Juz Interior

A SINGAPOREAN'S GUIDE TO HOME CARPENTRY

Have a carpentry project for your home, but don’t know where to start? We’ve got you covered with ideas, tips and a whole lot of advice.

Carpentry is an integral feature in any home. If you do it right, you’ll enjoy a quality statement piece in your home. Cut some corners with cost or workmanship, then be prepared for things to fall apart with the slightest pressure.

So, how much should you spend to get it right? What materials should you choose? How do you judge for quality carpentry workmanship? How about the design; any ideas on what you might like? You’re thinking, “This is overwhelming!”

Presenting (drumroll please) Juz Interior’s Ultimate Guide to Carpentry! The guide is a collection of answers to common questions homeowners have asked our in-house carpenters through the years.

If you don’t see your question, leave us a comment below. Our goal is to develop an extremely robust guide for homeowners on carpentry in Singapore. And if you’re eager to get started on your carpentry project, reach out to us by filling in the enquiry form.

DO I NEED CUSTOM CARPENTRY?

If you have things, you need cabinets. It’s as simple as that.

The real question every penny-wise homeowner asks is, “Doesn’t mass market furniture serve the same purpose at a much lower cost?” The short answer is yes and no. All carpentry serves a functional and then an aesthetic purpose. A home without a storage solution would be no different than a hoarder’s den.

DIFFERENCE BETWEEN CUSTOM AND FREE-STANDING FURNITURE

The key differences between mass market and custom-made furniture are functionality, longevity and price.

Custom carpentry is designed to suit unique lifestyle needs and space. Designs are tailored to maximize a designated space, improve layouts for collectibles, and personalize a desired interior design style. However, customization will cost you a pretty penny because of the hours of craftsmanship needed to complete the job perfectly.

Contrast this to affordable off-the-shelf furniture which have been mass produced for generic needs. These may not be the best solution for individuals with specific storage needs or non-standard spaces (e.g. curved walls, high ceilings).

In terms of make, mass manufactured flat-pack furniture is undeniably less durable. Designed for self-assembly, it is difficult to ensure that the joining is done securely. Even if you count yourself a master DIY-craftsman, the low-cost chipboard is prone to warping and chipping which compromise the strength of the frame and thus ability to bear a load. Under extreme heat, load and exposure to moisture the vulnerabilities are exacerbated. Moreover, the furniture’s alignment tends to go out shape after it has been dismantled then put back together again.

Another overlooked factor is safety. Unlike custom-made furniture, free standing furniture isn’t bolted to the wall. Any imbalance in weight distribution causes the furniture to tip over.

Make no mistake, these tip overs are no small matter. In North America, furniture giant IKEA paid USD 50 million in settlement fees for tip-over deaths of three children. A total of six children were either crushed or suffocated to death under the load of opened dressers in 2016 alone. Although the company’s representative reassured the public that anchoring dressers to the wall could have prevented the accidents, the lightweight chipboard material used for the frame does not inspire confidence for durability and sturdiness.

As depressing as these realities might be, furnishing a home with affordable mass market furniture is totally ok if you’re not fussy over the make and you’re on a tight budget. Mass market furniture might be up your alley if you love to update your space with trendy pieces. Always remember to follow installation instructions and take note of the safety warning

HOW MUCH CARPENTRY DO I NEED?

However, if you’ve got a bigger budget and want to invest in a staple piece of furniture, here are three factors to plan for before installing custom cabinets: (i) hobbies or lifestyle needs, (ii) spatial flow, and (iii) organization within a cabinet. Plan only for what you need to control your costs.

HOW TO BUDGET FOR CARPENTRY?

If you’re looking for a magic number, we hate to break it to you, but it doesn’t exist. Why? Because no floorplan and project are the same.

Estimating a ballpark cost of carpentry for your home requires some groundwork. Get in touch with multiple carpenters. You can do this through the Internet, friends, family or your interior designer. Comparing more quotes will help you get a lay of the land.

While you are on the hunt, check for online reviews of a carpenter’s service and workmanship. Excellent sales service is as important, if not more, than the cost of carpentry.

After receiving a couple of quotes, you’ll notice that carpenters charge cabinetry by the foot run. Other carpentry projects like customized headboards and feature walls are charged by the square foot, while bed boxes are charged per unit size.

On average, per foot run prices for kitchen cabinets average at about $100 and bedroom wardrobes starts from $200. Although quoted prices typically include the cost of wood and laminates, labor and hardware are almost always charged separately. Take note that non-standard carpentry requests such as wood upgrades or unusual dimensions can inflate the price of your final carpentry project.

Since price varies between carpenters, you need to find one who gives a good balance of value, quality and service. The price variations can also help you decide if you want to scale back, or opt for a mishmash of customized and mass market furniture.

We hope this has been helpful to you! We’ve got more content coming your way. So stay tuned and ask us questions!

East Studio and Main Office:
33 Ubi Ave 3, Vertex Building, #01-37, Singapore 408868

West Studio:
18 Boon Lay Way, TradeHub 21, #01-116, Singapore 609966

Automated Carpentry Factory & Showroom:
5 Sungei Kadut St 2, #04-02,
Singapore 729227

Telephone: 6282 8268
Fax: 6282 8261

HDB Licensed Renovation Contractor HB-08-4557G

BCA Registered Contractor
–Workhead (L1)