New HDB owners who are all set to turn their freshly acquired flat into a paragon of industrial design, may have to cough up even more ca$h money to plonk their gray cement furnishings.
HDB's recent ruling requires renovation contractors to use pre-packed cement in all of their flats, and this could add thousands of dollars in expenses for customers, The Straits Times reports. Pre-packed screed is now mandatory for floors and walls of bedrooms and living rooms, where previously it was only required in wet areas such as toilets and kitchens.
Flat owners who signed their renovation contracts before June 1 can breathe easy, as the ruling only applies to those who sign after that date. For those who do want to employ that chic cement-heavy industrial look now will have to expect renovation costs to increase by up to $3 per square foot, which will drive costs up to a further $3,000.
HDB claims that pre-packed screed results in higher quality of finished work and wastes less material — contractors simply have to add water to the cement blend, like an Aunt Jemima instant mix. Before the regulation, contractors usually mix cement, sand and water on-site manually, which is easier to work with than the stickier pre-packed material.
With expenses expected to be driven up dramatically, folks might think twice about having that industrial decor in their house. Perhaps a more wood-heavy Scandinavian decor instead?
Photo: Qanvast Facebook page
New HDB owners who are all set to turn their freshly acquired flat into a paragon of industrial design, may have to cough up even more ca$h money to plonk their gray cement furnishings.
HDB's recent ruling requires renovation contractors to use pre-packed cement in all of their flats, and this could add thousands of dollars in expenses for customers, The Straits Times reports. Pre-packed screed is now mandatory for floors and walls of bedrooms and living rooms, where previously it was only required in wet areas such as toilets and kitchens.
Flat owners who signed their renovation contracts before June 1 can breathe easy, as the ruling only applies to those who sign after that date. For those who do want to employ that chic cement-heavy industrial look now will have to expect renovation costs to increase by up to $3 per square foot, which will drive costs up to a further $3,000.
HDB claims that pre-packed screed results in higher quality of finished work and wastes less material — contractors simply have to add water to the cement blend, like an Aunt Jemima instant mix. Before the regulation, contractors usually mix cement, sand and water on-site manually, which is easier to work with than the stickier pre-packed material.
With expenses expected to be driven up dramatically, folks might think twice about having that industrial decor in their house. Perhaps a more wood-heavy Scandinavian decor instead?
Photo: Qanvast Facebook page