Renovation FAQs for Singapore Homes

Design-and-build means one team plans, designs and builds your home. You deal with one point of contact and one quotation, instead of managing a designer and several contractors separately, so the plan you approve is the plan that gets built.

An interior designer usually produces the design, and then you or the designer appoint and manage the contractors. A design-and-build firm covers the design and the construction under one contract. The Odd Layout is a design-and-build firm, and you can read how we work on our method page.

We start with a consultation about your home and your floor plan. We then plan the layout, develop the design, prepare a quotation and, once you approve, build and hand over. Each step is explained on our method page.

Yes. We prepare layout plans and 3D visuals so you can see the design and ask for changes before building begins.

Yes. We plan layouts, carpentry and finishes for resale HDB flats and new BTO units. See our HDB and BTO renovation page for what is included.

Some works do. HDB requires a renovation permit for works that may affect the structure of the flat, such as demolishing walls, and these works must be done by a contractor listed in HDB’s Directory of Renovation Contractors. The permit must be approved before the work starts. We design around these rules and coordinate the permit application with the contractor.

You can start renovation works after you collect the keys to your flat. Many owners meet us before key collection, so the design, quotation and permit applications are ready and work can begin soon after.

Some walls can be removed and some cannot. Structural walls are restricted, and removing any wall needs HDB approval. We check your flat’s plan early, so you know what is possible before you settle on a layout.

Yes, for new launch and resale units, from layout changes to a full fit-out. See condo renovation for what we cover.

Most condominiums need the management office to approve your renovation plan before work starts. Rules differ between developments, for example on working hours, renovation deposits and how lifts and common areas are protected. We check the rules for your condominium early and prepare what the management office asks for.

Yes. A new unit is usually a blank canvas, so the work centres on layout, carpentry and finishes. A resale unit may also need repairs or upgrades to older fittings, so we inspect it before we plan.

Yes. We work on terraces, semi-detached homes and bungalows, from interior renovation to additions and full rebuilds. See landed renovation, A&A and rebuild.

A&A, short for additions and alterations, changes an existing house, for example by extending it, reconfiguring rooms or adding a floor, while keeping part of the original structure. A rebuild demolishes the house and builds a new one on the same plot. Both need approval from the authorities.

A Qualified Person, which means a registered architect or a professional engineer, must submit the plans to the authorities for structural changes, extensions and rebuilds. We coordinate with a Qualified Person so the design and the submission stay in step.

Yes. We renovate and fit out offices, cafes and retail spaces, planned around how your team and customers use the space. See commercial renovation and fit-out.

Your floor plan or lease plan, how many people or customers the space must hold, your target opening date and any fit-out rules from your landlord. Send these with your enquiry and we will take it from there.

It depends on the size of the home, its condition, the materials you choose and how much is changed. We give a written quotation once we understand your floor plan, so please share it with us first.

The main factors are the size of the home, how much hacking and rebuilding is needed, the amount of carpentry, the number of wet areas, your choice of materials and fittings, and any approvals the work needs.

Your quotation lists the scope of work, so you can see what you are paying for. If anything is unclear, ask us before you approve it.

The time depends on the scope of work, the approvals needed and material lead times. We set out the schedule with your quotation and keep you updated on progress during the work.

Payment is in stages that follow progress on site. The stages and amounts are set out in your quotation before work starts.

Your floor plan if you have one, photos of the space, a list of what you want from the home, any pictures you like and a rough budget range. If you do not have a floor plan yet, send us the unit address or type and we will help.

We are at Block 2 Balestier Road #01-691, Singapore 320002, by appointment only. Message us on WhatsApp +65 8987 1515, email start@theoddlayout.sg or use our contact page. We work on homes and commercial spaces across Singapore.