Demolition & Construction of a Home in Petaling Jaya Part 3/9 (FIRST FLOOR CONSTRUCTION)

This topic is going to be yet another long one just like Part 2. We will cover here

1. Ground Floor Strengthening

2. Pillars Formwork and Concrete Pouring

3. Beams, First Floor Formwork, Plumbing and Concrete Pouring

1. GROUND FLOOR STRENGTHENING

17 Jan 

Dad and I arrive at site. Dad is excited to see the hardened concrete. We can now walk on it but we can only do some formwork for the pillars. 

Starting with the ground floor, theres just one picture to post. The Ground Floor will have Water poured in the day time to strengthen the concrete further and prevent cracking. There were a couple of cracks noticed already, but surface cracks. This will be a 5 day process. And in the evenings, whatever Mother Nature natually pours as rain, is serving us well. 

Months where we could use this weather, are now fading. We hope that some good rains will still continue to come.

Water Pondage from pouring water on concrete

18 - 20 Jan

While letting the concrete dry out, and rain, Our neighbour complains that there is water seeping into his house. However, this is a side story below

You may chose to read the below or skip till part 2. Your choice

Thats it. Part 1 is finished. Mother nature helps with rains in the evenings as well.

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NEIGHBOUR PROBLEM

(Skip this section till you see the doted lines below if not interested, this is just a side story)

19 Jan - Received a distressed Singaporean panic like message from neighbour in the evening. With apostrophe's and all. Its Sunday evening, while having some relaxing beers.

Pay attention to his 'advise was ignored'. After all water was pumped out. LOL

I forward this to our Contractor. Note what he says about our Contractor in Red

Its just the same picture as sent earlier. "WATER SEEPING IN" BOOOHOOO, HERES ANOTHER SAME PICTURE OF WHAT I SENT EARLIER, BOOHOOO" What do you expect me to do ? Come and defend the water seeping in like Im defending a fort ? Right Now ?

21st January, 11 AM

The neighbour just waltz in my compound without even calling me. If your neighbour does this, you should lock your compound up from uninvited guests. Authorized personnel only. He opens the gate like its his own, walks in. Followed behind is our contractor. A debate then takes place.

Shortly after, our neighbours gets a fucking from the Contractor saying

"You question how we do our work and our methods when but it was you who requested for this gap in the first place. Now you say you have been doing work for over 30 years, We too have been doing this for 30 years, we are Class A Contractors. We too have questions for you and your methods suggested. We can argue about this no probelm. Also, we dont control the rains. And based on your theory, how can water rise almost 2 feet above our ground and come to your side as you suggest ? "

And what does our neighbour say ?

" Not 30 years ah, 40 " LOL

The neighbour then tries to even belittle Contractor on something that has no concern to our neighbour at all

"Do you know that your guys even used rain water and mixed it with cement to create the screed"

Our Contractor then asks

"What is the purpose of the screed ? Does it have any structural capabilities ? You as an Engineer should know this. So what does it serve ? Just as you are questioning me, I too have have a question whether you are qualified or not. Im not sure if you have any ulterior motives on my client because he did not require your service, but we know what we are doing "

I tried pulling out these images to call Bullshit on our Neighbour but couldnt in time. 

This was the morning the day the screed was made, dry surface before screed was made

The next morning, there was water on top of the screed after the previous night rain

How does water pond on TOP of a screen ? This isnt a Rain Water and Cement Mix. Taken at 9 AM in the morning, Obviously the Workers didnt make this screed in an hour using Rain Water.

Obviously the screed was made the day before, dried, and the rains came and the morning after theres water. But not according to Mr. Milk and Cookies before 9PM Bedtime neighbour. Even a screed cant be left alone when its non of his poky business. Fucking swine.

To which the neighbour then decides to leave it be. Because he should know that a simple cement screed no matter how badly it was made, only serves as a canvas for people to walk on. NOTHING MORE. It has NO structural purpose no matter how it was built. But the neighbour says it was built with rain water and cement.

The neighbour then questions me about the level of my building and says its taller than I planned. To which I say ;

"It was you who recommended this, for it was YOU who mentioned that one day you too will be redoing your property and you will match my levels too, we took your advise" to which he denies and says

"Its entirely up to the owner to decide how tall they want things to be" 

However he forgets that my wife heard him say that back in 2019. Clearly his memory is failing but there were 2 people who heard him say this. We agreed to raise our levels because of him. Originally I wanted to be lower though. However, now, I kinda like being higher anyway. But trying to find fault with our work, with his recommendations and requests, are now being thrown back on to us. This we cannot accept

At the end of the conversation, the neighbour says "You can put Bitumen in between our walls, and fill it up with cement afterwards, this is my recommendation"

Our contractor says

"What about Sika? Its also waterproof at the same time. Its more durable and superior" 

and the neighbour says

"Can but it will be much more expensive, nevermind Bitumen will also do good"

See, I already knew this guy had enough for the day, but I still kept cool.

Later that evening, clearly he had trouble sleeping after his glass of Milk. Look what he says.

I love this

I will tell you something - sore losers will always want the last word. Sore losers are also people who may be jealous because they did not get what you are achieving. Sore losers are also people who jump the gun, bitch, whine and complain because they have not seen the end of something good yet. Sore losers are also people who when confronted will never admit to their own wrong doings. Sore losers never know how to take one on the chin on their own mistakes. If you have such a neighbour like mine, please read on.

I message the Contractor and tell him to lock the front door and dont allow anyone into the site, especially this guy.  

23rd January

2 days later, Mr. Nosy Engineer accuses me of something that I did not mention in a Whatsapp chat. Here is how Mr. Storm in a Teacup jumps to conclusions. He is about to be proven wrong. Very wrong. Again.

Here comes Mr. Drowning in Panic BooHoo 2020 again

I begin to question myself whether this guy came into my compound. If this guy does not know what was done, why is he coming to conclusions like a Nosy prick who thinks we are not doing a good job ? Well, I already had a hunch that our Contractor used Sika, something our neighbour also forgot our Contractor recommended. So you see, our neighbour only remembers what he recommended, and did not remember what other possibilities were discussed that were even BETTER than his recommendation. Even my 77 year old Dad asks me

"Why not just use cement ? Whats wrong with it ?" In other words some water proof compound.

Yes, I know it has been reinforced. Our Contractor is efficient againts Nosy people like you. So am I and fully agree. We want to do our job.

So No Bitumen was poured. And the Neighbour is beginning to be a nosy prick as usual trying to pry in and look and see what we are up to. This Paranoid Cookie Cutter Prefect is beginning to tick me off. He has just admitted to being a nosy busy body no good for nothing distraction. He has no trust in us. Still trying to be someone whose sole meaning in life is to have it his way and his last words stay.

Excuse me ? What did I say ? 

I was boiled up, ready to call and give a hard shelling if he didnt chose his next words carefully. And what was HIS last words again ? Whats this half bred Singaporean Wannabe saying ?

Its bloody 2020 ! You cant escape with false accusations anymore ! And if you dont document shit correctly you cant just throw accusations blindly with no evidence !! Putting no concrete evidence and words to my mouth. This guy is confused and is bothered by his own paranoia.

I ask him a simple question, and he backs off. And its good that he did. I was already ticked, he was on the line. And one more wrong remark and I would have called to fire him. This is what he says

WE ?

Who is " WE "' that you are referring to ? You and your hand controlled puppet of yourself that you often have conversations with ? ventriloquist ! 

This guy apologized at the right moment before I blew my top off. But this time HE wont get to leave it, I will have the last say.

27 Jan

My neighbour gets forwarded what my contractor tells me as he had just returned from abroad.

Idiot

So after

1. Seeing No Bitumen, but drew up his own conclusions
2. Thinks I have some Cheap Charlie Grade Contractor
3. Says in his own words the Contractors has "GONE AHEAD AND CEMENTED" the gap
4. Sealing of the gap the best royal treatment better than his recommendation.
5. Forgetting that we also recommended Sika which is Better and more expensive than Bitumen
6. His fucking request for a Gap between walls in the first place which has caused the leak to happen
7. Being a Peeping Tom kepochi attitude
8. Waltzing into my property without authorization
9. Criticizing our Contractor
10. Accusing US of not doing a good job

Not one apology from this Singaporean Wannabe Cookies and Milk before Bedtime Panic Case ventriloquist !

In simple words, He asked for a Volkswagen, he THOUGHT we were making a Proton because he only saw us making the tyres and the Windows, but what we delivered was a Rolls Royce. And Mr. thick Skin still has not apologised formally. Now, ties are cut.

After apologising for HIS mistakes based on HIS requests and delivering things better than HE asked while HE got to panic and judge us unfairly, now HE gets to have a single sided relationship all to himself as he has YET to apologise for good reason. When I burn someone, I burn them off for good. I can live with it even if I have to see them everyday. Im used to shit like this.

Looks like our relationship has been damaged by his own clouded judgement, accusation without proof and stupidity. Sometimes people think they are the best at their game, only to be proven  WRONG at every point and corner again and again just like how our Contractor had rightfully done.. The end result is a highly damaged Ego.

This guy had also mentioned to my wife and I once that HE too had also applied to MBPJ for the KM / Development Order process and succeeded years ago, but failed to do any renovation to his house. Which brings me to my statement that he had made earlier when he was talking about levels of our house and how it can also benefit him one day when he makes his soil taller to match ours.

Whatever happened and why he didnt move on further with his project, I dont know. According to our very own Mr. Cookies and Milk before sleeping at night neighbour,  even the other surrounding neighbours had asked

"What happened to your plans for your building ? We saw your signboard put up but what happened ? How come didnt go on with your project ?"

How do I know this ? Because our very own neighbour told my wife and I. LOL!  Tomorrow he may say "I never said any such thing" for all I care

Now, Im not sure if he feels that Maybeeee,...jussssst maybeeeee,.......Him being an Engineer, and that my building being built right next to him, and we building before he has, has possibly damaged his ego in the process ?

Maybe his ego mixed with  Paranoia causes him to wonder about what all the other neighbours around think of how we are progressing next to him and he has not. I dont know ? Maybe its cause our signboard doesnt have his name for and Engineer ? I dont know. All we know is, Wifey and I cant be bothered, and such kampung status behavior is nothing attractive to us.

He should have just kept his thoughts, mouth and comments to himself. Let us do our job, and do whats best in the first place. In the end, this Square Wannabe Singaporean Prefect who thought he was flexing his shit, got himself backfired and put into place.

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2. PILLARS FORMWORK & CONCRETE POURING

21 Jan

Its the start of Aquarius. My horoscope. Wonderful.

As soon as the neighbour gets a fucking from our Contractor, I pay our Contractor. I mention that the Pillars need to be up and concrete poured by the 9th of Feb

Pillars and Soil

We dont have enough material on site as now suppliers are beginning to take leave. Very hard working CNY I see. Soil is refilled and excess rods are cut. Just crap work.

23 - 29 Jan

Chinese New Year break for our 'hard working' brothers arrives. There is no work that progresses because all suppliers are closed.

The gap was sealed using a better method of Sika rather than Mr. Storm in a Tea Cup Milk and Cookies in Pajamas neighbour of ours recommendation of cheap Bitumen.

Happy CNY

The Contractor knows that before the 9th of February, our pillars are to be up.


30 Jan

Dad and I drive to the site. Boxes are being created for the pillars form work. 12mm wood with a textured wood grain melamine surface on one side. This is good as the pillars will be very smooth when they open up. Making plastering later very simple.

On the left are 4 x 8 Chipboards with an a Melamine surface. They will be cut to 455 x 150mm Boxes for the pillars

31st Jan

Last day of the first month of 2020. Dad and I go to site yet again. The jigs for all boxes are made. Now boxes are being assembled together

3 boxes erected

24 boxes are needed for the pillars. 4 Boxes were done by the time we left. Dad and I think by Tuesday next week all will be ready.

Future Garden

This garden stretch is 80ft x 12ft = 960 sq.ft. Million dollar apartments today are smaller than that. 

Dad and I are actually pretty stoked. Soon, the pillars will be erected, then we will have the form work & beams for the first floor slab. During that time, I hope that me banking on that great view of our surroundings will pay off.

1st Feb

The start of the second month of the year 2020. 8 / 24 boxes are put up, 19 / 24 pillars to have rebars tied.

Next week will be our pour

3rd Feb

A good morning. Contractor calls and asks about some questions about our gap between our neighbour and about some levels. Because our property doesnt have a perfect straight line, we had to sacrifice almost 8 inches to get our building straight, so this gap has to be filled with a wall 13ft high x 45 feet in length. Pretty damn big wall. 

I arrive on site to work out the levels. Im surprised this morning how much was done over the weekend

18 / 24 pillars have been boxed, 21 / 24 rebars done, last 3 need to be put up. They will finish today if they are hard working.

Contractor says either Wednesday or Thursday will be pour day. I will take off for this pour again.

4th Feb

Another good day. 24 pillars and boxes have been fixed. Wife comes to the Home, the first time. A tour of the site is done. Things are a little small but humble enough. Less clutter is what we will need to practice and good storage space. Or a shit load of cupboard to conceal our shit.

All pillars up

In the evening I head back briefly again and see the workers getting the pillars leveled up. Instead of using a Level, a Plumb is used to look at the balance of pillars

Balancing the levels

One guy will link pillars in an 'X' Cross Link. These X links then are tapped manually, in this case the guy on on the Left Side and the guy on the Right Side controls the Plumb till the 'X' is balanced and the pillars are leveled together. Once the Plumb is leveled, the 'X' cross link is nailed down in place on the floor and between pillars. This creates a leveled pillar

Tapping the X Cross Link till the Plumb is leveled

Plumb is leveled, X Cross Link is nailed down

Its Important Work.  Below is a view of X Cross Links being done, its still not finished. The work isnt being Chincai. The head Indon in charge says Thursday, Concrete will be poured in. They want another day to get the levels, plumbing works, and X Cross Links to be done correctly on all pillars. 

When Concrete is being poured, the Cross Links will hold up the pillars together for support and keep each pillar aligned in place.

Day after will be pouring

A Crane with bucket has been arranged. Only 10 cbm will be needed / 1 truck load. With that, Part 2/3 will be completed. Dad was right, pillars will be done Tuesday, Wednesday for checking and cleaning up so place is free for walking during the pour, and Thursday will be pouring

5 Feb

Two footings are dug for the car porch pillars. The morning took the time to dig these 2 holes out. Rebars are being bent for these pillars and by evening all will be ready for tomorrow to be filled. 

Hate car doors that touch other cars like car parks in Publika. Built for worms who drive cars that dont see the need of having a door open till even the first hinge stop of a door to get in and out of. Have budgeted 25 feet for a car porch, 2 cars will be comfortable, 3 was the intention.

Footing 1

Footing 2 with Rebars being cut and bent before boxing them up

Almost ready now

18 / 24 pillars are ready, and 2 more footings and pillars to have rebars tied, boxed, leveled with Plumb and supported. The workers have their work cut out before tomorrows pour.

6th February

Its Pour Day. Heres a view of what I saw while on my way to the site. I saw the crane from far away. I take the day off. Dad too comes by.

Good Morning

On site, the crane is waiting for the Cement Truck

Waiting

The Cement Truck arrives with7 Cubic Meters ar, only a small truck. Followed by a 2 Cubic Meter Truck later at 2 45 PM. Pouring begins at 10 : 35 AM

The first Bucket gets filled

Gorgeous view of the bucket. Almost Heavenly. No filters here.

Like a Lantern being carried to Heaven

The first pour was on our dug up footings for the car porch. No image. However the pouring begins on the first pillar for the guest rooms Third Pillar.

Halfway Done

By 3 : 30 PM the last pillar gets filled for the Verandah and all is finished. 

Last pillar filled. Clouds develop

The crane operator leaves by 4 : 20 PM. This guy was super skilled. Didnt waste a second for anything

See you soon big truck

Workers clean the street of any debris, stones and cement. These workers are clean, they dont leave things like lowyatt contractors do.

Clean Work

By 4 : 10 work is finished, all pillars poured. Tomorrow they will open the pillars and get to work soon on the first floor beams. 

Rest well my strong ones

This section is officially completed. With this, our work for the Ground Floor Pillars is officially done. Now to look at the final chapter in this posting - the Beams, First Floor Formwork and Concrete Pouring. 

3. BEAMS, FIRST FLOOR FORMWORK AND CONCRETE POURING 

Total amount of time for this section : Approximately 3 weeks - 1.5 months


7 Feb

This section is going to take 1 - 1.5 months. Its the largest structure and the most expensive of the Home. This is going to be the major highlight when its completed as to what view we will achieve when the form work is being done.

Very exciting times !

Rebars arrived about a week ago, with more just arriving a couple of days back for the beams and floors. More cutting, bending and tying to be done soon.

Lots of Rebars

Pillars are opened up. They are not completely dry, but the rains this evening give them some water and for the foundation too. First floor beams will be created around them soon

7 / 24 boxes opened. No time to waste. Ramadhan is in 10 weeks

11 Feb

Get smashed over the weekend. Awesome Birthday celebration. Tiresome, being only 37 and already feeling like 58.

Finally came back to senses today. Materials get delivered in the morning. More "Kochai" and more Plywood. This day is special because I got to see what we can expect of the ground and our new surroundings.

 Materials being delivered

Half the Rebars from outside are now in, workers begin Bending the Rebars to be  made into what are called Benches or sometimes called Chairs. This is seen completed below on the left of the Image.

Bent in a Rectangular shape to be tied later with straight Rebars that will be cut, then wire tied together to form Beams. This work will consume a few days just making parts from Rebars

More Rebar Bending

More Kochai and more Plywood being delivered. I assume they will be cut down to size for beams first. Lets wait and see

Kochai, Plywood, Racks

These wood caped tops will be used for something, Im not sure what yet. In the distance is the ever commercial  Sunway Serene thats coming up. Really looking forward to the view of the First Floor. The best view will come from the Water Tank area.

Workers also begin installing Racks. The site is now clean. The gloomy weather and rains especially on the 9th of February - Sunday, gave a HUGE downpour for the concrete slab and pillars. Good weather for post Concrete Pouring.

These Pillars are the tallest allowed, 13 feet in height. They are currently at 11.5 feet in height, and still 1.5 feet more to go.

A clean site gave a clear idea our size & floor space for the first time. Its not huge, but neither small. Like Goldilocks, its juuuuust right. The Verandah is really Wide. 8 ft x 50 ft (400 square feet). Generous for a Semi Detached. Thats 10% of our total Built Up space.

Opened Plywood used to create the Pillars will be reused for the First Floor Pillars and Roof Pillars when the First Floor is already poured. The plywood can be used twice, sometimes even up to 3 times.

Pillars form work opened

Why am I harping on some Water Tank area ? Here is why. Take this house in my area. It has a Water Tank area that has NOT been given a damn about Space and Value of its foot print. But about Camouflaging the Water Tank ? Yes, money has been spent to hide it with louvers.

Wasted Space 

Now take this other house nearby that executed the same idea I had 3 years ago. On the right side, he has put some potted palms, and Im sure he enjoys a drink up there. But do you notice something else ? If you dont notice what he is able to see immediately is because you must be from Cheras, Kepong, Balakong or Puchong.

Trees

Trees around the entire area which are visible to this guy ! He will be able to see Sunway Serene, Glomacs Plaza Residences, Icon City as well as Gamuda's High Park. Petaling Jaya's skyline is changing quick. Having a such a Balcony / Roof Top IS a Luxury for the views you get. Who knows what will become of KGNS one day. Knowing greedy developers, if they could buy it for 1.3 is billion, they might just make something out it. Developments are taking place all around. And not to forget, still viewing Trees around the area while being in the middle of all the high rises coming up !

Having no Roof Top Balcony is like saying you dont make a Balcony on the Roof Top of any property in Damansara Heights because you dont need to see the surrounding hills, KL Skyline with KL Tower, KLCC and Exchange 106 because you work in Kuala Lumpur everyday so you dont need to see it when you get Home.

How Naive !

All the Trees nearby

16 Feb

Its Sunday, have not visited the site in days. Racks are put up. Over did my drinks with a bottle of port and 2 x 500 ml cans of Carlsberg, this picture was the most shinny thing that day.

Theres someone on our road that is also doing some renovation works, but looks like it was a complete demolish. What is says on their MBPJ signboard is Renovation. However, that house Contractor was actually working this day - Sunday.

Im sure MBPJ is doing their job on Sundays taking care of their own enforced rules in neighborhood's in Petaling Jaya.
;)

We were off.

 Busy site again

18 Feb

Its the last day of Aquarius. I meet the Contractor in the morning. I pay him.

Will not be visiting the site much since work has piled up. This blog is going to run slower. But will have more crucial pictures just once a week, twice if I am lucky. Within 3 more weeks, we should be pouring concrete again.

The weather now has rainy evenings. This is good for our pillars and slab. Global warming & unpredictable weather conditions. 10 AM and its already pouring. This means that by March onward's, the weather is going to be hot till possibly September or October. Doesnt matter, our Home will be built by then.

Another 2 - 3 more weeks

The Contractor and I meet up this gloomy good for nothing day for an early morning jam. Racks are being put up, Racks support Wooden Sleepers, that will then Support our Pillars, which will be poured together for our Slab.

The Contractor thinks by early / first week of March, our formwork will be ready for pouring. We look forward to standing on the new formwork structure and that will be a lot of fun. We will get to see what view we get from up there and if my vision pays off.


22 Feb

I head to the site with Dad. The boxes for the Beams are being made. Its nice to come back after 4 days to see some results than visiting everyday. This is the official height of the Ground Floor with the Beams Boxes now that the Beams Form Work (Boxes) are in place.

Connecting Supports are being put into place for beams. They are Connected together with Wood Planks so that all beam Form Work is linked and being held up together. Something like a Spine.

Form Work for Verandah has yet to start. I predict next week, all Form Work will be finished. Dad is truly impressed and has a liking to How the work being done on site. Maybe because its not done by some Lowyatt Hipsters who love Avacado Toast Chincai workmanship. Those 18 Contractors interviewed since 2017 have clearly paid off with our Contractor selected. Im happy that whatever the challenges have been, the work being done is done the right way. Except for our Milk and Cookies Singaporean Wannabe neighbour who thinks we have any or little experience. Lol ! 

Verandah Form Work next week

A serious challenge happened that bothered me because we had to lose 1 foot of our building to the common wall. There is a section below this posting which is a side story. Available to read below where the word CHALLENGE is highlighted in Red.

With Challenges also come Solutions

24 Feb

Mahathir resigns. The circus begins

25 Feb

Dad goes to the site early in the Morning while I am working. He sends me a delightful image. A bonus for missing days. Here is progress

Verandah boxes up

Racks are everywhere. First Floor Slab Form Work will be soon, followed by Rebar work and laying Mesh. Finally Concrete which in my prediction could be by or before the 10th of March. Another day to take off and celebrate soon.


29 Feb

This is a special Day. It comes once in 4 years. Its a Leap Year for 2020 too.

Progress on Formwork is observed. Its nice coming to site a week later. 8 motorcycles are on site today. A quick chat and reveals that the Rebar works will be done by next week. Concrete is able to be poured the following week. This chapter will come to an end before 14th of March.

Early next week will have Formwork finished and Rebar works for Beams done by the end of next week.

The Formwork for the First Floor, Verandah and Recess between our neighbours side is complete. Workers begin working on the Car Porch Roof Slab that is 5 feet x 25 feet today. The Formwork shows how dark the Ground Floor is inside without any light coming through. This is why Skylights and Sliding Glass Doors will be important.

 No light visible on the ground floor

These pegs will hold up the Rebars and Mesh on the First Floor Slab. Lots of them.

 Pegs

This is our Verandah that has a 5 foot Cantilever of our First Floor Rooms. Enough shade to cover the Verandah. We thought we would need Blinds for the Verandah, but now I doubt as there is a 5ft Cantilever for the Verandah.

 Coming Close to finishing Formwork

There are markers and strings put up for the Car Porch Roof. Hardly visible but its there. I am sure they will finish this part of the Form Work today.

Little wood left, for little work left

Works carry on post 10 : 15 am, Im confident most of the Form Work for the Car Porch will be done by this evening, with the remaining work done by next week.

Heres a nice shot of some good people. If these guys were a band, this would be an awesome album cover for some Mexican Death Metal album cover if it was in Black,.......

Victoria Secret model competitors. Very photogenic

........ fuck it here is what it could look like in Black and White. I would buy this album. Im sure these guys play nothing below 170bpm with a triplet 3/4 time signature with double pedals and a B tuned Flying V guitar. Followed by a chord progressive complimentary blast beat at 210 BPM's on a piccolo snare that a 3.5 x 14inch with 10 lugs, preferably a brass piccolo snare. Must be some massive album that gives Deicide and Suffocation a run for their money and makes Crytopsy look like a boy band.

What do Lowyatt Hipsters know nowadays ? Sigh,.....

When there is time to fuck around

From Left to Right - Bass : Kechik, Vocals & Guitar : Helmi, Drums : Tok-Tok 

Didnt see that coming didnt you ?  =)

1 March

A new month. While on the way to the Home, I took these images of this other project on our road. This is amazing.

Bear in mind the title of this project and the reference number.  Its a 2020 project with the title of ' UBAHSUAI SEBUAH RUMAH BERKEMBAR 1 TINGKAT '.

Note the word UBAHSUAI

Ong & Chongs Ubahsuai Sdn. Bhd.

Where is this house ? Its totally demolished. So as you can see, only an Ong and Chong can pull off such amazing work. Ubahsuai Sebuah Rumah in other words Renovate a House. NOT Demolish. However, Im sure MBPJ being very efficient will certainly pay these folks a visit.

Because well, you know, like it took me ONLY about 1 year and 9 months to do things right with MBPJ, MBPJ will do things right with enforcement as well. Kan ? This is Signage is issued from Jabatan Kawalan Bangunan also known as the Building Control / Building Enforcement Department. After all. MBPJ takes their work SERIOUSLY ! MBPJ DOES NOT PLAY PLAY ! Right till the point I wouldnt even have to make a call to MBPJ to report such things !

I know who will report though, our Paranoid Ventriloquist Puppet Master Paranoid Singaporean Wannabe Prefect Neighbour.

Sayangkan MBPJ. I heart you MBPJ 4 lyfe ! ;*

Maybe their property was just 999 square feet ? Thats about 25 x 40 feet of living space only ? This allows Ong and Chong to 'Ubahsuai' their 'Rumah' ? You go figure. Either my eyes are realllllly bad or the camera is lying. These days Cameras can still lie. LOL ! But I dont see any Rumah anymore. Its also Sunday, and as far as I can see, it looks like theres someone staying there in the property too. You go figure.

 Got House ?

Heres a recap of my signage. Meroboh dan Membina Sebuah Rumah etc etc. Maybe we applied for the wrong title ? Wrong title for the wrong work ?Can someone advise us ? Maybe someone from lowyatt can ? Maybe we should have applied for Ubahsuai Sebuah Rumah ? 

Our Signange from 2019. ONLY took MBPJ 1 year and 9 months to obtain

Heres an image for the day. The work progressed till the Car Porch Roof. Next week it will be finished. 

Car Porch Roof halfway done

4 March

Bonus day again today with Dads visit in the early Morning. I get 2 surprise images where he shares the progress at the Porch Roof Structure

Complete 

Formwork for Car Porch is now complete. This means that Formwork is officially over. It took just under 1 month to do. 

I forgot that we had Plumbing as well. The Plumber called and I gave him my Plumbing plans for the First Floor. Plumber will start work tomorrow. Followed by Rebar Works & Mesh Work. 

I will need to check on the Plumbing Lines before the mesh is laid for placement of pipes when they are roughly placed followed by another round of checking before pouring concrete. Knowing the plumber, these guys will cock up, so I will be there to supervise. 

My advice, spend 45 - 60 minutes checking plumbing lines before they are laid to avoid mess ups with placements and misaligned plumbing works. I hate looking at Water Closets, Taps, Sinks, Showers that are not balanced and off centered. 

Skylight placements need to be done before Concrete is poured as well.

Which means, likely I will be visiting the First Floor this week before Concrete is poured next week. Finally will know how its like up there. 3 years of waiting to see what its like up there have finally come.

At the bottom right, the car porch new pillar is being built, maybe it will be poured during the concrete pour. 

And another cheque for the Contractor.

Plumbing is tomorrow

5th March

Today the Plumber asks for my assistance. I come to site by 5 : 30 and by 6, we climb up the ladder and put placements of drain pipes and vents.  If my 4 years of waiting for my gamble of a good view pays off, this was the moment. Before that, this is the view I fell in love with in 2016.

The view that won my heart over 4 years ago

I had only climbed with a ladder once about 8 feet high. Now I have climbed 13 feet high, will the view pay off ? Here are some images. I am Happy.

Trees on the East with Plaza Residences in the distance

 North view with our Bottle Brush. Directly behind is Sunway city. Trees visible everywhere

On the West, A blast of Greenery again with Yellow Flame trees

North West is Greenfield Residences being built in Sunway and The One Academy 

 Sunway Serene in North East

Plaza Residences in the East

 Sunway Serene Tower 1 & 2 in the North East with a Neighbourhood view

Icon City in the North West behind some Yellow Flame trees

Why would anyone not invest in a Water Tank - Roof Top Balcony when such views and trees all around ? 4 years of waiting, and I am very pleased. Unless someone else builds in front of us, we wont see anything, but we will still have our Roof Top Water Tank for Cocktails, Astronomy, and for the views. My 13 year old niece correctly said "Oh like your Man Cave" LOL !

We discovered a cock up by the Subcontractor who built an extra ledge for Aircond units. I didnt ask for this and told them to end where the Beams end. Sounds stupid ? Yes, but I want clean lines. This extra ledge confused the Plumber as well.

I dont like ledges with a stack of Air Conds on it 

Confused moment, with our wet plans in the rain and brains wondering why was the ledge created for and why our Water Closet was sitting on a beam. 

Plumber is a Cancerian. Coincidence ?

Another pillar will be made, and another pillar will be chopped off. Some construction hits and misses. Next week Concrete is going to be poured.


7 March

My Parents came to view today. Nice having Mum here too. She has not come to see in a while.

8 workers on site today, Rebar Beams are being tied, some being bent downwards where cock ups were made, some being built from scratch. There are 4 beams left to go as of 9 : 15 AM. They will finish by Monday. Once done, A8 Size Wire Mesh will be installed on floors.

Few beams left 

Here are clear images of the neighbourhood and the views. The weather today is beautiful. Not a fan of viewing the neighbours roofs in our area in the image below, but the rest are nice. If our neighbour builds upwards, I will not miss this view. He had mentioned on the same day he had told me about my levels in 2018 right after the elections

"Honestly, if we had lost this time, I would have left the country and moved to Australia"

Lets see if he lives up to his words now that the old government is back.

 Not my favorite view

Trees at our illegal neighbours side. Very calming. If these trees blow in the wind, it would be an amazing sight to watch.

Yellow Flame Trees. Surprisingly not a bad view from our illegal neighbours side

Greenfield Residences on a clearer day

Buildings amongst the trees 

Cant make out what is this building yet. Maybe its the One Academy

 What is this ?

The Black Blob behind the Trees is Icon City with its Cheras Feng Tau Blue light lit up every night

Le Black Blob

The Sub Contractor shows up and mentions we will pour Concrete again next week towards the tail end. I assume either Thursday, Friday or Saturday. We work out where the Skylights are going to be placed and take leave.

Works are coming to an end, the Rebar Beams are almost done, they will all be dropped in soon.

Rebar Beams

The coming week will be finishing up any Beams that need to be made, laying down Wire Mesh on pegs, followed by pouring of Concrete with a 2 week break while the Floor hardens.

Then, This section will finish. I will come back on Wednesday to check on everything before the Concrete gets poured.

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CHALLENGE - SEPARATION OF STRUCTURE  ***Skip till you find the red line below unless you want to read

Speaking of our Cookie Cutter Neighbour who tried putting words in my mouth about a completely independent structure (Which we didnt follow in the end anyway, because our boundary wasnt straight to begin with), we have 1 foot worth of a gap at the front structure of our home from our Common Wall. Which is why our garden is also smaller. 

Notice I didnt acknowledge point 4. Never 'assured' this puppet even in written form

Im thankful, this means that our Common Wall is just a Common Wall now. Not being shared with Mr. Wannabe SIngaporean 2020. He can build up to the maximum for all I care in future if he does eventually decide to build. 

What would one do with a gap of 1 foot ? Go with a new wall upwards ? No, because our shitty neighbour might steal our Common Wall one day and claim our new Wall as the new Common Wall. So it must stay. Or still go ahead with building right to the Common Wall ? 

Fuck it, whats mine is mine as long as I can do something with my side of the Common Wall. 

What can we do with this Gap ?

The brain got ticking into doing something unique for the Foyer. Why give up that 1 foot that belongs to us anyway just to be more independent a structure, right ? 

I came up with an idea that the Foyer will have a change in what it really is supposed to do which was to be an open area with the Living, Dining and Kitchen. Im going to separate it all together.

 

Makes More Sense ?

On the Left -  Highlighted in Blue is Original Idea. Being just a Foyer, nothing Great, just functional and boring.

On the Right - Highlighted in Purple, is our new Foyer Idea. This will ;

a) Link Foyer to Store immediately for extra Storage for Sports Goods like a Basketball or Tennis Racquets, Tools etc. Immediate extra storage access

b) Ventilation Blocks for facade wall will allow more light to come in to be shared with the Living Room

c) Create a feature wall on the Exterior and Interior. (Traditional Petaling Jaya Houses have a feature wall on the exterior, whether its Ventilation Blocks, or a Stone Feature)

d) Allow Wasted Space to be converted to planting Plants (not trees like stupid Cheras and Industrial Theme design people who love Frangipannis in their houses and exterior walls painted in cheap Graphite Grey *Puke*)

e) Double Safety with 2 Doors to enter Livable space rather than 1 main door

f ) Welcoming Greenery Entering and Exiting front door

g) Calming effect bringing some outdoors indoors

h) With a Sliding Glass Door between the Foyer and Living Room, we can share or divide the space according to occasions and needs

i) Extra entertainment area indoors, capable of seating 6 - 8 comfortably for parties 

All of the above, comes with an Idea that I hope some Seksan, or Fabian Tan Wannabe or Lowyatt keyboard warrior watching this blog wont do. As it is, my roof top Water Tank idea is already in use by someone else in our area and done by one of Fabian Tan's houses in Petaling Jaya as well. Nothing Exclusive, its just shit when someone else beats you to your idea.

I have a feeling the next fad after the Industrial Theme will be all about ventilation blocks. Not like Im a fucking trend setter or something, but Im trying to be as true I can to a traditional Petaling Jaya Home.

I sketched this idea. So Im not a part of the pack, but will remain classy and timeless to the art of creating a Petaling Jaya Home with some new touches. I couldnt find any such idea online, but here is the closest idea sketched. Im no Picasso, but heres my try. Im no Architect.

Better Idea

Ventilation Blocks at  the Front Door will give even more light in and allow for some transparency. Light from the Skylight above will give yet even more light back into the the Foyer and Porch.

This is the closest idea that I can find. But even this is still so wrong.

Glass Blocks in the Entrance

Glass Blocks, have always hated them. They come from a time when Lillian Too was with her Feng Shui crap. Maybe its because Glass Blocks are as unnatural as Lillian Too.What is up with that table with its stupid knick knacks. Is that table even functional ?  Will anyone ever use the bench below ? It looks like its wall mounted. That Graphite looking floor is a clash of pallets and would I ever ponder for even 20 seconds into those Ikea framed art work before entering or leaving the front door ? 

I doubt. Its just meaningless fluff and nothing functional at all. I just teared the shit up of this picture which was the closest thing to my idea. 

This week, this is all we have. Next week, we will have more.

23 Feb

Wifey and I On Sunday while having dinner and 3 pints, agreed on something. After that great idea of Ventilation Blocks, we decided AGAINST it. We may be going too traditional a look which could be a fad that will happen soon especially with the Ventilation Blocks.

I love them, but maybe it will be overkill especially if it becomes a trend. Looking at all sites from Qanvast, HabitatMy, Recommend and some of the other sites, it looks like the Industrial look is coming to an end and the rise of Ventilation Blocks is emerging.. So our guess is Ventilation Blocks will be the next trendy thing. We made an Executive decision

1. Skip the Ventilation Blocks idea

2. It may be overkill

3. May be an upcoming trend that Hipsters and Lowyatters will fall full force in which will make us look Saturated in 2 years

4. Such a trend could destroy our good intentions and if it does, it will look old in 5 years. Will kick ourselves in the ass if it happens after we did it. Will be grateful anyway if it doesnt.

5. Incorporate a style that is still true to Petaling Jaya Homes

I have a feeling about this Ventialion Block feature will be making a come back and explode like the whole Industrial Theme.

We decided that with a heavy heart on 2 options to our Buildings Theme

1. Very traditional Petaling Jaya Home (Which has lots of Ventilation Blocks as well)

2. Facelifted Petaling Jaya Home

We opted for option 2. Just clean, white, and some modern touches. Meaning things like pebble wash will be fine. And such homes do exist in Section 14. This h is also one of my favorite homes.

 Tastefully done

Yes


Here is another clean and old looking example

The guy above has a Jaguar and a Volvo, probably cause he cant buy a Saab anymore. Good taste.

You dont come in to a tasteful home like this in a Camry or a Vios, not even a GLC Mercedes, you come in one of these.

No, not the Cheras looking Audi

When you arrive Home with such a car and open up your Foyer, what should it look like ? Industrial Lowyatt Hipster theme with a Frangipanni in the Foyer ? No

It may not be once again a Picasso rendering, but on the 25th, we realised we missed using space under the staircase for concealing shoes and crap and a further thought developed.

Finally You're Home

The stairs will be bricked up. This is just a rough sketch to show where the storage could be under the stairs.

Solid Concrete above refers to the landing. 3 years later, and this thought emerges. Louvered doors in off white may be charming. Certainly NOT some cheap chipboard melamine laminated in an ugly looking   Puchong - Trendy - Fad - Zebrano -Wood Finish. Yuck.

Maybe something that pulls OUT from the staircase on tracks ? That could provide for some deep storage of about 3 - 4 feet. Pulling out is better than bending down to reach for goods.

This might work if they can be pulled outwards on a track

Suddenly, the package all ties in. Some pretentious wannabe intelligent people would call this a 'mood board' which I roll my eyes whenever I hear such phrases. Yuck.

So this is when all is combined

+   + 

 =

Elegant Set Package

Ewwww, disgusting 'mood board' people

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