95. Personally measure and record all available dimensions within the house; you can cover the size on the apartment layout in the brochure then re-mark with lines, as the final dimensions will directly affect the renovation design and furniture purchase.
86. You must supervise the water-proofing work upstairs... otherwise, dripping water from upstairs will make a mess of your cabinets and walls...
119. Regarding touch-up paint: The painter waits for the wall to dry thoroughly before finishing the putty, and after the putty layer dries, he paints it. After painting, if there's no particular reason, lighting fixtures and various electrical switches should be installed. Please remind the workers who install the lighting fixtures and electrical switches to wash their hands clean before installation so that they won't dirty the walls, thus saving a step of touch-up painting. Of course, if the walls are dirtied, the renovation team will definitely ask the painter to come back for touch-up painting, which means cleaning the dirtied wall (if it's a paint company, they will also send a worker for touch-up painting, many painters usually keep some leftover paint after finishing the walls, this part is used for touch-up painting). Just pay attention, don't let the lighting fixture installer dirty the walls, which can save the painter a trip (at least half a day), making it more convenient for us, why not? Sometimes, convenience for others is also convenience for oneself. Generally, wooden furniture paint is finished before wall paint to avoid affecting the painted walls during the drying process of wooden furniture paint. Of course, in actual operation, floor tiles can be laid after the wall putty is done, then wooden furniture paint is applied, and after it dries, wall paint is applied. This method affects the schedule. If you're worried about schedule delays but want to minimize dust in the air, then clean the room frequently.
88. Be sure to install more outlets on the TV background wall, once the TV, DVD... are placed, you'll find the outlets insufficient.
112. Curtains are best ordered after all furniture and appliances are moved in to match the overall style and color scheme. But before cleaning, the tracks can be installed.
123. Making furniture costs more than buying furniture. Generally, furniture costs 500-700 yuan per square meter.
6. The carpenter's door frame and mason's tile laying need coordination. When wrapping the door frame, consider whether the ground below (either side of the door) needs to be tiled or leveled with cement mortar, because if the door frame is nailed before tiling and extends to the ground, future cement use could cause the door frame to absorb moisture and mold.
62. Bed lift frame (is that what it's called?). I bought a fabric bed from a professional bed company and spent an additional 350 yuan on this item. There's a handle at the foot of the bed that, when pulled, flips up the bed board to reveal storage space underneath, it's really great!
120. Selection of the renovation team: Whether to choose a guerrilla team or a formal company is not important, the key is whether the foreman of your construction team is responsible, the technical skill of the workers, and of course, the quality and price of the renovation.
Firstly, don't look for more than four decoration companies, unless you have plenty of time. Before talking with the decoration company, you must clearly know what renovation projects you want to do. You can first ask the decoration company to quote all the items, compare the prices and consider various factors, then decide which items to outsource and which to have the company do.
For those renovating, the lower the quotation the better, but the company's opinion is opposite. Sometimes, to attract business, the company may lower some quotations, making it difficult to ensure the quality of the project and materials. It's unrealistic to expect the lowest price for every item. Moreover, the quotation cannot just focus on the numbers, but also on the content, such as the materials, specifications, brands used in each item. Every item in the quotation has its own nuances.
22. The number of lights in the living room should not be too many, simplicity is better, otherwise it looks like a light store!
33. After completing the door frame, the plasterer begins installing the gypsum molding and wall plastering project. The walls of my house were originally quite flat, so only 2-3 layers of plastering were needed. Plastering involves applying plaster and sanding once, then applying primer, sanding again after the primer, and finally applying two coats ofICI topcoat, making the entire wall look smooth and flat, it's really good. After the wall and ceiling projects were completed, the carpenter began making the wardrobe. The wardrobe was made using 18cm Weiyeh brand plywood, with veneer panels attached on the outside. Although it doesn't look as nice as the ones bought from furniture stores, it is durable and the quality should be better. I'm not afraid to stand on the cabinet boards. The bought ones might not be able to withstand that. The back panel is also thicker, while the bought ones are very thin.
118. The best time to apply wood paint: preferably after the room is fully tiled or hardwood floors are laid. If it must be applied, the room should be cleaned thoroughly first. Untiled or unhardwooded rooms have a lot of dust, and applying wood paint at this time can easily cause dust to adhere to the surface of the painted wood products, giving a prickly feel when touched. Although this can be resolved by sanding with high-grade sandpaper and repainting, the final result will lack the desired smoothness and overall effect. Laying tiles or hardwood floors before painting reduces airborne dust significantly, avoiding dust adhering to the surface of the painted wood products. I say this because Xiao Wu's home renovation encountered this situation. Before deciding to buy Xijia wood paint, I had seen its effect when painted, it felt very smooth, like the Haoli wood doors installed in my home. Due to the aforementioned situation, the result fell short of expectations, which has always been a regret for Xiao Wu. And during the group-buying process of Xijia paint, some classmates' homes also experienced this situation. So here I remind everyone to pay attention. I don't know if other wood paints have this issue, but based on the principle of inference, I remind everyone to pay attention here.
43. It's hard to find satisfactory colors for floor tiles, I didn't find one either, but mixing two unsatisfactory colors with a 45-degree angle can achieve a very satisfying effect. This was a good suggestion from the tile worker.
38. Installing a light at each corner of the corridor is enough, both bright and effective.
29. It's best to have a cabinet for miscellaneous items near the entrance, which can be placed above the shoe cabinet. Place commonly used items there, such as umbrellas, bags, scissors, coins, regularly taken medicine, etc., which makes it very convenient.
30. There's no need for expensive ceilings. If you're not too concerned about moisture and oil fumes, I suggest using moisture-resistant gypsum boards with waterproof paint, my guest bathroom was done this way, and it looks beautiful. If you must use aluminum panel ceilings, I suggest:
1. No need for overly expensive ones.
2. Use solid colors, especially white for kitchen ceilings, works well. Color combinations should only be used if they match the renovation style, otherwise they can look uncoordinated.
3. Make your own decisions, don't rely on the salesperson's taste, it's truly outdated.
4. Supervise the work on-site, the edges are important, don't let them rush, otherwise black seams will appear, looking very unpleasant.
27. Install a small light where you cut vegetables.
90. Regarding curtains, it's best to keep a copy of the dimensions yourself, explain to the boss that the measurements cannot be reduced. If they are reduced, there should be consequences. Or watch him cut the fabric.
3. The handling method for the corner part of the facing tiles ultimately depends on the worker's skill. If the mason's skills are good and the tile grinding tools are good, the 45-degree angle grinding method should be chosen without hesitation. In terms of effect, as long as the grinding is done well, the 45-degree angle grinding method for the corner is the most beautiful! If the worker's skills are indeed lacking, then it's better to use the corner strip, because a poorly done 45-degree angle method is worse than using the corner strip.
63. The double-rod towel rack is not practical! Currently, it serves the same purpose as a single rod, rarely used to hang towels on the inner rod.
59. Luxury automatic clothes racks have too much price markup. After comparison, some less-known brands have better structural designs than first-tier brands but at much lower prices.
117. Install a gas alarm and schedule gas ignition.
141. Balconies must be tiled! Scenic balconies should have tiles around the edge, and utility balconies should be tiled up to the railing height. Since the scenic balcony edge and utility balcony walls in my home were not tiled, I had to prepare a bucket of exterior paint to refresh them periodically...
142. Before sealing walls during water and electricity renovations, make sure the construction team provides detailed water and electricity diagrams.
143. If planning to paint the walls in color, wiring issues must be considered during electrical renovations. Many wires in my home were changed, including all air conditioner plug positions. To save money, whole wires weren't replaced, instead connections were made, requiring white panels for future maintenance. After the colored wall paint was finished, these white panels were very noticeable, regrettable...
144. This was my biggest mistake. I assumed the width of a 1.5-meter bed was 1.5 meters, forgetting the thickness of the bed sides. I precisely left a lamp socket behind the bedside table on the wall. As a result, the socket was blocked and couldn't be used.
145. Before starting work, the foreman should analyze how to handle the walls, whether the original plaster needs to be completely removed. Especially important for those outsourcing wall work to painting companies. My home was outsourced to a painting company, and after the carpentry was completed, the painter found the original wall plaster was too poor and should be completely removed and redone. However, since the carpentry was already finished, removing the old plaster wasn't feasible. In the end, a layer of 108 glue was applied for plastering.
146. Adding new circuits definitely requires re-wiring. However, branches can be connected from nearby junctions rather than adding joints to existing wires.
147. Air conditioning control switches can only be at the power source. They cannot be added mid-circuit.
148. When changing phone and network cable positions, the original cables can be reused. However, improper construction can lead to many hidden dangers. Therefore, it's best to replace the cables from the weak current box inside the house.
149. Measuring the workload for circuit renovations generally follows three different wiring methods:
(1) Groove conduit (measured by groove length; if multiple conduits are in one groove, count half the number of conduits, the other half counts as overhead wiring).
(2) Overhead wiring (only threading conduit without grooving), measured by conduit length.
(3) Replacing wires, counted by the amount replaced (inform the construction team not to discard the replaced wires).
(4) Weak current renovations, measured by the first method. The difference is noting who buys the weak current wire. If purchased by the owner, deduct the wire cost.
150. How is the toilet fixed to the floor, with screws? What about the connection between the base and the pipe, what sealant is used inside and outside respectively: toilets are fixed with expansion screws. Inside the connection between the base and the pipe uses specialized toilet sealant. Outside uses a mixture of white cement and white glue. Most toilets come with specialized sealant.
151. When purchasing materials, calculate the approximate usage first. When buying water supply materials, thinking that a diagram would show the exact material usage after completion, I trusted the foreman a bit too much. Later, I discovered 5 extra meters of pipes were bought, and only 27 copper connectors were actually used, yet 40 were purchased, leaving 7 instead of the expected 13, missing 6. After persistent questioning, the foreman retrieved the "accidentally misplaced" 6 copper connectors from another site. I pre-calculated the electrical materials carefully, finding significant discrepancies compared to the foreman's requests: wires reduced from 30 meters to 12 meters, network cables from 20 meters to 13 meters, and other items like insulation tape and plugs showed large differences corrected accordingly...
152. If there are old drainage pipes on the ground, they are often damaged when removing tiles. Don't hesitate, lay new ones, don't skimp for safety.
153. Don't abandon the recessed storage spaces on bathroom walls, they are very useful and look nice after tiling. Tile workers may think it's troublesome and say it's "ugly" or "outdated," don't fall for it, they're trying to take shortcuts.
154. Don't use edge strips for tile corners, have the tile worker grind them at a 45-degree angle for a better look. If you don't specify, the tile worker will likely take shortcuts.
155. When sealing aluminum plastic pipes with cement, supervision is essential to ensure proper预留space for hot water pipes according to construction standards. Aluminum plastic pipes shouldn't be sealed tightly, a bit loose is better.
156. If the bathroom floor is higher than the hall, use a threshold stone to transition.
157. Before moving the drainage outlet by adding new pipes, check if the old drainage is clear before connecting. Spending a bit to clear it now avoids future troubles.
158. There's no need to buy expensive aluminum panels, even cheap ones far surpass PVC effects. Spending more doesn't visibly improve results.
159. When buying aluminum panels, pay attention to the dragon bones rather than the panels themselves (too obvious to tamper with). Tricks often happen with the dragon bones.
160. It's hard to find satisfactory floor tile colors, I didn't either, but alternating two unsatisfactory colors at a 45-degree angle creates a very satisfying effect. This was a good suggestion from the tile worker.
161. Supervise the use of floor waterproofing agents. My tile worker poured it directly on the ground instead of following requirements. If necessary, do it yourself, it's not troublesome but gives peace of mind.
162. Consider the slope of the bathroom floor before tiling. Following national standards doesn't ensure quick drainage, especially if using anti-odor or ultra-thin drains, which exacerbate drainage difficulties. Some say a steep slope isn't aesthetically pleasing, I think that's nonsense. On the contrary, a steeper slope ensures water drains quickly, providing comfort.
163. Used LG white gold point fireproof boards for cabinet doors, the effect is good, but if redoing, I might consider custom-made finished cabinet doors. Handmade doors aren't delicate enough, for reference only.
164. Big-name sink brands are expensive, generic brands have poor quality.
165. Balcony cabinet doors are best made of fireproof boards to prevent deformation. Balcony environments are harsh.
166. When making bathroom vanity cabinets, determine the sink size first to ensure it fits later.
167. Glass is heavy, buy locally if possible, or plan transportation methods.
168. Apply some wax to lock tongues when installing locks, it's too late if they're damaged before waxing. Without a door stopper, also prevent handles from hitting walls and getting damaged.
169. Matte paint is prettier than glossy, don't listen to painters. If they say matte is harder to apply, it's due to their poor skills. Similarly, if they say polyester is worse than polyurethane, they're deceiving you.
170. Don't buy electrical tape and PTFE tape from small shops, supermarket quality is much better and sufficient, calculated price isn't expensive.
171. If redoing, use ready-mixed putty instead of talcum powder, no big reasons, just easier to use. Especially when DIY after firing the painter—mixing putty with talcum powder is a hassle.
172. Don't skip the project of installing residual current devices and air switches in distribution boxes, and place them indoors, not outdoors. Originally thought to save labor costs by using the old outdoor distribution box, the electrician suggested placing it indoors and replacing it with a new one, now realize his suggestion was valuable. Placed indoors behind the door, it doesn't look bad and is very convenient!
173. Directly hiring workers from large decoration companies' sites might be suitable, and their techniques and tools are better.
174. Use reputable brands for residual current devices and air switches. Mine uses "Merlin & Ronan." To buy genuine goods is simple, directly call the Merlin & Ronan headquarters to get their local branch number.
175. Undermount sinks are more refined, attractive, and easier to clean.
176. When choosing undermount sink faucets, consider the sink rim thickness, the faucet spout should be longer.
177. The hole for the toilet installation is large, large enough for a drain cover to fall through. If the drain is installed but the toilet isn't, be cautious with the drain cover or store it elsewhere to prevent loss.
178. For silicone, full imported GE is the best, followed by Shanghai-packaged GE. For non-critical areas, 7-8 yuan ones can be used, like for aluminum window frames internally, I used low-quality silicone to seal them all. However, for bathrooms and kitchens, using GE silicone is worth it!
179. Angle valves shouldn't be omitted, nor do they save much money. If present, leaks at copper connectors can be detected early. Without them, leaks can only be checked when connecting pipes to copper connectors during final installation, which is unsafe due to the need to pressurize for a period to test leaks.
180. My diary mentions things to do during renovation. If you can do