This is the in-between stretch of the recent remodel. Order is in, manufacturing is underway, and I am waiting for the China carpentry to show up. Before that happens, I wanted the house protected — especially the floors.
Same waiting stretch, I also found a cheaper alternative on Taobao for the extendable dining table from the earlier sofa article— just a quick note, not the point of this post.
The vinyl is already done. Aurora Floorworkz laid it, and I am not about to let installers walk, drag, and lean cabinets on a finished floor just because I forgot to cover it. That is the whole point of buying protection now, just in case.
The DenDenDIY video that went around
I am not that hands-on. I was not looking for a DIY tutorial so I could build the house myself. I just wanted to see what materials people actually buy when they need to protect a home during renovation.
That is how I ended up on DenDenDIY — Den, on YouTube as The Simple, Not Simple Home. The video went kind of viral. In it, he walks through a self-renovated HDB and, more useful for me, he included the materials he bought (though it's payable).
He sells access to a Google Sheet which had a list of links he curates — materials he used for his own house, mostly from Taobao. I recall it's around $7. If you want to know what he purchase, go support him. That is his work, and it is a cheap way to skip guessing. Initially, I am extremely curious about the kitchen he built using aluminium extrusion, but manage to find the protector which I will need.
The floor protection itself was not a Taobao order. In the video it was bought from SH Construction and Materials Private Limited. Google puts them in Woodlands, I call them and understood that 1 roll of the floor protection is around 1 metre by 36 metre (not sure I hear that wrongly) priced at $36 excluding GST. I think I probably just need 1 roll. They only deliver if you can get more than $100 if not wrong.
Another item on that list is a window solar film — Sumitomo Refleshine TW36A, sold on a Japanese shop called DIY Helper. The site is all in Japanese and I have no experience buying from there. If you know how to get it to Singapore, I would appreciate if you can let me know — I am quite keen to try it out. This solar film from Sumitomo is used on Japanese trains; I have even seen Shinkansen mentioned. So I believe it is of top quality. If you have ever tried installing solar film, you will know how awesome it is bringing the heat down.
Finding a third-party forwarder
The carpentry itself still has to get from China to Singapore. The factory will recommend a couple of shippers, but I prefer to pick my own third-party forwarder. Same approach as before: go to the Taobao Addicts Facebook group, then search 3PF inside the group. That is also in the shipping tip.
I ended up using a recommendation from there. The guy is called Ali — A-li 國際物流.
He somehow doesn't collect money first
This part surprised me. He somehow doesn't collect money first.
I posted in the group asking when he was going to collect. One of the group members kindly replied that he only collects when the items land in your house. I checked — no issue. She said that is his way of assuring customers he is a customer-first provider.
I also texted him on WeChat and asked when he was going to collect payment. He said after he calculates, he will send me the amount — or when the goods are received, then I pay. Either way is fine for him. It seems like he is pretty chill about it.
Of course you can find your own provider. This is just what I use.
Installer, kind of finalized
I have also kind of finalized the installer for the carpentry works. It is a recommendation from Jishang Furniture. They usually work with a couple of installers.
The good thing is Jishang Furniture follows through end to end. She does not just fabricate the carpentry and stop there. She will recommend her shipping company. You can actually feel free to use your own if you already have those contacts. You just need to pass her the address so she can arrange the shipment to the warehouse.
For the shipping company, I used the one I found on the Taobao Addicts Facebook group — Ali, mentioned earlier. She would also recommend installers, and if you have your own, you can use yours. She still ensures it follows through until installation is done.
For me, that is very, very good follow-up service.
I did not want to list the installer's contact here. It seems like Jishang Furniture wants to maintain this relationship with them — she kind of relies on these installers, and any business she brings them strengthens that relationship. Anyway, if you engage Jishang Furniture, she will likely recommend the same installers to you as well. I am leaving the contact out so she can maintain the relationship on her end.
On the contractor list — later
I have not added Ali to the contractor list yet. If the goods arrive cleanly and I have a proper end-to-end picture of the service, I will put him on that list. Until then, this post is the note: Taobao Addicts, search 3PF, this is who I used.
Till then
For now I am waiting anxiously for the carpentry to arrive without any issues. Till then, subscribe to the mailing list below if you are keen about updates.
Update: the sea leg landed, and last-mile at the EC came with an unforeseen cost — carpentry arrived with unforeseen cost.
Feel free to send over any questions — especially if you know how to buy that Japanese solar film. I will assist if I can.