Singapore Renovation Quotation Sample

Do you know the right questions to ask about the line items in your renovation quotation? What are the loopholes that the contractor or ID will exploit after you sign? I came across a Renotalk thread by “Mr Contractor”, a retired contractor sharing his experience. However, he is last heard in Jul 2014. So, can’t ask him anymore questions. 🙁 Anyway I’ve summarised his points for due diligence and some some other information I gleaned from elsewhere. Read on for a renovation quotation sample.

You might also be interested in my post on how to find a credible and reliable contractor/ID before you sign on the dotted line.


Finding Renovation Quotations


Confirming the quotation is the first major and most important decision made during the renovation. It is always tiring and time-consuming. It is best to compare the quotations from both ID and contractor to get a feel of what the price difference is like.

How many quotations to get? 

It depends on your personal preference. What Mr Contractor recommend is to get about 3 to 5 quotations to compare. Try not to go beyond 10 as it will make you confused over their suggestions on materials and design.

Different companies type out their quotations differently. For contractors, they will usually format it in a way which makes it hard for you to compare with the IDs.

When asking for quotation… Make sure all the quotations have about 85% similar items. This will make your comparison much easier.

Credit: designsponge.com/2017/04/are-open-floor-plans-here-to-stay.html


Going through a Renovation Quotation


Contractors/IDs might try to play with words or leave out some details in the quotation, so that they can profit when they ask the customer to top up for the extra items. Below is a renovation quotation sample of a new HDB house with no hacking. The wordings in orange are Mr Contractor’s comments.

Renovation Quotation Sample: 

1. Supply labor & tiles to lay 641sqft homogeneous tiles for 3 bedrooms, Passageway, suggestion study, Living & Dining (Not more than $3.20 tiles)

641sqft x $8.00 per sqft = $5128.00

  • Does the $3.20 includes GST? i.e. If I choose a tile priced at $3.20 before GST, is it still within the quote?
  • Is 641 sqft fixed or okay for changes? (Usually there’s no change, but better to play safe.)
  • Size of the tiles? 60cm x 60cm or can go any bigger?
  • Are we able to choose tiles from any supplier or only specific ones? (tiles supplier give rebates to contractor)
  • If you choose a different kind of tile for another area, will there be extra charges?
  • Pre-packed screed included?
  • Extra: Sometimes the quotation gives you a price range for tile selection, e.g. you can choose tiles from $2.80-3.80. Check if there’s any rebate on the quoted price if in the end you choose tiles that’s lower than the maximum price. 
  • Extra: Contractors always encourage their prospective clients to use homogeneous tiles because of the higher profit margin. But of course, there are the pros and cons for each type of flooring. Choose one according to your needs. 

2. Supply labor & tiles to run 260ft homogeneous tiles skirting 3 bedrooms, Passageway, suggestion study, Living & Dining

260ft x $6.00 per ft = $1560.00

  • Is 260ft fixed or okay for changes? In case there is any calculation mistake.

3. Supply haulage, clear debris, cement, sand, W1 and delivery of material

$850.00

  • Usually you can check this price when you call the debris hotline displayed on the notice at the lift lobby. The price should be around the same. 
  • Most town councils charges around $250 depending on the town council you are in.
  • Probably cheaper if you don’t have hacking involved

4. Supply labor to construct kitchen base, washing machine base 

$450.00

  • Is the tiles included? Or will you need to get the tiles directly from the developer or building management?

5. Supply labor to construct L-box @ Living area

48.5ft x $13 per ft $630.50

  • How wide is the L-box? The common sizes are 12″, 16″ or 18″. The wider it gets, the more expensive it is. 

6. Supply labor to construct false ceiling @ Dining area & suggestion study

214sqft x $4 per sqft $856.00

  • False ceiling is quite straight forward. In this case it is only the sqft whether it is fixed or etc.

7. Supply labor to install 2 units of instant water heater @ 2 toilets

$60 per unit x 2 unit $120.00

  • Does it include the heater point as well? (Usually common bathroom does not have any heater point as new HDB comes in hot and cold pipes).
  • If there is existing heater point, does it include the connection of the wiring?

8. Supply labor to install 2 sets spray gun @ 2 toilets

$50 per set x 2 sets $100.00

9. Supply labor to connect kitchen sink tap 

$90.00

10. Supply labor to dismantle the existing sink & connect install sink & tap @ common toilet 

$120.00

11. Supply & install 10mm thick clear glass temper glass divider @ Master toilet 

$250.00

  • Length of the divider?

12. Supply & install L-shape power coated aluminium Acrylic sliding door @ common toilet 

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$580.00

  • Can the door have designs or in plain colour only? Do take a look at the colour samples.

13. Supply & install L6ft x 8ft clear mirror @ Dining area wall (with false ceiling)

14. Supply & install L6ft x 8.5ft clear mirror @ Dining area wall (w/o false ceiling)

48sqft x $20 per sqft = $960.00 (option 1)
51sqft x $20 per sqft = $1020.00 (option 2)

  • How many pieces does the mirror cut into?
  • Framed or frameless?

15. Supply & install L6ft x 8ft grey mirror @ Dining area wall (with false ceiling)

16. Supply & install L6ft x 8.5ft grey mirror @ Dining area wall (w/o false ceiling)

48sqft x $28 per sqft = $1,344.00 (option 1)
51sqft x $28 per sqft = $1,428.00 (option 2)

  • How many pieces does the mirror cut into?
  • Framed or frame-less?

17. Supply & install L4ft suspended carpentry vanity cabinet @ Master toilet

Using plywood, internal with white pvc, external with laminate finish
Swing door with soft close hinges & ABS edging
$120 per ft x 4ft $480.00

  • Countertop included?
  • Is it solid plywood?
  • What’s the brand of the soft closing hinges? (Blum is a better brand)
  • What’s the brand of the laminate ?

18. Supply & install 5mm L4ft x H5ft clear mirror sitting on top the solid table @ Master toilet

$20 per sqft x 20sqft $400.00

19. Supply & install L3ft suspended carpentry vanity cabinet @ common toilet

Using plywood, internal with white pvc, external with laminate finish
Swing door with soft close hinges & ABS edging
$120 per ft x 3ft $360.00

  • Is it solid plywood?
  • Brand of the soft closing hinges? (Blum is a better brand)
  • Brand of the laminate ?

20. Supply & install L3ft solid surface top for vanity @ common toilet

$75 per ft x 3ft $225.00

  • Brand of the solid surface?
  • Any backsplash?
  • What front profiles are available within the quoted amount?

21. Supply & install L3ft x H5ft 5mm clear mirror @ common toilet

15sqft x $20 per sqft $300.00

22. Supply & install L6.5ft x L6ft L-shape modular system closet @ Master room

C/w partition frame, internal using melamine board with free configuration,
Aluminium glass sliding door
1st 5ft – $1500 Additional ft – $250
12.5ft – 1ft @ corner = 11.5ft – 5ft = 6.5ft x $250 per ft = $1625
$1500 + $1625 = $3125

  • I prefer plywood over melamine 
  • Is the internal fully customisable? i.e. you can choose the number of drawers you want. Check the number of drawers given. They are more expensive to fabricate, and hence more likely add to your cost if you decide later on to add more drawers.
  • You can ask if the internal has a similar finishing like the external or it’s just plain white? 
  • c/w = comes with / complete with

23. Supply & install L6ft modular system closet @ Bedroom 2

C/w partition frame, internal using melamine board with free configuration,
Aluminium glass sliding door
1st 5ft – $1500 Additional ft – $250
6ft – 5ft = 1ft x $250 = $250 + $1500 = $1750

  • As above

24. Supply & install L6ft modular system closet @ Bedroom 3

C/w partition frame, internal using melamine board with free configuration,
Aluminium glass sliding door
1st 5ft – $1500 Additional ft – $250
6ft – 5ft = 1ft x $250 = $250 + $1500 = $1750

  • As above

25. Supply & install L6.5ft modular system closet @ Suggestion Study

C/w partition frame, internal using melamine board with free configuration,
Aluminium glass bi-fold door
1st 5ft – $1500 Additional ft – $250
6.5ft – 5ft = 1.5ft x $250 = $375 + $1500 = $1875 $1875.00

  • As above

26A. Supply & install L6ft x H6ft (36sqft) feature wall for TV console @ Living

Using plywood, laminate finish
$22 per sqft x 36sqft = $792

26B. Supply & install L8ft suspended carpentry TV console @ Living

Using plywood, internal pvc white, external laminate finish
$120 per ft x 8ft = $960$1752.00

  • Solid plywood?
  • Any glass or design on the TV console?
  • Drawers or flip down doors? Glass on the console door? Note that you need to have glass at your TV console door surface as the remote sensor cannot get through thick wood.

27. Supply & install L7ft wooden plank @ Bedroom 2 & 3

Using plywood, laminate finish
7ft x $35 per ft x 2 bedrooms $490.00

  • Any support bracket? What’s the max depth?

28. Supply & install 10mm thick frosted swing door temper glass @ kitchen entrance

$580.00

  • Can we have design on the frosted film? Any additional charges?

29. Supply & install L22ft Top & bottom kitchen cabinet,

using plywood, internal pvc white, external laminate finish.
C/w 1 cutlrey tray, 1 s/steel dish rack,
all swing doors with soft Close hinges & ABS edging
Top Cabinet – $120 per ft x 7.5ft = $900
Bottom cabinet – $120 per ft x 14.5ft = $1740
Supply & install 14.5ft Quatz table top – $120 per ft x 14.5ft = $1740
Supply & install 2 sets of BLUM drawer track runner 30kg – $60 per set x 2 sets = $120 $4500.00

  • Countertop included?
  • Is it solid plywood?
  • What’s the brand of the soft closing hinges? (Blum is a better brand)
  • What’s the brand of the laminate ?
  • Is the internal fully customisable? i.e. you can choose the number of drawers you want. Check the number of drawers given. They are more expensive to fabricate, and hence more likely add to your cost if you decide later on to add more drawers.
  • Extra: If you are thinking of doing a full height cabinet from top to bottom, some do charge for 3 units (top/middle/bottom). But usually it will be slightly cheaper than that means of calculation. Eg. $100/ft run for top OR bottom. a full height might cost you around $250-280. But by doing that, you save on the countertop. 

30. Supply & install L3.5ft x H8ft Full height carpentry shoe cabinet @ infront of foyer

Using plywood, internal pvc white, external laminate finish.
$280 per ft x 3.5ft $980

  • Any adjustable shelvings? If yes, how many shelvings are we entitled to?

31. Supply labor to acid wash floor after renovation

$300

  • How many times is the washing? 2 times is preferred. Once after the tiling and partition works, once after all works. 

32. Optional Items: The bath room accessories installation per item

$8.00

33. Other questions: GST? Warranty?

Other useful Q&A

Lighting

1 lighting point refers to 1 down light, 1 ceiling light OR 1 track light. If you have a hanging lamp with 2 light bulbs, you will usually only need 1 lighting point. However, the electrician might charge you slightly higher than a ceiling/downlight installation, about $5-10 additional.

For small light sources such as those inside cabinets, it depends on whether you are using spotlight/downlight or tube/cove lighting. if cove lighting, one tube is NOT equal to one point. it is a looping point so sometimes they charge as a lump sum instead of per point based.

Plumbing

  • Is hot water piping work included?
  • Provide labour only to install 2 sets of bathroom & toilet accessories at 2 toilets: Clarify what they mean by set, and agree on the number of items and items on paper.

Do you know of other questions to ask? Share with us in the comments section below. 🙂



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