Lily Lee: 2021

HIP was supposed to be carried out last year but postponed due to COVID-19.

My post on the selection of the optional package and voting for HIP two years ago:

http://mrslilylee.blogspot.com/2019/10/hdb-home-improvement-programme-hip.html

Almost 2 years of wait! It will normally take a year if not for the pandemic.

The installation of the laundry drying rack was completed.

Netting carried out to prevent the dust from affecting the corridors near the mobile working platform

Mobile working platform installed to remove the debris from the hacking

Temporary toilets at the void deck

Rest area for affected residents at the void deck of a nearby block

Study room for affected residents at the void deck of a nearby block

Bought the bathroom accessories from Hoe Kee at Jalan Berseh. Not cheap but trustworthy.

3 toilets awaiting for a new look. Last renovation 20 years ago.

A letter was sent one month earlier before work informing us that the HIP will start in a month's time. Another letter with the confirmed schedule (with dates) was sent two weeks before the start of HIP. Needed the dates to apply for leave. Hubby will oversees all days and I took leave for the first day as hacking will start and need to let the contractor know what we would like to keep as well as the kerbs to be placed. I have also took leave on the second last day so that I can give instructions for the placement of the fixture. Our area HIP is undertaken by Wee Hur.

As shown by the schedule below the renovation will take 10 days. We were not able to use the Aircon for 10 days as the water outlet trunking was removed and we had to get our own air con contractor to fix it back. We also had to use the temporary toilet. I preferred to use the one they installed in our kitchen but could only use that after 6 pm after they finish work and reconnect the pipes (water and sewage outlet) to the toilet. Before 6pm, we will use the temporary shared toilets at the void deck.

They have laid a layer of protective cover in the lifts and the corridor to the units.

😢 just wrapping and shifting some stuff already took whole day. Exhausted. Need to survive 12 days without toilet from the second. Will be another mad day after HIP to shift back and clean.

Set up a pantry area in my son's room. Hot water dispenser, multicooker, some bowls and cups.

Oh my goodness. Didn't expect it to be so bad. Those which we have covered have to be removed and shifted elsewhere cos workers say no space to move. But the workers did a good job covering the floor area to the toilets and also erecting the vertical poles with the plastic cover. After that a staff from the office came to go through the areas which we would like for the new toilets as well as the bathroom accessories which are to be removed or keep. Choose to keep all the lightings and the heater in the kitchen toilet.

Needed to make some top up. Wanted a divider kerb in my master bedroom toilet and it cost $138, the floor drop for the common toilet cost $172.8 and 2 additional floor traps for $138 each. Opted to switch to stainless steel pipe with chrome fitting which cost $57.5 x 3.

Hacking was completed and they are cleaning up the place and removing the dust protection which they supported with poles. Must applaud the worker as they sweep and even mop the floor cover they laid.

Kitchen toilet

Common toilet 2nd floor

Master bedroom toilet

Never have I been so happy to see a toilet. The portable toilet was placed in the kitchen and water is connected from the bottom of the sink so that we can still use the water from the sink tap. The sewage pipe will be connected to the toilet only after work. Took my first bath and it was so cold. The door is hard to close and there is no hook for hanging clothes so I used S hooks.

Today's work on replacing floor trap and basin piping was completed before 1 pm! Went back home to continue my meeting in the afternoon and was disrupted by a group of workers here to cut away the air con trunking. Called HIP office and they said they will get an electrician to check the heater for the portable toilet in my house as the water was so cold yesterday.

Gratitude. The electrician came and fixed the heater. I finally have hot water.

Grateful that there is a DIY laundry shop near my block. 31 mins for one wash. I just need to change my note to coins ($10) and then follow the washer instructions.

Will probably try out the dryer when I wash all the bedsheets and pillow cases after HIP

Day 3 chamfering to side wall and pipe. 300mm upturn with waterproofing screed. The Louvre vent was dismantled and supposed to be replaced but I just saw an opening. A layer of non shrink grout was applied on the floor. Really look like war zone now.

Application of 2 coats of waterproof membrane to the floor

Plastering and making the drop at the shower area for the common toilet, the kerb separating shower area as well as kerb around main pipes so that I could put the brush and cleaner.

The cracks at the entrance look frightening

The kerb divider separating the shower area for the master bedroom toilet. Added a floor trap at the shower area.

The drop at the common toilet seemed a bit shallow.

They almost forgot the kerb at the master bedroom toilet.

Prepared and labelled all the bathroom fixtures and the lightings.

Tiling of toilet walls.

Was pleasantly surprised that the pipe from the washing machine was gone. The tiler said it is buried and go direct to the floor trap.

Love the white wall

Love how they rounded the corners

Master bedroom toilet

Common Toilet took much longer as it's bigger.

Tiling of toilet floor in progress. Gratitude seeing it took shape.

The kerb at the entrance of the toilet.

Installation of pedestal pan, sanitary pipes, washing basin, grab bar and toilet door.

Reinstatement of bathroom fixtures and painting of ceilings and pipes. In changing from normal shower set to rain shower set, we needed to top up $60 each.

Replacement of entrance door and gate, painting of existing main door frame.

The portable toilet was removed too!

2nd water test on the last day plus anti-slip resistant treatment. The workers will touch up painting as well as Clean and do some house keeping.

Noticed a big hole near kitchen toilet pipe and also there are paint or crack on the ventilation louvre above the kitchen toilet door.

A big crack on the Louvre above the kitchen toilet.

The worker would mend this hole.

They were fast to respond and all the needed work rectified.

Love the new hole with metal piece for the new gate. Would be asking them to patch the old one.

Almost in tears with functional toilets. Finally no need for the portable toilet or to use the public toilet.

I love the new rain shower set and the white walls without any accent tiles. Minimalist.

I pasted the sticker "Love beyond words" on the wall of the master bedroom toilet and another one "Live every moment, Laugh everyday" on the wall of the kitchen toilet.

We have opted for new door and gate too! Love the all white bifold toilet doors.

Master bedroom toilet

Master bedroom toilet with the divider kerb

Sticker on master bedroom toilet wall

Common Toilet. Think the drop at the shower area is a bit too shallow.

The common toilet is really big.

Love the rain shower set.

The kitchen toilet which is the smallest out of the three toilets. Love how the washing machine water outlet is now hidden behind the wall and buried under the tiles direct to the floor trap.

Pasted the sticker "Live every moment, laugh everyday" on the wall of the kitchen toilet.

The white bi-fold toilet door

Hubby loves the mild steel gate and the veneer door he selected. Most of our neighbours have selected wrought iron gate so he loves that his is different. Grateful that our neighbour introduced to us this padlock which do not need to be secured to a chain or support.

My sincere gratitude to Wee Hur HIP team. A big thank you to the foreign workers who left their home to help us build ours.

Arranged for house painting. Would need to spend a few days cleaning the house. Well deserved as the last renovation was 20 years ago!

Will need a few more day to clean up the house.