What's included in Thomson's HDB resale renovation service?

Our resale renovation service covers: hacking and demolition of existing fixtures and non-structural walls, floor and wall tiling (or overlay), kitchen and bathroom waterproofing, plumbing and electrical rewiring, built-in carpentry (kitchen cabinets, wardrobes, feature walls, shoe cabinets), false ceilings and cornices, painting, window replacement (with RW01 coordination), and final cleaning before handover. We also handle all HDB permit submissions.

What carpentry and storage options can I choose for my resale flat?

All carpentry is built from solid plywood with a broad range of laminate finishes. Options include: full-height wardrobes (swing or sliding), kitchen cabinets with soft-close hardware, TV feature walls and consoles, bathroom vanity cabinets, shoe cabinets and entryway benches, platform beds with storage, study desks and bookcases, and display shelving. We fabricate locally and can customise dimensions to fit existing recesses and odd corners.

Does Thomson Renovation Contractor provide hacking and demolition services?

Yes. Hacking and demolition is part of our core resale renovation service. We remove old carpentry, non-load-bearing partition walls, floor and wall tiles, bathroom fittings, kitchen countertops, and built-in fixtures. We comply with all HDB noise-hour restrictions, engage a Professional Engineer when structural elements are involved, and handle debris disposal.

Does the design account for existing plumbing and electrical points?

Yes. During the site survey, we check the condition and position of existing plumbing stacks, drainage points, and the electrical distribution board. For most resale renovations, we recommend full rewiring (replacing old wiring, moving the DB box if needed, adding power points), and we relocate plumbing only if the floor trap position allows it — we will advise honestly on what can and cannot be moved.

How much does an HDB resale renovation cost?

For a 4-room resale flat with full hacking, re-tiling, kitchen and bathroom renovation, carpentry throughout, rewiring, and painting, costs typically range from S$55,000 to S$80,000, depending on material choices, floor area, and the extent of structural changes. 3-room units start lower; 5-room and executive units go higher. We provide an itemised quotation after a site survey — never a lump-sum figure without detail.

HDB Resale Renovation Singapore | Thomson Renovation Contractor

Buying a resale flat gives you more space, a mature neighbourhood, and often a quicker move-in — but it also comes with renovation challenges that a new BTO unit doesn’t have. At Thomson Renovation Contractor, we have spent more than a decade transforming older HDB flats into modern, functional homes. From full-scale hacking and demolition to rewiring, re-tiling, and reconfiguring entire layouts, our team handles every stage of the resale renovation process. We understand HDB permit requirements, neighbour notification rules, noise-hour restrictions, and all the coordination that comes with working on an occupied block. When you work with us, you get one contractor who takes responsibility for the whole job.

Layout and Planning

Resale flats often reflect layouts from a different era — enclosed kitchens, narrow corridors, and partition walls that don’t suit how families live today. We start by understanding what isn’t working for you in the current layout. Do you want to open the kitchen into the living area? Knock down a study wall to enlarge the master bedroom? Convert a utility room into a walk-in wardrobe? We assess which walls can be hacked (and which are structural and cannot be touched), plan the new flow, and prepare the submission to HDB for permit approval. Our experience means we can tell you early on what’s possible and what’s not, saving you time and design fees.

Full-Scale Resale Transformation

Every resale flat size presents different opportunities. Here is how we approach each flat type.

Our HDB Resale Renovation Process

Site Assessment

We assess the existing layout and what can be changed.

Design & Permit Planning

We plan the new layout and submit for HDB approval.

Material Selection

Choose flooring, carpentry, and fixture finishes.

Hacking & Construction

Demolition, wet works, and carpentry installation.

Final Handover

We inspect every detail together before handover.

Minimalist white galley kitchen renovation with integrated lighting and gas hob

3-Room Resale Flat Makeover

Resale flat living and dining space with round wood dining table and wall-mounted TV console

4-Room Resale Flat Makeover

Resale HDB living room with wood-panel ceiling feature and display shelf

5-Room / Executive Resale Flat Makeover

Older 3-room flats are often compact but full of potential. We focus on opening up the layout — typically by removing the kitchen partition wall to create an open-concept cooking and dining area, while adding a half-height island or breakfast counter. Full-height carpentry along one wall from entrance to living room provides shoe storage, display shelving, and a TV console in one continuous run. We replace all floor and wall tiles, rewire the flat, and install new bathroom fittings with full waterproofing.

The 4-room resale is where we do the bulk of our work. Common requests include: hacking the kitchen wall for an open layout, converting the balcony or yard into a laundry area with concealed plumbing, building a walk-in wardrobe in the master bedroom, replacing all windows with full-height or casement options (with BCA RW01 coordination), and upgrading both bathrooms. We also pay special attention to flooring — many older units have uneven screed that needs re-levelling before new tiles or vinyl can be laid.

Larger resale units give us more freedom, and we often use that extra square footage to introduce features that smaller flats cannot accommodate: a dry pantry or bar area, a home office nook built into the living area, a walk-in wardrobe with a dressing vanity, and feature-rich bathroom upgrades such as rain showers, wall-hung vanities, and concealed cisterns. We also address the longer circulation spaces in maisonettes and executive flats — turning corridors and stair landings into useful display and storage areas rather than dead space.

Carpentry and Storage Solutions

Storage is often the weakest point in older HDB flats, where built-in cupboards may not exist and corridor space goes unused. Our carpenters build full-height wardrobes in solid plywood for every bedroom, entryway shoe cabinets and bench seating, living room TV feature walls with integrated consoles and display niches, kitchen cabinets with soft-close drawers and pull-out pantry racks, and bathroom vanity units with storage below. We also build custom items like bay window seating with hidden storage, platform beds with pull-out drawers, and full-wall bookcases or display shelving — all cut and finished to fit your exact room dimensions.

Hacking and Demolition Works

Hacking is where a resale renovation really begins, and it needs to be done right. We handle removal of old built-in carpentry, demolition of non-load-bearing partition walls, stripping of existing floor and wall tiles, removal of old bathroom fittings and sanitary ware, and hacking away old kitchen countertops and sink fixtures. All hacking complies with HDB’s strict noise regulations (9:00am–5:00pm on weekdays, within the allowed consecutive-day limit), and we engage a Professional Engineer where required — for example, when hacking reinforced concrete elements. We also arrange for the debris disposal and ensure the common areas are properly protected during the works.

Frequently Asked Questions

Question	Answer
What's included in Thomson's HDB resale renovation service?	Our resale renovation service covers: hacking and demolition of existing fixtures and non-structural walls, floor and wall tiling (or overlay), kitchen and bathroom waterproofing, plumbing and electrical rewiring, built-in carpentry (kitchen cabinets, wardrobes, feature walls, shoe cabinets), false ceilings and cornices, painting, window replacement (with RW01 coordination), and final cleaning before handover. We also handle all HDB permit submissions.
What carpentry and storage options can I choose for my resale flat?	All carpentry is built from solid plywood with a broad range of laminate finishes. Options include: full-height wardrobes (swing or sliding), kitchen cabinets with soft-close hardware, TV feature walls and consoles, bathroom vanity cabinets, shoe cabinets and entryway benches, platform beds with storage, study desks and bookcases, and display shelving. We fabricate locally and can customise dimensions to fit existing recesses and odd corners.
Does Thomson Renovation Contractor provide hacking and demolition services?	Yes. Hacking and demolition is part of our core resale renovation service. We remove old carpentry, non-load-bearing partition walls, floor and wall tiles, bathroom fittings, kitchen countertops, and built-in fixtures. We comply with all HDB noise-hour restrictions, engage a Professional Engineer when structural elements are involved, and handle debris disposal.
Does the design account for existing plumbing and electrical points?	Yes. During the site survey, we check the condition and position of existing plumbing stacks, drainage points, and the electrical distribution board. For most resale renovations, we recommend full rewiring (replacing old wiring, moving the DB box if needed, adding power points), and we relocate plumbing only if the floor trap position allows it — we will advise honestly on what can and cannot be moved.
How much does an HDB resale renovation cost?	For a 4-room resale flat with full hacking, re-tiling, kitchen and bathroom renovation, carpentry throughout, rewiring, and painting, costs typically range from S$55,000 to S$80,000, depending on material choices, floor area, and the extent of structural changes. 3-room units start lower; 5-room and executive units go higher. We provide an itemised quotation after a site survey — never a lump-sum figure without detail.

HDB RESALE RENOVATION

Expert HDB resale flat renovation services

HDB RESALE RENOVATION