How much do couples really need to renovate a typical 4-room HDB flat?

From the kitchen to the bedroom and the flooring, here's a breakdown of how much you'll need to fork out to renovate your 4-room HDB flat.

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Plan wisely

1/10

When planning your budget, be realistic. If you want marble flooring, factor that in. If you have a strict $30,000 budget to keep to, be prepared to adjust your choice of materials. Here’s a rough estimate of the cost of a typical four-room HDB apartment renovation. Prices vary based on material and labour cost fluctuation.

Design: TLD., Design

This story was first published on Home & Decor June 2018 by property columnist Stella Thng.

Flooring

2/10

The cheapest material is cement screed, which starts from $3psf for the basic, old-school type, to $15psf for the glossy and coloured variety. Laminate flooring starts from $4psf. Vinyl starts from $6, parquet from $7, ceramic tiles from $11.50, homogeneous tiles from $12, and timber floor from $16.

Design: Hello Embryo

Flooring

3/10

The prices of marble ($12 to $30psf) and granite ($14 to $35psf) can vary widely, depending on quality. Expect to pay between $5 and $12psf for the installation.

Design: Eightytwo

Walls

4/10

Plastering starts from $4psf. Wallpaper can be as cheap as $2psf. Set aside at least $1,300 for painting for a four-room flat. Timber wall panels, depending on the design, can set you back $15psf and above. Or go fancy and pick a marble feature wall, from $25psf.

See also: $60K AND BELOW: 7 STYLISH APARTMENT RENOVATIONS YOU HAVE TO SEE

Design: Aiden T

Carpentry

5/10

Depending on the complexity of the design, a TV console and display cabinet cost $2,000 and up. Bedroom wardrobes cost from $310 per foot run. A customised bed frame and side tables cost $2,000 upwards, while a study table fit for a professional executive can cost $1,000.

Design: Eightytwo

Doors

6/10

A good wooden bedroom door starts from $800 onwards, or from $1,200 for pivot doors. Tempered glass doors for a study or kitchen start from $750, and from $1,000 for sliding doors. A fire-rated front door costs at least $1,400.

Design: PIU Design

Hacking, Ceiling, Electric Wiring

7/10

 Hacking an entire four-room flat costs about $4,500. Plaster ceilings cost $4psf and up. Overhauling the wiring and lighting starts from $4,000

Design: Ensemble

Kitchen

8/10

Plumbing costs between $1,000 and $4,000, depending on the complexity of your kitchen and toilet works. Kitchen cabinets start from $250 per foot run. Depending on your choice of tabletop, solid surface is the most affordable at $50 per foot run onwards; quartz starts at $80 per foot run; and stone tops like granite or marble begins at $90 per foot run.

See also: SMALL HOME? SEE THESE STYLISH WAYS YOU CAN STILL HAVE A KITCHEN ISLAND

Design: Wal Associates

Toilet

9/10

Ceramic tiles start from $11.50psf. As for toilet doors, they start from $500; bi-fold aluminium doors cost about $550 onwards but they save space compared to a full swing door. A shower screen will set you back at least $650, but it will keep the rest of your toilet nice and dry!

See also: 9 CREATIVE WAYS TO GIVE YOUR HDB BATHROOM A MAKEOVER

Design: Wynk; Collaborative

Stick to your budget

10/10

It is easy to get carried away when renovating your home so do set a budget and keep to it. Factor in a little extra, in case of unforeseen costs. Don’t be stuck in such terrible debt that you have a showhome-worthy kitchen, but can’t afford to fill your empty fridge! 

Design: Millimeters Studio

This article was first published on Home & Decor June 2018 issue.

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