Renovating your Condo - Fun or Pain. Enjoy the Journey
Almost Everyone would like to renovate their homes according to their own taste and they get all excited over it. Here are some pointers that owners would like to take note should they decide to renovate.
Before you start anything, PLAN, PLAN, PLAN first and have and design concept such as Modern, Industrial, etc and of course have a budget in mind. Everything has a price and you do not want to go overbuget as construction cost keeps creeping up. Do this even you discuss with your ID (Interior Designer).
1. Applying for a Renovation Permit
Perhaps the easiest part but a lot of consideration. This usually involves filling up the estate's application form and putting a deposit of about $1000 for condos and sometimes up to $5000 if your unit is in a commercial building.
The application forms can be obtained at the Management Office or via the Management App.
2. Enlarging the space by Knocking down a wall
Some owners would like to increase the space of their house and one of the ways is to know down the wall. For this type of works, the Management would require the that wall to be knocked down is certified by a PE (Professional Engineer). The cost of this PE stamp or certification is around $500 to $1,000.
Some would argue on the need of a PE certification. Well, the reason the condo management requires a PE certification is for the benefit of all. It may seem like a simple hacking of wall. The more important question is who will be responsible if there is an issue as a result of hacking the wall.
3. Installing a canopy
This request to install a canopy is usually from the Penthouse or the ground floor owner. For the Penthouse Owner, the main reason would be to prevent things from tree branches whilst the ground level owner reasons would probably to prevent things falling from the upper levels into their home.
4. Check with the Management Office on the Houserules and/or ByLaws on installation of Canopy
Check with the Management Office if constructing or installing a canopy is allowed.
5. Check with URA (Urban Redevelopment Authority) on GFA concerns.
The first Government Agency to check with is the URA (Urban Redevelopment Authority) if installing the canopy affects the GFA (Gross Floor Area) of the estate. For those unsure o what is a GFA about, Most new condos which are those built in the last 8 to 10 years would have the max out their GFA.
6. Check with SCDF (Singapore Civil Defense Force) on Fire Safety concerns.
If there are no issues with URA, then you as the owner may need to check with SCDF (Singapore Civil Defense Force) whose primary concern would be the fire safety of the canopy. Usually the contractor will engage a PE (Professional Engineer) to do the submission to SCDF. The cost of the PE submission alone to SCDF can cost around $4ooo to $5000, exclusing the cost of construction.
Some owners will get daughter by the PE cost and may skirt around it by not engaging the PE and just proceed with the installation. That is not a good idea. Why ? Cos, if SCDF does a spot check and as a result found any non compliance, they may issue you with an order to remove the canopy.
7. Check with Building and Construction Authority - BCA
Lastly, you as the homeowner can check BCA (Building and Construction Authority) if there is any requirements related to the building. This step is not really necessary but you may consider checking with them.
Summary
It is up to the homeowner to approach the Management Office before you start with the renovation.