home renovation – Page 3

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Smart Home Renovation Guide: Save Money on Tiles, Splurge on Flooring, Paint, Filters, TV, Ceiling, and Cabinets with Budget Tips

For ordinary home renovations, even if you have plenty of money, there are nine items you shouldn’t spend too much on; and of course, there are nine items you shouldn’t skimp on, even if you’re on a tight budget. Home renovation is all about balancing savings and splurges—don’t end up wasting your money unnecessarily.

1. Save on tiles, but don’t save on wood flooring. Tiles don’t need to be expensive; just choose ones from Guangdong origin, as the quality is generally similar. Focus on patterns, textures, and ensure they are flat—cheap tiles won’t wear out easily. However, wood flooring is where you shouldn’t cut costs, mainly due to environmental concerns like formaldehyde emissions. Always opt for reputable brands with ENF-grade certifications for safety.

2. Save on latex paint, but don’t save on primer. There’s no need to go for imported or children’s paint; apart from slightly lower VOC levels, the application effect is similar to domestic paints. Stick to basic versions from well-known brands, costing around 500 yuan per bucket. For primer, avoid unknown brands—poor quality often requires adding glue, leading to formaldehyde issues. Choose branded ready-mixed primers to prevent cracking and ensure eco-friendliness without glue.

3. Save on pre-filters, but don’t save on under-sink water purifiers. Pre-filters have minimal impact in new homes, acting as coarse sieves; they’re only somewhat useful in older homes or areas with poor water quality. A model with backflush function for 300-400 yuan is sufficient. For drinking water, invest in an RO reverse osmosis system paired with a pipeline machine to boost quality of life. Always select brands with genuine RO membranes and universal filters.

4. Save on TVs, but don’t save on projectors. LCD TV technology is mature, so high-end models aren’t necessary—they’re often just decorative in living rooms. A 65 or 75-inch brand TV for 3,000-4,000 yuan is enough. Projectors, however, aren’t as advanced; cheaper ones have poor image quality, blurring in daylight or dim light. Avoid models under 5,000 yuan to prevent frustration.

5. Save on integrated ceilings, but don’t save on bath heaters. For kitchen and bathroom ceilings, use aluminum panels in 300 specifications, costing over 100 yuan per square meter—they’re durable and won’t break easily. Choose thickness above 0.6 to avoid noise from wind. Bath heaters, being high-power appliances, affect comfort and safety; good ones offer better heat dissipation and longevity for a pleasant shower experience.

6. Save on custom cabinets, but don’t save on hardware. Custom cabinets don’t require brand names—quality depends on materials and design, not the brand. Buy panels locally, have them processed by factories, and assembled on-site. Hardware, like hinges and handles, must be high-quality to ensure cabinet longevity; cheap options lead to rust, breakage, and constant issues, causing annoyance.

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Trusted Home Renovation Material Brands: PPR Pipes, PVC Conduits, Waterproofing, and Wires | Expert Guide for DIY and Professional Use

Renovation might seem straightforward—installing materials in their proper places—but it can be overwhelming with dozens of types of materials, making it easy to fall for scams. This guide recommends reliable brands for various renovation materials to help you make safe choices, whether you’re opting for a semi-packaged renovation or self-installation.

For water supply pipes, trusted brands include: Weixing, Rifeng, Liansu, Jinniu, Zhongcai, and Baoli. Use PPR pipes with a diameter of 25 for optimal flow, as they are corrosion-resistant and prevent scale and bacteria buildup. Avoid gimmicks like nano-antibacterial pipes. Hot water pipes are recommended for stronger welding. Weixing is pricier but offers higher quality.

For drainage pipes, Liansu is the top choice due to its affordability and reliability in PVC materials.

Pipe materials should arrive with the electrician or by the second day of work.

For conduit pipes and junction boxes, reliable brands are: Liansu, Rifeng, Jinniu, Zhongcai, Jinde, Weixing, Gongyuan, Baoli, Hongyan, and Longsheng. Use PVC conduits, typically 16mm diameter, with red for power and blue for weak current. Spliced base boxes ensure consistent gaps for switches and sockets. Weixing conduits are preferred for visibility during inspections.

Choose PVC materials with good flexibility and flame retardancy. Conduits should be purchased along with water pipes.

For bathroom waterproofing, trusted brands include: Kale, Yuhong, Degao, Keshen, Skshu, Zhuoba Xika, and Mabe. Use flexible waterproofing for floors and rigid for walls, applying up to 1.8m height in shower areas. The process involves two coats of waterproof paint, extra layers at drains and pipes, and a polypropylene layer for protection. Waterproofing must be completed before tiling, with a 24-hour water test to ensure no leaks.

For electrical wires, brands vary by region, such as Lvdu and Zhengzhou Sanchang. Others include Yuandong, Panda, Shangshang, Tebian Dian Gong, and Jiangnan. Ensure CCC certification and use flame-retardant wires: 4 sq mm for kitchens, bathrooms, and ACs, 2.5 sq mm for other areas, and 1.5 sq mm for ground wires. Follow manufacturer guidelines for special appliances like central AC or instant water heaters.

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Ultimate Guide to Choosing Home Renovation Materials: Expert Tips for Tiles, Paint, Doors, Flooring, and Lighting Selection

Young people today often have good economic conditions for home renovation and seek advice on selecting main materials. Actually, it’s not difficult; it depends on the consumer’s needs and budget.

For those with ample budget, choose plain matte tiles with matching grout for a seamless look. For limited budget, choose glossy tiles as they are affordable and easy to clean. Avoid matte tiles as they are too hard to clean.

In terms of size, 800×800 is standard. If funds are sufficient, 150×75 is better with fewer seams, making it more grand. But avoid 120×60 for floors as it looks ugly no matter how laid; it’s more suitable for kitchen and bathroom walls.

The quality and eco-friendliness of domestic latex paint already far meet the needs of home renovation, so there’s no need to choose so-called imported latex paint. If you don’t believe it, you can look into it and find that imported latex paint is also produced domestically, using domestic raw materials, and some are even less eco-friendly than domestic ones.

Additionally, any claims such as children’s bamboo charcoal, odor-free anti-mold, Blue Angel certification, or A+ certification are marketing tactics for laypeople; more selling points mean more money spent.

When choosing latex paint, only focus on two points: for eco-friendliness, look for the Ten-ring certification; for quality grade, prefer premium grade, then first-grade.

Lastly, the purchase channel should be online official flagship stores.

For those who prioritize appearance, choose painted doors; for practicality, lacquer-free doors are a good choice. Whether choosing painted or lacquer-free, solid wood composite doors are correct.

Pure solid wood doors are more eco-friendly but expensive and have risks of cracking and deformation, not as stable as solid wood composite doors. Door core prefer wood block filling, then bridge structure; honeycomb paper filling should not be taken even if free.

For door hinges, choose flat-opening over mother-child as they have better load-bearing.

Ordinary families are not recommended to use pure solid wood flooring because it is not only expensive but also difficult to maintain and prone to problems later. If you are in a villa or large flat, pure solid wood flooring is the best choice.

For ordinary residences, multi-layer solid wood is recommended. If there is underfloor heating, choose 7 or 9 layers for high stability; the disadvantage is that the surface is thin and not very wear-resistant. If no underfloor heating, three-layer solid wood is better, more eco-friendly, and the surface is thick enough.

If using laminate flooring, eco-friendliness must be prioritized, and be sure to choose big brands.

Actually, for lighting, it can be completely purchased online. Choose shipment from Zhongshan, Guangdong for quality assurance, and the price will be much cheaper. Merchants will include delivery, installation, and after-sales, so no worries at all.

For size, don’t guess blindly. There’s a simple method: add the room length and width, divide by 12, and you can pick the most suitable size.

For living room, choose 4000 to 4500K color temperature; for dining room, choose 3000 to 3500K soft light; for bedroom, choose 3000K to help sleep well. As for brightness, it’s simpler: room area multiplied by 3 to 5 watts, e.g., for a 10 sqm bedroom, choose about 30 watts.

These 5 main materials are used in every home renovation, so do enough homework, understand clearly, to avoid being cheated.

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Complete Guide to Home Renovation Materials: Selecting Auxiliary and Main Supplies for SEO-Friendly Content and Practical Tips

First, Let’s Talk About Auxiliary Materials

When it comes to home renovation materials, they can be broadly divided into two categories: auxiliary materials and main materials. Auxiliary materials are used during the basic construction phase to meet essential needs like water supply, electricity, and structural support. Examples include water pipes, electrical wires, waterproof coatings, cement, sand, and ceiling frames. These materials are hidden behind decorative layers once the renovation is complete, making them invisible to homeowners after moving in.

Auxiliary materials often have a simple and healthy market dominated by large, nearly monopolistic brands such as Saint-Gobain for gypsum boards, Oriental Yuhong for waterproofing, and Golden Bull for pipes. Even regional brands like Chuanlu for conduit pipes or Tapai for wires in Sichuan are reliable. Generally, homeowners encounter no more than five well-known brands per category, ensuring quality and longevity—products from these brands can last over a decade without issues. The price difference between brands is minimal; for instance, Tapai wires cost around 122 RMB per 100-meter roll, while premium options like JinDiao flame-retardant wires are only about 152 RMB, resulting in a minor cost difference for entire projects. Compared to main materials, auxiliary materials are like daily necessities—affordable and straightforward to choose, with less time spent on selection due to low unit prices and bundled offerings in semi-packaged or full-packaged renovation contracts.

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Now, Focusing on Main Materials

Main materials account for the largest portion of the renovation budget and include visible elements that enhance comfort and aesthetics, such as flooring, tiles, paint, toilets, showers, and kitchen appliances. The market is complex, with numerous brands and models, so I’ve divided it into four parts for clarity.

Flooring and Tiles: For tiles, the common question is whether to buy Guangdong tiles for better quality. In reality, this is often a marketing gimmick; in places like Chengdu, about 90% of so-called ‘Guangdong tiles’ are actually from Jiajiang. Authentic Guangdong tiles are expensive due to transport costs, and for budgets under 200 RMB/sq.m., it’s better to opt for reliable brands. When selecting tiles, check the body color—good tiles have gray or off-white bodies—and avoid those with impurities like black spots, which indicate poor quality. The glaze should be thick to prevent wear. Brand溢价 is severe; for example, some top brands once offered 50% sales commissions. However, tile production isn’t overly complex, so non-branded options at 120–150 RMB/sq.m. for 800×800 mm living room tiles or 70–80 RMB/sq.m. for 300×300 mm bathroom tiles are sufficient. Expensive tiles mainly offer better patterns and textures, not practicality. For flooring, price reflects material costs—solid wood is pricier than composite or laminate—and environmental concerns about formaldehyde are manageable with certified products.

Custom Cabinets and Wardrobes: Custom cabinets are a major expense, with brands like索菲亚 or欧派 costing around 1300 RMB/sq.m., while smaller vendors charge 600–800 RMB/sq.m. The quality gap isn’t huge, as both use standard boards (e.g., Kronospan, Egger, TuBaobao), but differences lie in design and installation details. For budget-conscious families, smaller vendors offer good value.

Kitchen Cabinets: These are similar to wardrobes but have a tricky pricing structure—countertops, cabinets, and accessories like pull-out baskets are billed separately, leading to potential surprises. Package deals might seem attractive but often exclude key items, so careful calculation is essential.

Doors and Windows: Brand溢价 is high for wooden doors, but a 1000+ RMB painted door suffices for basic needs. Upgrading hardware like locks and soundproofing strips can improve performance without overspending. Expensive doors don’t necessarily add much value beyond aesthetics, which are often copied across brands. For windows, customization is more involved and covered in dedicated guides.

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Bathroom Fixtures: This market is mature, with products like toilets, vanity cabinets, showers, and五金件 (e.g., drains, angle valves). Brands offer reliable quality and aren’t heavily discounted, so bargains might indicate counterfeits. Investing in branded bathroom fixtures is worthwhile for durability and experience, and upgrading small五金件 to the best within budget is cost-effective due to low unit prices.

Other Materials: Wall decorations like latex paint, diatom mud, and wallpaper fall under main materials. Latex paint has seen reduced溢价 as consumers become more rational about甲醛 claims. Diatom mud isn’t a scam if used for its intended purpose, such as moisture control. Wallpaper suits cozy styles but isn’t as cost-effective as paint for minimalist designs.

This guide provides practical advice to help homeowners make informed choices during renovation.

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Ultimate Guide to Top Home Renovation Products: Expert Recommendations for Tiles, Doors, Paints, Sockets, Toilets, and Lighting Brands in 2023

1. Tiles

There are over 1500 tile brands in the market, with more than 150 major brands from Guangdong. The quality and control are generally good. Based on reputation and sales, the first choice is Marco Polo, known for its distinctive antique tiles and reliable service. Secondary options include Dongpeng and Guanzhu; Dongpeng offers balanced products with sales second only to Marco Polo, while Guanzhu is more affordable. Another alternative is Feilinge’er, a German joint venture with higher quality and standards, though it is slightly more expensive.

2. Wooden Doors

For high-end wooden doors, the top choice is Mengtian. For quiet and stylish options, TATA is recommended. For health and environmental concerns, 3D Paintless Wooden Door is the best pick.

3. Paints

Brands in this category have large-scale operations, advanced equipment, and technology that rivals imported products. The first choice is Dulux, with Nippon Paint as a secondary option. Dulux focuses more on home decoration and offers higher environmental standards. Sankeshu and Carpoly are also good alternatives, though they are less well-known.

4. Switches and Sockets

Siemens is a household name, but the market has many counterfeits. For domestic brands, Bull is the top choice as a leading brand with a strong reputation and high safety. Secondary options include Delixi and Chint, which offer good quality at more affordable prices.

5. Smart Toilets

The first choice for smart toilets is TOTO, known for its advanced smart technology. For domestic brands, Hegii is recommended for sanitary ware, and Jomoo for hardware. For comprehensive products and cost-effectiveness, consider Huid and Arrow.

6. Lighting

Secondary choices include NVC Lighting and Philips. NVC Lighting specializes in LED lights with years of commercial experience and is a strong player. Philips, as the earliest bulb manufacturer, remains a leader in the lighting industry with undeniable capabilities.

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