Unit Cost Reference

Singapore renovation market rates — enter the access code.

📌 Original researched version — market bands exactly as first drafted, not editable. Back to the working copy →

Unit Cost Reference

SG market rates per trade, benchmarked against NC (Singapore)'s quotes — with your V3 target rates and variance vs the originally-researched market medians. ← Back to tracker

7Trades
25Your targets loaded
−$24.9kBar + Dekton descoped
$35–50kBest-case landing
1

⚡ Electrical Works

9 items · 8 sources
💡 Your targets here are residential-exposed rates ($55 lighting, $65 double SSO) — 45–60% below commercial medians. Usable as anchors, but expect to land nearer the fair-target band. Sub-main and LEW you've accepted; concede them by name early.

Lighting point (wiring, concealed)

UPPER-BAND
$70180 /pt commercial
$132.25 × 46
$55

Sentosa public term rate was $55 for surface wiring — exactly your target, but that's exposed/surface, not commercial trunked.

Light fitting supply + install

FAIR
$55105 /fitting
$69 – $86.25
$65

At market with fitting supply included. Your $65 target is realistic.

2×13A double socket

ABOVE MARKET
$100150 /pt commercial top
$166.75 × 56
$65

25–60% over the top commercial band; 56 points make this the volume lever. Your $65 is the DirectReno budget floor.

Cat6 data point (full termination)

AT MARKET
$80160 /pt commercial
$149.50 × 111
$75

Top of Cat6 band. Your $75 target is below the commercial floor — anchor, then land $110–130.

16A 3-pin Ceeform (server rack)

ABOVE MARKET
$100200 heavy-duty
$379.50 × 2
$134

Your $134 sits mid-band — a fair landing if no dedicated circuit is included.

20A DP isolator (aircon)

HIGH-IN-RANGE
$100500
$379.50 × 4
$150

Your $150 matches electrician-direct rates; aircon trades quote $350–500. Landing likely mid.

100A DB c/w DPM & ELR

ABOVE MARKET
$2,5004,500 build-up
$4,830
$1,500

Your $1,500 is below any commercial 100A TPN board build-up with ELR + DPM — anchor only.

LEW T&C + SLD endorsement

AT MARKET
$4001,000 by kVA
$1,150

Accepted as quoted in your schedule — concede early by name.

Sub-main 4×35mm² XLPE ~50m

AT MARKET
~$100115 /m
≈$107/m

Accepted as quoted in your schedule — concede early by name.

Sources behind these numbers — 8 links, each with what it provides
2

❄️ Aircon Systems

4 items · 5 sources
💡 Honest flag: your $7.5–10k VRF target is below the equipment-plus-installation cost of any Mitsubishi VRF in Singapore — the residential-multi-split price for commercial architecture. Anchor there only if you're open to downgrading to a premium multi-split; otherwise $17–19k is the winnable number. The 2-FCU panel at $2,000 is achievable.

Commercial VRF (68k BTU + 5 FCU)

FAIR (quote)
$15,00045,000 installed
$20,930
$7,500–10,000

NC's price is lower-middle of the SG VRF band. Your target equals a residential System 5 — a different product. Decide: VRF at ~$18k, or spec-down to multi-split at ~$8–12k.

Change-over panel, 4-FCU

HIGH SIDE
$2,5005,500 est.
$6,210

You removed this row in V3 — if intentional, ask NC to itemise before conceding; est. fair $4,000–5,500.

Change-over panel, 2-FCU

HIGH
$1,5003,500 est.
$4,025
$2,000

Your $2,000 sits mid-band — winnable with an itemisation demand.

Residential System 4 (reference)

REFERENCE
$3,400–7,800 installed

The spec-down comparison if you abandon VRF: premium Sys4/Sys5 ≈ $4,200–7,800 installed.

Sources behind these numbers — 5 links, each with what it provides
3

🧱 Partitions & Masonry

4 items · 4 sources
💡 Your $50/m² gypsum target only works if the $5,175 steel line is fully absorbed — pitch it exactly that way (the height premium is currently charged twice). Brickwall at $150 is under the plastered build-up but a fair opening against $230.

Gypsum partition, 4.5m + rockwool

FAIR… BUT
~$100107/m² FSOR build-up
$103.50/m² × 32
$50

Pitch $50/m² as the with-steel-absorbed package price — that's the double-recovery argument in one number.

Steel stiffener posts >3m

VERIFY SECTION
$54117/m by section
$115/m × 45m
$70

Your $70 matches a light-section rate — demand the SHS size and the 45m quantity proof.

150mm brickwall + plaster + WP, curved

10–25% OVER
$130210/m² justified
$230/m² × 34
$150

Your $150 is below the plastered+WP build-up; likely landing $180–200.

Plywood partition 12mm + steel

FAIR
$100300/m² band
$155.25/m²
$100

Quote is already bottom-of-band; your $100 is the FSOR component floor. Low priority.

Sources behind these numbers — 4 links, each with what it provides
4

🪵 Flooring

4 items · 4 sources
💡 Carpet at $31–40/m² is below the commercial supply cost of solution-dyed tiles — NC's $61.88 is already lower-middle of market. Suggest conceding this one visibly instead; paint you've already accepted.

Carpet tiles 500×500 solution-dyed

COMPETITIVE
$48108 /m² S+I
$61.88/m²
$31–40

Material alone runs $38–70/m². Your target is below supply cost — better used as a trade-away concession.

Emulsion paint walls/ceiling

EXCELLENT
$21.5043 /m²
$6.75/m²
$6.75 ✓

Accepted as quoted — a third of the lowest published rate.

Self-levelling screed 3–4mm

BOTTOM OF BAND
$21.5043 /m²
$23/m²

No target set in V3 — already competitive, accept.

False ceiling / L-box / access panels

MIXED
$6597 /m² commercial
$90/m² · $12/ft · $56.25

Rows removed in your V3. The false ceiling ($90/m²) remains a real $1,600–3,300 lever at $70–80/m² if you want it back on the table.

Sources behind these numbers — 4 links, each with what it provides
5

🚪 Doors & Glazing

4 items · 5 sources
💡 Your glass-panel move is smart: $11–14/ft² with NO aluminium framing is a spec change, not just a discount — frameless tempered at project scale genuinely runs $15–25/ft². Expect NC to counter with framing safety/deflection arguments for the 4m spans; the steel-support cost is the real sticking point.

Double-leaf solid timber 1600×2100

HIGH 40–75%
$1,5002,200 fair commercial
$3,150
$1,200

Your $1,200 sits at the residential double-leaf level; commercial-oversized landing is likely $1,800–2,000.

Alu-framed glass door 11.52mm laminated

TOP-OF-MARKET
$1,7002,100 fair for spec
$2,137.50 × 5
$850

$850 equals a basic tempered retail door — the laminated + 1.2m handle spec alone exceeds it. Anchor, land ~$1,600–1,900.

Fixed glass panels (spec change: frameless)

RESPEC
$1525/ft² frameless tempered
$74–76/ft² framed laminated
$11–14/ft²

Your $11–14/ft² assumes dropping alu framing AND laminated glass. Check: the 4000mm span will still need steel posts; budget those separately.

Concealed door (extra-over)

ACCEPTABLE
$1,2881,488 complete kits
$1,552.50 × 2
$1,250

Your $1,250 is just under the kit market — reasonable landing.

Sources behind these numbers — 5 links, each with what it provides
6

🪟 Glassworks

4 items · 3 sources
💡 If you keep framing + laminated glass, fair is $55–60/ft². If you respec to frameless tempered (your V3 position), $15–25/ft² is honest market — but keep a steel-support allowance for the big spans either way.

Framed laminated fixed panels

HIGH 25–70%
$3555/ft² fair build-up
~$75/ft² (3 panels)
$11–14 (respec)

Dead-flat ~$75 across three panel sizes = pure area pricing. Framed fair landing $55–60; frameless respec per your target.

Tempered glass 10–12mm (reference)

REFERENCE
$1525/ft² project scale

Your 2017 anchor ($11.40, 6 confirmations) + 40–100% inflation — your respec target sits at 2017 prices.

Glass balustrade (reference)

REFERENCE
$3055/ft² laminated

≈$110–275/ft run installed — for the Pollen glass stair railings.

Mirror supply+install (reference)

REFERENCE
$1825/ft² w/ backing

The benchmark for Vanessa's mirror door when NC prices it.

Sources behind these numbers — 3 links, each with what it provides
7

🪚 Carpentry (Pollen View)

9 items · 6 sources
💡 Honest flag: $150/ft for full-height wardrobes is below every direct-carpenter card in Singapore ($210–400/ft) — below cost for an ID firm. Your laminate cladding ($12–16/ft²) and veneer ($28/ft²) targets are similarly sub-floor. These work as anchors; realistic landings are wardrobes ~$280–330, cladding ~$16–22, veneer ~$40–50. Dekton + bar counter: removed from scope entirely per your decision (−$24,941 from the quote before negotiating).

Full-height wardrobe (casement)

TOP-OF-MID
$210400 /ft direct
$363/ft
$150

Direct floor is $210 (Uncle Carpenter). $150 is below any published rate — anchor only.

Shoe cabinet, outdoor marine ply

HIGH 30–100%
$200380 /ft full-height
$495/ft
$150

Marine ply justifies ~$360 ceiling; your $150 is a hard anchor. Likely landing $330–390.

Storage bedhead cabinet

HIGH
$120260 /ft comps
$363/ft
$150

Your $150 sits inside the comp band — genuinely winnable.

Half-height cabinet

FAIR
$130220 /ft
$165/ft
$120

Quote already mid-band; your $120 is just under the floor.

TV console (floor-mounted)

FAIR
$110280 /ft
$198/ft
$120

Your $120 is near the direct floor ($110). Small lever.

Laminate feature walls

FAIR
$1540 /ft²
$19.80 / $27.50
$12–16

Quote is already inside band; your $12–16 is below the fluted-laminate floor.

Veneer cladding (two tiers)

INCONSISTENT
$4080 /ft² veneer band
$49.50 / $71.50
$28

Your $28 is below the veneer band — but the single-tier argument (NC's own $49.50) is the winnable move; push A8 to $49.50 first, then haggle.

Loft bed + storage staircase

FAIR-TO-HIGH
$2,0005,000 complex builds
$2,365 + $275/ft
$1,500 + $150/ft

Your $1,500 + $150/ft is under the complex-build band; landing ~$2,000 + $200.

Bar counter + Dekton top

DESCOPED
$10,791 + $14,150

You're not building the attic bar counter — remove E3 + E4 (−$24,941) from the Pollen scope before rate negotiations begin. Decide separately whether E1 backing + E2 pelmet ($12,611) survive without the counter.

Sources behind these numbers — 6 links, each with what it provides

🤝 Negotiation Playbook

Your leverage is real: ~$297,000 combined post-descope across two concurrent projects, one relationship, and a future collaboration pipeline with Mr. Chew. The play is to trade certainty and volume for rates — not to win every line.

Step 1 · Descope before you negotiate

−$24,941

Remove the bar counter + Dekton (E3+E4) from Pollen first, as a scope decision, not a discount ask. It resets the total, shows you'll cut scope you don't value, and makes every later ask look moderate. Decide on E1+E2 ($12,611) at the same time.

Step 2 · One rate card, two projects

$297k frame

Send the V3 schedule as a single package: "confirm these unit rates across both projects and all variation orders, and both jobs are yours to start on one mobilisation." Volume + certainty is what NC is buying.

Step 3 · Concede loudly, hold 5 hills

12 items

Open by accepting — by name — everything at/below market (paint, screed, carpet, sub-main, LEW, L-box, panels, demolition, TV consoles, laminate tiers, loft, concealed doors). Then hold: double sockets, glass panels respec, timber door, supervision bundle, 2-FCU panel.

The opening move (to Mr. Chew, in person or WhatsApp)

SCRIPT

"Ann Ming — we're ready to award both Yishun and Pollen together, about $300k of work, and we want NC to do it. Two things first: we're dropping the attic bar from Pollen's scope, and I've prepared a per-unit rate schedule so we never have to re-negotiate variation orders — most lines I've accepted at your quoted rates. A handful I need you to meet me on, and I'd rather settle them in one sitting than trade emails. When can we sit down?"

The relationship card — play it once

TIMING

Use the future-collaboration line at the close, not the open: "I'm not shopping this around — I want a rate card I can defend internally so NC becomes our default contractor for what comes next." Played early it's flattery; played at the close it's a reason for him to book thinner margin now for pipeline later.

Sweeteners that cost you little

GIVE

(1) Single mobilisation window across both sites. (2) Prompt-payment terms — 7-day progress payments beat 30-day for a contractor's cashflow. (3) Reference/testimonial + first-look on the next project. (4) Flexibility on non-critical sequencing (Pollen carpentry can follow Yishun).

Know your anchors vs. your landings

HONEST

Several V3 targets are below trade cost (wardrobes $150/ft vs $210 direct floor; VRF $7.5–10k vs ~$15k commercial floor; carpet below supply cost). Anchor there if you like the aggressive open, but pre-decide landings: sockets ~$120, glass ~$15–20/ft² frameless, timber door ~$1,900, wardrobes ~$300, veneer $49.50 single-tier, supervision ~$4–5k all-in. If the whole card lands, that's $35–50k off combined — a realistic best case.

BATNA — quiet, never threatened

BACKSTOP

You've already proven you can carve lines out (the Dekton stone-fabricator precedent). If NC won't move on a hill, that line — not the project — goes to a specialist trade. Never say this; let the itemised schedule imply it.

Close mechanics

PAPER

Get the agreed rates countersigned on the schedule itself (it has the signature block), stipulate rates apply to all VOs on both projects, and tie the award letter to it. One meeting, one paper, both projects.

Advisory — Anchors vs Landings

Post-descope totals: Yishun $201,615 + Pollen ~$95,414$297k combined. If the full card lands at the realistic numbers below: ~$35,000–50,000 off, on top of the $24,941 descope.
ItemAnchor / landingNC quotedPlay
Supervision bundle (Yishun)$3,000–5,000 total$13,075Your own margin note backed by CTD's FOC history 2017–2021 + the duplicated $4,500 AC supervision line.
Fixed glass panels (respec)$15–25/ft² frameless~$75/ft² framedSpec change beats discount: drop alu framing + laminated per your V3; keep a steel-post allowance for the 4m span.
2×13A double socket$110–130/pt (anchor $65)$166.7556 points; anchor at your $65, land ~$120 ≈ $2,600.
Double timber door 1600×2100$1,800–2,000 (anchor $1,200)$3,15040–75% over fair; residential doubles run $650–1,500.
Change-over panels$2,000–3,500 (2-FCU anchor $2,000)$6,210 / $4,025Hardware <$800; demand itemisation on the 4-FCU you removed from V3.
VRF decision$17–19k VRF or respec ~$8–12k multi-split$20,930Your $7.5–10k target = multi-split money. Pick the product first, then the number.
Gypsum + steel package$50/m² w/ steel absorbed (your framing)$103.50/m² + $115/mThe double-recovery argument compressed into one number — strong framing.
Brickwall 150mm curved + WP$180–200 (anchor $150)$230/m²Justified build-up tops ~$210.
Wardrobes / shoe / bedheadland ~$280–330 / $330–390 / $150–200 /ft$363 / $495 / $363Your $150 anchors are below the $210 direct floor — expect movement to land.
Veneer single-tier$49.50/ft² (then push $40s)$71.50/ft²NC's own A9 rate — the internal-consistency argument first, discount second.
Concede-by-name listACCEPT AS QUOTEDPaint, screed, carpet, sub-main, LEW, L-box, access panels, demolition, TV consoles, laminate cladding, loft bed, concealed doors.
DESCOPEDBar counter + Dekton top−$24,941Removed from Pollen scope per your decision; E1+E2 backing/pelmet ($12,611) pending your call.