The first step is to contact Deep Blue Homes so we can meet for a free initial consultation. We generally visit you at your property or site to discuss your requirements in an informal meeting. Wanting to build or extend your home can seem daunting at the start, but please rest assured we will be able to offer you advice on all aspects of creating your dream home.
After the initial meeting we send you a formal quote for our services. Once our Fee’s have been agreed, we return to your property to conduct a full site survey. From this we draw existing plans and elevations to scale. Design sketch proposals, often referred to as concept designs, are then produced for your comments and approval.
Once you are happy with the design we then work these sketches up into a lot more detail which comprise of Planning Drawings and Building Regulation details and drawings which are then submitted to the relevant authorities to seek approval.
Gaining planning permission is the ‘creative stage’ of the project. We come up with a design that meets your needs and falls within the local planning policies and relevant guidelines of your area. Planning drawings are basically a series of ‘pretty’ pictures which show the proposed building or site in its current form and how it will look after the works have been completed. Planning permission typically takes around 8 weeks once submitted to the Local Authority.
Building regulations are the minimum technical standards of construction set by the Government. The drawings must cover many aspects of health and safety within buildings as well as many other aspects such as energy consumption and accessibility. The building regulation criteria are set to ensure that the buildings in Singapore are built to comply with the correct standards.
A contractor is the umbrella-term used to refer to either builders or renovators. Commonly, contractors who are awarded the job, contract it out to other contractors – who are then deemed Sub-Contractors (SC). The contractor who was awarded the project/job acts as the Main Contractor (MC), and has the tasks of overseeing ALL the work, and integrating them together. A client/owner who prefers to sub-contract out the various tasks out to the various SCs, will therefore act as the MC, and undertakes the responsibility of overseeing and integrating ALL the work.
While occasionally it might be worthwhile to do so, as you will omit a middleman, it is not advisable to do so on larger projects, as the complexities of various construction technicalities need to be systematically and sequentially integrated together. Also, the lack of future jobs/tasks will not entice the SC to prioritize your project over MCs who constantly provide them with work on a regular basis.
A builder, as the name suggests, are people/companies who are able to erect or build upwards from bare ground. Builders in Singapore have been assessed based off their previous work, and must have the necessary technical qualifications within the company, in order to be issued a Builder’s license by BCA (Building and Construction Authority). Only builders are allowed to undertake work with regards to A&A (Additions & Alterations), Re-construction and erection of new buildings/Houses. As these will invariably involve the structural construction of a building with regards to components like reinforced concrete (RC) columns and beams, or steel structures.
A renovator is more responsible for the aesthetic aspects of a building like tiling, painting, carpeting, ceiling work etc. In some cases, renovators might not have the complete understanding of the building work, to carry out the work correctly. They either might not apply the correct construction methodology, or utilize less than appropriate building material (which is a science altogether) for the particular task, or not understand the structural considerations. All builders’ can execute a renovators’ task, as the tiling, glass works, painting and Mechanical &Electrical (M&E) considerations are part and parcel of the work required to complete a building project anyway. These skills allow a Builder to approach a project from a more holistic viewpoint.
A Turn-key project is where the company undertakes all responsibilities regarding the site investigation, pre-design, design and construction of a building, providing the client with a completed project. The client only has to state their needs, number of rooms, size, the need (or not) for lift or swimming pool, etc. And then “turn the key” to allow everything to start. This way the client doesn’t need to liaise with the different governmental agencies or understand the complexities like soil conditions, loadings, power rating required, sewerage, etc. They just need to focus the fun part of buying a new TV, or just furnishing their new home!
Yes, there are many differing qualities of different building materials; meaning specific types lend themselves better to certain uses than others.
For example, there are many kinds of waterproofing like Rubber, Acrylic, Polyurethane & Cementatious based systems. They have their own specific strengths and weaknesses, and also the appropriate uses for these. Even tiling adhesives have various kinds and are classified into – Class 1 (General use) and Class 2 (specifically for use in walls with stones like marble and granite). Class 2 adhesives have more than double the tensile adhesion strength, with some having flexible additives within to prevent tiles from falling from a sudden knock, or vibration. Even the humble grout to fill up the tile lines, there are even 2 part epoxy types that are far less susceptible to dis-colouration, as they are impervious to chemicals and stains. The common ones are the one-component type that is only mixed with water.
For timber, there are many species that are used commonly within South East Asia – the names vary according to the country using them. Names like Chengai, Balau, Keruing, Merbau, Kapur and Nyatoh are more familiar ones. But even the king of fruits – Durian is used for door frames extensively. Again they all have their pro and cons, and an experience builder can correctly advise you.
All in all, we at Deep Blue Homes work with our knowledge and experience gained over the years, are in constant dialogue with our building material manufacturers like Bluescope Lysaght, Mapei and QuicSeal. We constantly attend building fairs and meet our suppliers to understand closely the considerations of the product type to update ourselves on changes in new and better products /materials.
There are many differing qualities of different types of wood, even among same tree species. This means specific species of wood are better suited for various uses than others so it’s important that the right kind is used. The finish of the carpentry works should also be taken into account so the look of the completed works is suited to your taste. Spending time to investigate how easy a wood is to work with, or how strong it is to hold up during construction can save both, time and money. Deciding between using Hardwood and Softwood is also important as both can be used for furniture; however, Hardwood is of a much higher quality and lasts much longer than softwood, which is typically the least expensive option. Plywood which is commonly used has various grades and types – Marine Ply, Moisture Resistance (MR) and Lamin Boards. Using inferior plywood will cause premature loosening of hinges and screws, as the screws need to “bite” into the plywood, and the higher density and hardness of the superior plywood will ensure many, many years of trouble free use.
Simpler services like carpeting and tiling for example, are easily quantifiable once we know the various relevant dimensions like length or area. However for more complex tasks, we will need to determine the sequence of the work that needs to be done to complete the job. We will then quantify each step before a total price can be generated. An on-site review of the premises is sometimes necessary as it is unlikely that the homeowner will be able to understand or know all the steps involved. As always, we will be holistic in our approach and list down our charges in a comprehensive manner so you know what the job entails and exactly what you’re paying for.
For simpler projects, please refer to our Online Quote as it covers most of the more common tasks that fall under renovation work. For building work, more details will be required like the design of the structure, size of columns and beams, the tonnage of the steel, logistics involved, etc. before a quote can be generated.
Yes, it is possible however it comes with its fair share of inconveniences and therefore, isn’t something that we would encourage. As with any construction site, there will be a lot of noise as well as the presence of unwanted dust, sand and water around the house. Also, if we were working on an upper floor, we would need to protect the rest of the house from getting damaged in order to carry the materials upstairs. Demarcating the house to ensure your safety will also mean that parts of the house will become inaccessible during the course of the renovation. Any electrical work that needs to be done might also temporarily affect the availability of electricity in other parts of the house. Overall, while a staged renovation allows you to distribute the costs over several years making it potentially more economical, it can cause you much inconvenience over the course of your renovation.
Our building company, which is a subsidiary company of ours, has gone through the necessary qualification process, and our perm staff have the technical qualifications required, to be licensed builders, issued by the Building Construction Authority (BCA). Similarly, we are also registered with HDB (Housing and Development Board) as a Registered Renovation Contractor (RRC), as such allowed to conduct work/renovations for HDB properties – residential or commercial. In addition, our staff has also gone through numerous courses, ranging from “Renovation from Public Housing”, “Essential Knowledge in Construction, Regulation and Management”, “Demolition Course for renovation Contractors”, to safety management courses like “Formwork Safety”, “Building and Construction Safety Supervisors”, “Work at Height” and Biz Safe certification courses. All courses are conducted by BCA, HDB, WSHC (Work Safety & Health Council), BCA academy, MOM (Ministry of Manpower) or their appointed test centres.
Yes, we will need approvals from numerous government bodies – Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA), BCA, Singapore Civil Defense Force (SCDF), National Parks (NParks), Land Transportation Authority (LTA) and Public Utility Board (PUB). In addition, we will need an Architect, a Structural Engineer and sometimes an M&E Engineer to provide the consultancy for such works. We at Deep Blue Homes can help with that, we can obtain the most cost- effective solutions for you, yet without compromising on the quality of design, looks and material specifications of the building / house. We will work with tried and tested associates in the building industry and provide a hassle free solution to develop your property, or complete your dream home!
Yes, most definitely. While most of our works involves residential projects, about 30% involves factories, office and retail ones. We utilize our building skills, our in house team of specialists, and strong work ethics to keep our clients satisfied. In fact, residential projects are normally harder, as clients tend to more critical about their own homes. We have, on numerous occasions, been invited to do our residential clients’ offices or factories. The main difference is that commercial projects require overnight work, and a tighter timeline.
Do call us at our office (+65 65701813), or write us an email (sales@dbgroup.com.sg) to arrange for one of our project managers for a meeting. Bring along your floorplan, or any info you already have. We will discuss your needs, your plan, your dreams, and we will work out a solution for you, in the next few days after.
If there is design involved, we will first wear our “architect or designer” hat and work out a feasible concept. We will temper that with our “builder” hat to balance costs and real world construction challenges. This way, you will not be directed to a dream that’s outside your budget, site constraints or feasibility of construction. If you already have a architect or designer, do bring along your plans and designs. We will wear our “builder” hat and advise you the most cost-effective way to do the project, and even share what we think is justified and practical, or expensive and unnecessary. At the end of the day, it’s your house, but we want it to be truly, your home.
Honestly, there is no project we will find too small. Sometimes you might have a problem that you need to solve – and we wouldn’t mind if it’s just a squeaking door or a leaking tap. We welcome your enquiries…… really.