PINKYLEONA

Proses Masuk Rumah Baru 2023 : Kitchen Cabinetry (2 of 2)

Home 5:49 PM

My final kitchen. It was praised by many people from my resident group, but I cannot recommend this guy.. story below

So it was the installation day -which was requested (by the Prokitch ID) to be earlier (because I already gave up the hopes of a complete home before Raya 2023, told them to do it all after Raya teruslah).. the installation of kitchen cabinet (without table top) means I have a complete

1. Kitchen cabinet & doors

2. Fully functional oven

3. Fully functional hood

Delayed table top installation means :

1. No kitchen sink (for the whole 3 weeks since the start of wiring/plumbing/tiling works)

2. No hob (no cooking activity!)

The kitchen cabinet installations took 2 days (which I found out on the installation day >.<), so that is a problem #1. Note that I have to apply a working permit for them.. On the first day, I left them to do their work and just went back later that night (after my Iftar with fellow engineers from JPS Selangor). I went furious when they wrapped my oven with the canvas covered with construction dust so that is another problem #2. Not a single damn alert given. I texted him, and he reacted as if it's nothing..

The following day, is when the kitchen is completed (without table top), so I went home and tested the plug & cabinet lighting, only to found out they have problems with it.. The miscommunication between Prokitch ID and the wiring guy (problem #3) made the light won't turn off using switch and Prokitch ID decided to just turn off the circuit breaker (easy problem solving, left me clueless because this means all the plugs nearby has no electricity supply as well.. zzz). So I shall control my lighting using circuit breaker in MSB? ROFL

I told the wiring guy to come back and redo the plug and problem solved. The wiring guy is good, we book him for another job HAHA

The kitchen (without table top)

After Raya 2023, made my final payment and they did the installation of table top and I never heard from them since.. haha.

Overall, it was not a good experience and I cannot recommend this company to anyone I know (close people).. This miscommunication between the KC guy & wiring guy (discussions made without my presence) is really a big issue to me.. I am now left with only one (1) working plug point because another plug was altered to control the lights..

By the way, another problem occurred during finalizing design with Prokitch ID is when deciding the table top. I requested for Quartz Stone (marble pattern), but they only have compressed marble.. I don't mind the change, but the ID aggressively told me all the bad things about marble top including turmeric stain.. and he even write this :

"kalau diorg kata boleh kena kuyit. Saya nak letak kunyit kat table top diorg. Tengok lekat ke tak"

😑

Because after a while cooking, I got cooking splash that stained my table top too! But I got them all removed (stained after 1 hour) using some secret, super cheap tool (I shall write about this in separate post).. And now I am super confident about cooking (my husband and mom is scared of using this kitchen due to its light colored haha).

One fun fact, the smallest kitchen I ever had is this :

.. and I still cook a lotsa meals & desserts like this :

Small kitchen, no problem.. So I trade some space left from this small kitchen for an island. The main purpose is for me to separate my baking (need dry areas) from the cooking.. and I use it now mostly for breakfast, teatime and working >.< because the bar chair is comfortable AF (IKEA's)

That is all from me now, any questions may drop your question down in the comment section..

Until next post!

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Proses Masuk Rumah Baru 2023 : Kitchen Cabinetry (1 of 2)

5:10 PM

My dream kitchen : wet (linear kitchen) & island (consider this dry kitchen/working area for baking, etc)

I make this blog post in two (2) part because the story is extensive (and that our process is still on-going and pending hands-on experience -I want to comment further on the material & design that I choose)

Note : For Kitchen Cabinet, I decided to make this under my responsibility (and cost! haha) because every decision made is mine (kinda my space, so it's about my character)

I summarize the step of purchasing/hiring contractors for the cabinetry is as follows:

1. After key handover, get the exact dimension of kitchen space

If one asked for the rough quotation too early, some suppliers may be reluctant to give quotations because of the price of materials (wood, aluminum, etc) must follow current market price. So we patiently waited for our house key handover before taking exact measurements, and started this journey..

2. Made sketch of your dream kitchen layout to get the base price

Of course, we shall compare apple to apple, so I made some sketch (using IKEA Kitchen Planner -this is also my base price), and send out to many suppliers possible. Of course, please know your materials because different materials are quoted differently.

For my base price, I choose to have a Melamine cabinet + Quartz stone top when getting quotations from all suppliers. I use this sketch to get my quotations :

After all the dreams of having modern english home, etc, I finally decided on minimalist kitchen because when it's tidy, it's super tidy. And timeless..

The quotations received are summarized as follows: (I asked for linear kitchen part only, no island -during this market survey)

To summarize, my personal views towards each and everyone of the contractors/suppliers are as follows :

1. Finizio, Wooot & DFMT Design : too expensive! Wooot were reviewed badly by two (2) of my friends, so sad because they are funny AF (on IG)

2. Ba Li : many of my friends had their cabinetry, they are such a pro (reviewed by friends, & 1 superior said I could get 'em cheaper..)

3. For others under tab 2 (whatever pops up on my social media feed), I feel less attached to them because I have not heard reputable testimonies from dear friends..

4. Alloy Kitchen : I really wanted Aluminum but I guess it's out of my league. Maybe if one day there's flood going into my house, then I'll maybe replace bottom cabinet with aluminum.. (preserving top cabinetry)

3. Decide your contractors, and engage them for next step

Next, when you have all the options in front of you, you should be able to make (probably) the best decision.. I finally choose : Prokitch Interior Design because of competitive rate (not sure what discount rate given, but the initial quotation stated "price after discount"), & that they could deliver the job before Eidulfitri..

Next steps are as follows :

1. 29/03/2023 - Paid a certain deposit, ID came to get exact measurement (on 01/04/2023), discussed a little bit on ideas, I add-on my kitchen island (we discussed a proper size of island for my tiny kitchen) and also add-on some accessories (two pull-out drawer instead of 1).

2. 02/04/2023 - Received final quotation. My total cost for Kitchen Cabinet (excluding appliances, wiring, plumbing & tiling works) = RM 11,630.00.

3. 02/04/2023 - Paid a certain deposit (10%), waited for ID's drawing to complete (with measurements) to guide buyer on what appliances to buy next. ID submitted 3D drawing to me as follows (to confirm suits customer's taste):

My linear kitchen, I have even smaller kitchen at other houses, but I still cook a lot! (small kitchen, no problem)

4. 05/04/2023 - ID request for meetup to instruct changes to our plugs locations to cater our kitchen cabinet design

5. 06/04/2023 - ID asked appliances measurement for him to render final drawing (AutoCAD or equivalent)

6. 07/04/2023 - ID submitted final drawing for factory production, paid another stage of payment (60%) and signed the drawing for factory production

7. 08/04/2023 - Bought out kitchen appliances (hood, hob, oven & sink) - will made separate post for this!

8. 10/04/2023 - ID change some measurements on cabinet above hood because we changed the hood from the "conventional" type to the latest, slanted one (will explain further why in separate post). Final AutoCAD drawing are as follows :

Look how the hood has changed

9. 10/04/2023 - ID resubmit drawing, I paid 60% to kick-start the production

10. 11/04/2023 - We planned the wiring, plumbing & tiling guy came on 15-16/4, but ID requested the work start on 12/04/2023 to make sure our Kitchen Cabinet can be installed and job delivered before Eidulfitri! Such a rushing decision, but we complied to ID's wish & command

11. 12-14/04/2023 - Wiring, plumbing & tiling works happening.

12. 14/04/2023 - ID told us they will install kitchen cabinet on Monday, 17/04/2023 and our table top will be installed after Eidulfitri 😑

So I'll save the rest of the process (the first installation -carcass, body & appliances installation) in the next post! (this post is already too long!)

Hope this post may guide anyone wants to know the process and details that follow in a certain steps before moving to a home..

See you, next post!

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Proses Masuk Rumah Baru 2023 : Lighting, Fans & Air-Conditioning Installations

Home 4:40 PM

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Proses Masuk Rumah Baru 2023 : Defect List

Home 3:42 PM

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Serenia City Development : The Early, Honest Opinions on Sime Darby

Home 9:09 AM

We thought buying house from a reputable Developer like Sime Darby is going to be a flawless experience.. but NO. I have to personally say, Sime Darby is like 'Cap Ayam' Developer (or may I say, pakar sub sub contractors/super cheap sub-contractors?)

Note : hire cheap contractors, can maximize profit 😅

The group of house owners are now flooded with issues during completion of their newest Serenia Ariya development. The list of issues are below (I'll probably update more in the future):

i. Bad workmanship (although there is this DLP period of 2 years)

ii. No perimeter fence (although it was learnt that Sime Darby is completing this task 6months after key VP for previous development)

iii. Late completion (dan dikenakan LAD) - big developer, bad project management? haha I'll laugh all my life..

Since this was never happened to me before, my experience with previous developer for my first house is really okay. All the defect list sent were repaired/make good. More story : https://pinkyleona.blogspot.com/2017/03/proses-masuk-rumah-baru-step-1-of-5.html

I cannot believe they haven't made the perimeter fence since the house is at prime location, near highway & main road, which never happened to my previous house (also the nearest to main road). This is a safety concern @ hazard risk to me. If they have the right mind, they could've done temporary fencing.. but NO

While for the issues item no. (i) & (iii) is to me laughable since for such a big name (Sime Darby), their project planning is POOR.

Note : I thought big projects will have no issue is workmanship (substandard works) and will complete early. Haha (sorry I'm still laughing in disbelief)

Please note when were asked why the late completion, Sime Darby rep will told you,

"COVID is global issue, kami follow arahan/further instructions from Government, that's why lambat"

You/buyers should always remember this = the Government has awarded Sime Darby their mandatory EOT, so the rest is Sime Darby's fault (on the late completion). The owners were given LAD, meaning Sime Darby has failed in Project Management, terribly..

Anyway what's done is done. When we bought this house in Serenia City, we were "promised" that the project will complete in 07/2022, and then 10/2022, and then 12/2022, and then 01/2023 which is all WRONG. Feel soooo stupid to just blindly believe them. VP is in March 2023. Haha

Since the start is bad AF, will focus more on proper submissions of Defect List to Sime Darby, I WILL UPDATE ON HOW SLOW THEY MAKE THE REPAIRWORKS. And maybe I'll laugh again..

Here is some photos from another house buyers on the defect they've seen so far (only days after VP):

Ooooh the substandard works

They had trouble with the roof design, that some houses are actually flooded with rainwater. One of the worst happened (shared by neighbor) below (there are few cases):

ADDITIONAL INFO : KEY HANDOVER EXPERIENCE :

Update : their appointment for key handover, is trouble AF, maybe to buy them some time to do remedial works.. grrr

For the key handover process, we (at first) wasn't given an early slot with email as follows:

So what I did was:

1. I called them up, demand an explanation of why the limited number of appointment. I said:

"Sekarang masih pandemic ke? Few weeks ago you all buat open house, tu boleh pulak? Tak ada limit number of guests/activities pun? I will report and do formal complaint to KPKT"..

2. They called me back, told us we can cut queue for key handover, without proper cleaning of the house..

3. On the day of key handover, they had the house cleaned 🤣🤣🤣

Haa, kan boleh key handover, effort tu je awak kena UP sikit ye, wahai Sime Darby.. takdalah asyik hadap buyers' rant sajaaa. Please be wise next time..

Maybe I'm sharing this to give an idea to future buyers on what to expect, how to deal with them.. come on, macam macam kaedah Sime Darby buat to make sure buyer lambat dapat kunci.. Good luck, future buyers (other development)!

One more Sime Darby Properties' previous project, refer : https://www.astroawani.com/berita-malaysia/laporan-khas-pemaju-kayangan-rumah-cap-ayam-410943

Link on their launch (bulan bintang haaa wei), refer : https://www.simedarbyproperty.com/press-releases/sime-darby-property-launches-harmoni-1-affordable-homes-putra-heights

That is all, until next post!

tag : review serenia, review rumah serenia, pengalaman duduk serenia, serenia city malaysia, review serenia city, sime darby serenia review, serenia banjir, Sime Darby cap ayam

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Faktor Kejadian Banjir di Malaysia

3:04 PM

Banjir merupakan isu nasional yang kerap kali dibahaskan di dalam Dewan Negeri sepanjang tahun 2022, terutamanya selepas berlakunya banjir besar Disember 2021 yang lalu. Thought I give everyone some knowledge and insights about how flood happens.

Faktor 1 : Banjir Disebabkan oleh Fenomena Air Laut Pasang (tanggungjawab : JPS)

Fenomena pasang surut air laut boleh menyebabkan kenaikan paras air sungai. Sejak awal penubuhan JPS, terdapat pelbagai jenis pintu air (Roller gate, screw down gate, kadang-kadang disebut sebagai Tidal Control Gate (TCG)) ditempatkan di lokasi-lokasi berhampiran laut bagi menghalang air pasang masuk ke sungai-sungai. Kebanyakan pintu-pintu air ditempatkan di Klang, Kuala Selangor & Sabak Bernam.

Nota : Pintu air tidak pernah pecah/rosak kerana safety factor yang tinggi. Empangan contohnya, menggunakan Radial Gate yang juga direkabentuk dengan safety factor yang tinggi.

Ketika air pasang, pintu air ditutup bagi mengelakkan air laut masuk ke sungai/saliran-saliran bandar

Ketika air surut, pintu air dibuka bagi mengalirkan air-air saliran bandar keluar ke laut.

Dalam beberapa keadaan, pam ditempatkan di pintu-pintu air yang strategik, bertujuan untuk mengalirkan air saliran bandar keluar secara paksa ke laut, bagi mengelakkan kejadian banjir disebabkan pertembungan air pasang & saliran bandar.

Nota : JPS juga bertanggungjawab ke atas projek-projek tebatan banjir dengan skop tipikal : pembinaan ban bagi menebat air sungai masuk ke kawasan perumahan. Untuk mudah fahami, air saliran yang mengalir ke sungai, ditambah dengan taburan hujan yang tinggi, boleh meningkatkan paras air sungai dan limpahan sungai boleh menyebabkan banjir kepada kawasan-kawasan perumahan yang berada berhampiran dengan sungai.

Faktor 2 : Saliran Disebabkan Pembinaan Infra (tanggungjawab : JKR)

Selaras dengan kemajuan bandar-bandar, jaringan infrastruktur semestinya dipertingkatkan. Sebagai contoh, pekan yang ingin dinaiktaraf kepada bandar akan menyebabkan pembinaan jalan-jalan persekutuan di bawah seliaan JKR. Ruang yang dahulunya tanah (yang boleh menyerap air hujan), kini ditukar kepada jalan tar/konkrit yang tidak lagi mampu menyerap air hujan. Maka, JKR juga membina parit-parit yang hanya dapat menampung air larian hujan jalan. (Parit seliaan JKR)

Nota : sila kenalpasti parit-parit anda samada parit JPS, parit JKR atau parit PBT (Majlis Bandaraya/Majlis Perbandaran masing-masing)

Faktor 3 : Banjir Kilat (tanggungjawab : PBT @ JPS, jika melibatkan sungai)

Banjir kilat merupakan kejadian yang kerap kali dialami sejak kebelakangan ini. Bagi memahami punca kejadian banjir kilat, video di bawah juga boleh menerangkan maksudnya : (oleh bekas KSU KASA, sebelum penjenamaan semula Kementerian kepada NRECC)

Nota : Bagi membezakan banjir kilat dengan kejadian alam, mudah saja. Banjir yang surut selepas 2 jam secara "rule of thumb"nya merupakan banjir kilat.. (tertakluk kepada siasatan ke atas tapak sebenar)

Bagi masalah banjir kilat disebabkan oleh saliran bandar yang tersumbat akibat sampah, further education needed untuk baiki mentaliti kelas ketiga penduduk-penduduk Malaysia..

Faktor 4 : Industri Pembinaan (tanggungjawab : PBT & Pemaju Perumahan)

Ada yang pernah bertanya, kedudukan Bandar Serenia yang lebih tinggi daripada jalan persekutuan, adakah ianya free from flood? Tidak sama sekali. Setiap projek pembinaan melalui PBT perlu mematuhi panduan seperti MSMA/PISMA/dll. Tidak pasti statistik pematuhan ke atas penguatkuasaan/penyeliaan ke atas kerja-kerja pembinaan supaya mengikut prosedur yang betul, jika pemaju sendiri curlas dalam membina rumah (bocor sana, sini, substandard works sana sini), ada kemungkinan pembinaan culvert juga merapu/mengarut/tidak dititikberatkan.. heh

Nota : JPS bukan penguatkuasa, tetapi menyediakan Manual Saliran berkaitan untuk dipatuhi oleh pemaju..

Baru-baru ini saya ada meninjau keadaan di Bandar Serenia pada 25 Mac 2023 yang lalu, ketika hujan turun dengan lebat dan lama (kira-kira 4 jam). Tekaan saya tepat, banjir lumpur/tanah berlaku di jalan keluar dari Bandar Serenia, dan penduduk tidak dapat keluar dari rumah. Pemaju telah ambil tindakan membuka jalan kontra di laluan masuk ke Bandar Serenia kerana jalan keluar benar-benar putus. Sila perhatikan, banjir tanah seperti ini kebiasaannya disebabkan oleh construction/pembinaan.

Left side totally covered with flood, when the pemaju (Ford Ranger) came

And so pemaju arrange for jalan kontra untuk membolehkan penduduk Bdr Serenia keluar ke jalan utama

Behind escort car

Videos below :

Bagi menyelesaikan banjir di kawasan perumahan, pam (fungsi dewatering) boleh dipasang oleh PBT/Pemaju mengikut kesesuaian. Pam-pam ini kebiasaannya bersaiz kecil bagi fungsi dewatering.

Nota : Pam-pam JPS merupakan pam pam bersaiz besar (high Q) yang bertujuan untuk transport large volume of water (contoh : air sungai ke laut, takkan pakai pam dewatering 0.5Q pulak ye.. berapa ratus jam pula nak selesaikan banjir)

Faktor 5 : Kedudukan Geografi @ Kerakusan Industri Pembinaan (tanggungjawab : PBT/Pemaju)

Secara teori, air akan mengalir ke kawasan rendah (by gravity), dan disebabkan Negeri Selangor mempunyai kepadatan penduduk yang tinggi, ke mana pun air lari, di situ pasti ada penduduk.. maka penduduk di kawasan rendahlah yang prone menjadi mangsa banjir..

Bagi kes-kes pembinaan pula, saya pernah melawat ke satu kampung asal/penempatan asal (Kg Gelam, Kedah) yang berada di paras rendah disebabkan sekelilingnya membangun. Pembinaan Taman Perumahan, Kilang-Kilang yang ditambak dengan tanah oleh pemaju, menyebabkan Kg Gelam seolah-olah menjadi kolam takungan air larian hujan. Bagi pemaju, proses menambak tanah mudah dilakukan disebabkan jualan balik (sales) yang telah ambil kira/memasukkan kos tambakan tanah, pembinaan rumah/kilang dll. Manakala untuk penduduk asal, jika ingin menambak tanah, kos yang tinggi merupakan halangan, lebih-lebih lagi apabila didiami oleh orang-orang tua yang tidak lagi bekerja..

Nota : Town Planning bukan merupakan bidang saya, sila ajukan soalan berkaitan faktor 4 & 5 kepada PBT masing-masing

Diharap artikel ini boleh memberi/meningkatkan pengetahuan am anda berkaitan kejadian banjir di Malaysia. Sila kemukakan soalan (sekiranya ada) di bawah, dan saya akan cuba untuk mendapatkan jawapan kepada soalan tuan/puan seperti di bawah..

Sekian, terima kasih.

tag : serenia banjir, punca banjir di malaysia, reasons for flood in malaysia

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