last drop

last drop
Originally uploaded by sjliew05.

last opportunity

my house pond

my house pond
Originally uploaded by sjliew05.

my koi

Flickr

This is a test post from , a fancy photo sharing thing.

Recycle

Recycle
Originally uploaded by sjliew05.

Malaysian are a faithful lots,

""basins basins on the tree, which model is the fairest of all""

Sundown*

Sundown*
Originally uploaded by imapix.

the sun never sets only did the world goes round

peaceful setting

Langkawi
Originally uploaded by sjliew05.

isn't it beautiful ......once before and no longer after the tsunami

lost in translation

lost in translation
Originally uploaded by Zenith Phuong.

great photo, everything is in motion and for them time stood still

Makes Sure Your Architect Provide For This...

Many times during the process of designing a house the followings are left out partly due to ingorance of the designer.

Fish Pond

Fish Ponds need provision for filter compartment and pump compartment as well as predetermined drainage and pipings. As a rule of thumb, an efficient filter size should be a third of the actual pond and the depth should be 150-200mm deeper than the pond. Make sure there are provisions for water supply point, power point (at least 3-4nos. 13amp), scour pipe 75mm dia, overflow pipe 50mm dia. If you desire lighting for your fish pond, make sure the wires are laid well ahead as armoured cable are not advisable to be jointed in the event it is not long enough.
A well designed pond should also promote underwater circulation pump thus circulation pipes should be included and water inlet should not be just from the fountain or water fall. Timers should be included too in the event you wishes to turn off the cascade in the night. UV light treatment to pond water is also advisable to prevent the water turning green. Don't be mislead that properly filtered water will not turn green, it will in fact must faster as there is no more chlorine as a inhibitor. Levels of inlets or outlets are important too as you don't want your pond be drained dry in the event of electrical black-out. If he/she is not well verse, seek proper advise. We had seen too many mistakes and the owner had to comprimise on the filteration system due to initial work wrongly carried out. Seek advise! or else you pay!

Soak-away-drains

What is the purpose of soak away drain? Well, to drain water right? It should, and should only meant for draining ground water from your lawn. We had seen architect/designer uses it as an alternative of perimeter drain, Nothing wrong in that but unfortunatelly even rain water collected from roof is drain into them. In state of draining the lawn it actually acts the reverse and saturating your lawn. Remember placement of them is very important inrelation to where will be your flower beds and trees. You dont want the drain to clogg with roots won't you! Very common mistake is that these soak away drains are placed next to the perimeter fences and that is where you love to plant your rosses!

Soak-away drain usually will have washed pebbles or tumble stone placed on top of them, nice looking isn't it. The problem with this is that there is no physical barrier (can be discrete) between these stones and you nice grass. Roots of the grass will eventually creep under these stone and you will have grass between them. Your landscaper will have a had time mowing your lawn and thus you pay extra too. Secondly it is impossible to trim the edge neatly, so a barrier, either timber of concrete, 30-50mm thick by 150mm deep should be placed between them. First preventing the roots getting into the stones and secondly you can have a neat edge.

Manholes and Sump

Decide firstly how is you garden levels from day 1, if not you will find them popping out all over you lawn. If decided and planned properly you can even have them concealed under your grass, or serve as a base for you nicely potted bonsai. If not once again you would need to spend extra hacking them to lower them and so on.

Home Inspection Services

What is a Home Inspection

A home inspection is a visual examination of a home's condition. Home inspections:

• Evaluate the physical condition of the home
• Identify items that may need repair or replacement
• Identify systems and components that are nearing the end of their service life

The Purpose of a Home Inspection

The purpose of the inspection is to provide you with information about the condition of systems and components of the house at the time of the inspection, with a focus on defective conditions and safety issues.

When is Home Inspection required?_________

1) When a person is buying or selling a home, .............
2) When taking vacant possession from developers, ..............
3) When you need a representative to represent you in the handling over process.....

To learn more go to
http://www.ihomemanager.com

Home Maintenance Made Easy

1st in Malaysia, you can organise all your

home maintenance under one roof and you
able to check your maintenance schedule

online!

For more information go to

http://www.ihomemanager.com

To Submit or Not to Submit

Many home owners are rather confused on should their intended renovation works be submitted or not. I shall try to clarify this matter on their pro and cons....

The definitions of "Alterations" includes alteration, addition, and extension and "alter".....As per Victorian Building by-law whereas as per Malaysia Building By-Law 1986....It includes additions and extensions.

I am only refurbishing internally only...So must I submit? Well it depends what you mean by refurbishing. What you mean by that? As per the By-Laws even the works consist ONLY subdividing of rooms into smaller rooms, you have to submit and fees payable shall be RM25.00 per smaller room or cubicle as stated in First Schedule clause 6(5). Technically,as long as it consists any of the followings then submission is required even though some think it is minor.

i) changes in usage or room layout (does not matter what kind of walls you have)
ii) size of air well or ventilation (windows) affected as well as doors size & positions
iii) repositioning or alteration to staircases
iv) repositioning of toilets fixtures (just replacing old wall tiles need no submission)
v) any work involving structures or load bearings..ie new walls, roof..Columns, slabs..Beams...
vi) entrance culvert modifications
vii) extended space..ie garage, terrace..
viii) swimming pool or fish ponds with deep in excess of 1200mm

Of course if are only painting the house and changing the wall/floor tiles then you do not need to submit BUT your contractor still need to apply for a permit for trash container outside your premise.

As a precaution always ask your architect on the requirements though be careful as there are
"yes " man too, like a sailing yatch heading for the harbor..any wind is good wind...

In the future, before you decide taking the risk..ponder on the followings:

i) non submission may means having no approved plan thus no certificate of fitness(CF)
ii) almost all type of insurances inclusive of fire insurance do have an exclusion clause on non
approved buildings
iii) no recourse to fall back on...can you sue a lay person whom designed your structural beam
which subsequently failed ? or sue a dentist misoperated on your appendic?
iv) had come across cases when the bank refuses to provide financing with CF obtained
v) certain council already requires CF issuance tied up with annual assessment

Well, the above are only my suggestions and opinions. We advise you to seek professional advise when you embark on your little" project like the above.

Hole in the ground with water "IS IT A SWIMMING POOL?"

Last couple of weeks, I came across the most silly thing in the construction industry. I came across a wealthy owner, a so called in my opinion "a real sucker by default". He comissioned the construction of his so-called De House- a big house costing 3-4million ringgit but guess what?

Have you ever come across a half olympic swimming pool WITHOUT any balancing tank? Yes you heard me right! No balancing tank and NO filtration TOO, great huh! Further to this nightmare there is more, the pool is six feet deep but having underwater lights permanently cemented into the floor of the pool, yes, each time the light fuses, poor owner have to drain his pool, great right? More surprise still, the glass cover of the light is only 6mm thick, imagine when you have great white in your pool filled with bloodly water? This is not enough, he is planning suicide, the light is connected to 240volts, no stepped down voltage either, planning to feed the great white a barbecue flavour of human flesh I belief.

Next to the swimming pool, there is a greatly design fish pond, equally amazing, the pond is as green as the swimming pool because it had a tiny filtration system, not even enough to filter your bath tub. Last resort.... the fish pond water mixes with the swimming pool, I wonder why he built the fish pond, why not put the fish into the swimming pool together, after all he does safe the cost of building the pond right?

The owner "penny wise lbs foolish" thought he can save money but engaging so called Indonesian experts to do them both, so diligently they just dig 2 holes and filled them with water, isn't that right, afterall, in nature there is no filtration right? if they can swim in muddy river and fishes do survive in clogged pond, why Malaysian fishes are so different!

I am so so disappointed with some malaysian mentality, preoccupied with saving cost till such can ever happen. I really hope he had learned his leasons. Now it probably cost his 3-4 times to rectify the problem.

I word of advise is, next time if you are planning to do something, pls check with the relevant experts, will you go to the dentist for a heart surgery..after all we called himma doctor too!

SHOW HOUSE

What you getting get at when you come across a "showhouse"? A sample home or "just for show"?Many of us might think there maybe a brilliant idea or two we may pick up to enhance our own homes, right? Err.. you may be right but most of the time WRONG! Why?....

Oh..that cost too much..err..where can I purchase those items...maybe I will get my interior designer to come and copy them since I am not allow to take photographs..right? With these trends kept going somehow abused by developers..(developer intention is mainly to hoodwink you into buying the unit, NOT helping you to save on designers fees) designers are running out of job because most owners with naturally think they can decorate up their homes from items available in IKEA! I have seen many homes though tastefully decorated up by products from IKEA but most of them are horrible. The head don't match the body, the hands in the wrong places and the legs are not even there! get what I mean? I am not putting down the creativity abilities of the owner, but most of the time ..a group of designers of all ages..father,mum, son and even grandma. Penang rojak is great but not in this case. At the end of it after all the hard earned money spent..the resolution...I do a better own next time! Well, as some say..beauty lies in the eyes of the beholder...it is right no doubt, which simply means the owner is satisfied(mainly after the hard work) but not to their visitors (which in fact most Malaysians..though not admitting to it) wants their design abilities appreciated by others.

Next time, just pause a give it a thought, designers after spending years in colleges and universities are not there for fun, they are in fact trained in their field,it makes sense they SHOULD provide you a better solution right? I leave you to be the judge on this.

STRUCTURALLY SOUND

Well, today I visited my chiropractor, he was looking at by x rays on my spine, plenty of off alignments especially my neck, we tend to lean forward when we drive and work, and even when we sleep with the wrong pillow. Our neck has a natural curve, curving forward, after hours of driving (we never rest our head on the head rest,..Guess what is it for) our neck bone tends to strenghten thus causing havocs to our head...Headaches..And so on.. Because of this it leads to the rest of our spine as our body tends to compensate for this. Thus making our main structure off alignment..Not sound...

As in building, structurally it sound be sound from day one, owners never like columns, but engineers loves them! The more the better...So call safety comes first. Have you ever stop and think why those fly overs on the roads have so little columns and Hugh spans? Why home or building are always limited to 6m span maximum? Next time, ask your engineers why? Most probably he will answer, economically and higher efficiency.... Well that is an old school of thought, especially when technology advances, post and pre-tensions beams had become so economical...

Would you pay RM15,000 dollars for a post tension beams on a RM2million project if that means a column free garage for 4 cars side by side? or with a column in the middle? Or a 8m span living hall versus a living hall having a column stuck in the middle?

Modern structures nowadays are quite versatile, explore them with your engineers.

Old Ideas can be New Ideas

Many times, lots often think they know most of the new innovations and ideas. Often, if not all the time, they are completely wrong. Today,I presented a new deco(new to them but dinosour to the world) for the ceiling to a developer, and they were impressed! Pricing wish, is also affordable to them.

Most people associate beautiful = expensive, well they can be wrong, we do can have something beautiful and cheap, who says nice=expensive?

Sometime, decorating ideas can be cheap and impressive.(depending who are we talking to.) This particular idea for the ceiling is more than 15years old, but surprisingly, so far all the people I showed, they seems to. wow... and totally impressed with they jaws dropped.

Well, designers and architect, we have to search thru our grandma closets or attics to exposed old ideas and "renovate" them to be new ideas. Like arts, craft, the older they are, with some modifications they often transformed into new innovative ideas. After all, grandma had more exposure then us right?

Maybe the world had ran out of ideas, thus going thru the old junks and they can become tressures. Antiques, paintings,....even architecture...are becoming more and more attractive as they age.

tell us your mess up renovations

tell us your mess up renovations

"All inclusive" services

Often times we came across
unhappy home owners complaining
to us why his neighbour can build their
extension right to the boundary and
why an architect says he can't! Well,
this is where his so called superior
contractor provide the "All inclusive
services"

We do come across irresponsible contractors taking the owners
for a ride. They merely shut off the enforcement office with ..$$$
and most of the time never submit the works to the authorities.
Some even dare to boost of their so-call connections...where
everything is possible. How could he? when whatever he is doing
was point blank infringing the Building By-Laws.Even if he submit
the plans, they will not get the approvals!

As long as he is still doing the job, the problem with authorities was
swept under the carpet BUT when the job is over and money paid,
the owner will have to face the authorities himself.

Below are some guides all owner should ensure from their contractors
turned consultants.

1. Always ask for proof of submission
2. Always ask for the receipt for plans fees paid to authorities
3. Remember, submission does not mean Approval ! Ask for
the approval letter
4. Always insists to be present when authorities makes their
inspections
5. Finally dont pay fully till CF inspections had been carried out
and obtained clearance from the authorities.

OTHERWISE, the owner had to face the music himself and the
contractor will be as free as the gulls above.

Walking the fine line

As an architect, I often come across difficult situations during my work. The worst part is trying to be FAIR... Well, as our fees were paid by the owner and our job is to be impartial in administering the contract between the owner and the contractor.

It is VERY natural for the owner to expect us to do things to their interest, well it is ok in ensuring the quality of the works but at times, infact most of the time, the owner expect we to pressurize the contractors to a certain extend to benefits the owner. Cannot blame them right? because they are the pay master.

But then contractors will be short changed. Isn't this the job of the architects and designers? To be impartial!
We are time and time again being accused of being "a dog that bite the hands that feeds" just for doing the right thing. As contractors nowadays are well verse with their legal rights..so we had to tread carefully otherwise both sides will sue us for being negligent.

Why other professionals are not facing this? for example a lawyer will only defends for the master that pays their fees be it rightfully or cunningly..A quantity surveyor too, so on and so forth.

Sincerely how could us satisfy both parties each having their own interest? Owners wants the most out of their money while contractors wants to keep their profits! At times we were forced to tell our paymaster off thus agreeing with the contractors.. What happen.? caaaBoom!!!...."YOU SIDE HIM BUT WE PAY YOUR FEES" bla bla bla...

WHY can't both the parties share equally our fees, then no one could accused us for being ungreatful to the paymaster.At least we can be totally free to make decisions.

Comments from contractors and owners are welcome.

Consulting Basis Or Turn-Key Basis?

Today, someone asked me a question, Would you like to do this job purely as a consultant basis or turn-key basis? In this senerio, how can the client be assured of design efficiency and cost effective?And most important who will be the watch-dog?
Feel free to submit your comments.

Your Daily Paper

http://thestar.com.my/

Materials supplied by Owner

When materials are supplied by owner, how can one establish the "right" amount of wastages? What is the industry accepted norm? As the contractors will be charging the owner by either day work basis or lump sum, where is the yard stick for intentionally prolong the working period... or causing higher wastages out of seer convenience..pls comment.

tell us your mess up renovations

tell us your mess up renovations: day 1

The Genesis

just created the blog today , this blog is for all those who wishes to thanks their architects, designers, contractors and suppliers in helping them in materialising their dreams AND also warn others about the possible foul ups in the works and release their angers subsequently... ....tha...k...y..o....or... .f..k...them And also, clients ARE NOT ALWAYS RIGHT? Contractors, suppliers.....have you say here too......!!