why it is should be given the first priority and thought over for a considerable amount of time. This will ensure that going into the project you have a straight forward vision that you want executed. Changing the plan during after the project has begun can lead to costly mistakes in your carpentry work as this will completely change the entire plan including the fore-planned budget and essentials of the project. This might make the project more costly with the possibilities of errors as plans may be mixed up and miscommunication between you and the carpenter. It will also affect the time frame for completion of the project and will require you to embark on making another plan for your project.

· Do not rush the project

When drafting the plan for your carpentry project you need to do the necessary research on the approximate amount of time the project might take to draft a time line. This however might change according to the carpenter you choose as they might require more or less time. When setting the completion date of the project ensure it is within your carpenter’s “comfort zone” so that your project is done hurriedly which might result in mistakes. It is advisable to set deadlines to ensure that the carpenter does not become lazy so as to increase payment especially if they are paid on a daily basis.

Conclusion

Mistakes are something that most of us fall prey to a lot of times but it is not always necessary to make them when equipped with the right type of information. Pre-planning is something that is essential to ensure that you do not make any mistakes when undertaking your carpentry projects. It might be the most important part of avoiding mistakes as they say information is power.