Dubai Villa Renovation
- Thread starter ronski
- Start date
Thanks mate! There is a lot to move in so it might be a little while for final house shots but certainly the finished work for sure will get posted as quick as I can.
To be honest it seems to be a bit hit and miss. I have been lucky with the contractor I employed and the skill level of his guys. He was telling me a horror story today of a guy's villa he visited that needed a huge amount of fixing up after a renovation gone bad.
The key trades on site are excellent particularly one team of tilers and the sparky - just brilliant. Apparently there is a master carpenter coming onto site this week to build the kitchen island. I look forward to meeting him.
I can't even imagine - looks like gruelling work
Me too! It's killing me....
It has been a super busy day on site today with two teams of carpenters busy on the kitchen, the structured cabling guys came back to install the Access Points, the electrician continues to install the new sockets/light switches, the tiling teams continue in the guest bathrooms and the painters continue the spraying of the cabinets and doors.
While all this is going we have managed to finally lock down the kitchen design and the counter-top guy is coming over tomorrow to measure up and go through some design details with us:
Front Kitchen Elevation
Overhead Kitchen Plan
Kitchen Island Plan
There are a mind bending number of decisions that still need to be made in the villa but all good fun!
While all this is going we have managed to finally lock down the kitchen design and the counter-top guy is coming over tomorrow to measure up and go through some design details with us:
Front Kitchen Elevation
Overhead Kitchen Plan
Kitchen Island Plan
There are a mind bending number of decisions that still need to be made in the villa but all good fun!
Thanks mate.
This week saw the wireless access points finally installed. They look very discrete alongside the new downlighters are now gently glowing white till I get the house connected to the internet and AP's configured:
The cabinet work in the bathrooms is well on its ways - here the master bathroom cabinets and vanity unit being tested for fit:
We have also converted one of the upstairs balconies (one to the side of the house with no real view) into a little bit of additional inside space - the french doors removed that lead onto the balcony, the floor retiled, walls painted and a new window installed. This will be used for some additional wardrobe space.
Also we have the go-ahead on the external annexe - work started today on digging out the foundations (by hand!) The build will take about 5 weeks but will not impede us moving into the main house
While I was up on the front balcony I was admiring the nice street scaping:
So three weeks to go and the end is in sight. The tiling in all the bathrooms is just a couple of days away from completion. The doors will start to be rehung on the frames and the cabinet doors are also ready to go back on in the kitchen and we are closing in on the countertop choice (gone off quartz/granite now) and are looking at Corian or LG Hausys to get the finish we want on the kitchen island. Fingers crossed the house will be ready on 15th March for the move in and hopefully not too much snagging to do.
This week saw the wireless access points finally installed. They look very discrete alongside the new downlighters are now gently glowing white till I get the house connected to the internet and AP's configured:
The cabinet work in the bathrooms is well on its ways - here the master bathroom cabinets and vanity unit being tested for fit:
We have also converted one of the upstairs balconies (one to the side of the house with no real view) into a little bit of additional inside space - the french doors removed that lead onto the balcony, the floor retiled, walls painted and a new window installed. This will be used for some additional wardrobe space.
Also we have the go-ahead on the external annexe - work started today on digging out the foundations (by hand!) The build will take about 5 weeks but will not impede us moving into the main house
While I was up on the front balcony I was admiring the nice street scaping:
So three weeks to go and the end is in sight. The tiling in all the bathrooms is just a couple of days away from completion. The doors will start to be rehung on the frames and the cabinet doors are also ready to go back on in the kitchen and we are closing in on the countertop choice (gone off quartz/granite now) and are looking at Corian or LG Hausys to get the finish we want on the kitchen island. Fingers crossed the house will be ready on 15th March for the move in and hopefully not too much snagging to do.
Soldato
Stupid question, but what is the neighborhood like?
Friendly neighbors you talk to? Nearest corner shop? Supermarket?
Friendly neighbors you talk to? Nearest corner shop? Supermarket?
Soldato
Just got back from Dubai/Abu Dhabi seeing my dad. Glad to see the villa is coming along nicely!
That is actually a great question. The neighbourhood is very quiet and relaxing. I have met the neighbours across the road and the new tenants who have moved in next door and all have been very pleasant. We have also had a few of the other neighbours ask to have a look around while the work has been going on as they are considering doing similar. So far so good.
Arabian Ranches is probably best described as a very large housing estate with a golf course in the middle that is sub divided into "villages"of differing sizes and architecture. The developer built a central "community centre"that is a short drive/cycle away there they have a Geant supermarket, coffee shops, Burger King, Pizza Hut, Pharmacy, HSBC, Pet store and a few other bits and pieces. There are about 20 outlets there. The community center also houses a medical clinic and the local mosque with a junior/secondary school across the road. It is well thought out and there is little need to leave the community. The map below probably explains a little bit better:
The other place to meet neighbours are in the communal facilities of each of the village - for example a 2min walk from my villa is the communal pool and 2mins the other direction is a children's playground and basketball court. Other villages have tennis courts (which we can book) and parks.
Hah! I have actually put up in our current villa as I could not wait to have a play with it.
Thanks mate - hope you had a good time in the UAE - the weather has been very moderate
Soldato
Nice, I went to Dubai on holiday, but obviosuly never got much further than the main 'strip' so hard to get a feel of what life is like there. In my head it's similar to Las Vegas?
But having that much community structure so close is handy.
But having that much community structure so close is handy.
Thanks mate - It's similar to Las Vegas in so much that there are lots of huge hotels with fancy bars and restaurants in them in the middle of the desert. But after that the similarity ends it's really a bustling trade hub for the middle east region which is developing at quite a clip.
Thanks for sharing this. It looks like I might have just landed a contract in qatar for 2 years. Have you been to qatar before or know anything about the place? I'll be getting accommodation supplied but might just buy somewhere if I decide to stay 
Thanks for sharing this. It looks like I might have just landed a contract in qatar for 2 years. Have you been to qatar before or know anything about the place? I'll be getting accommodation supplied but might just buy somewhere if I decide to stay
Thanks mate and congratulations on your contract. Living in Doha is getting better as there are a vast amount of things that are being built in preparation for the 2020 world cup. The downside is that the huge amount of construction and population influx to do this has led to some pretty heavy traffic at rush hour as the roads are now struggling to cope with the traffic load.
I wouldn't call it a mini Dubai as Doha has its own identity but sure there are a few malls there and some fancy hotels where you can get a drink but it really is quite a small city.
A lot of expat live/own in a beach line development called "The Pearl" and while I have never been, I hear there are some nice restaurants there.
I wish you the very best of luck - maybe join a club of some description or get on some Doha expat forums which will allow you to meet some people outside of the office.
Is the cost of living relatively similar to Dubai? This is quite an inspiring project you have shared so will have to face the questionsCongrats on the build and hope you get moved in soon. Ditto on the comments about the TV!
No worries mate - the overall cost of living is broadly similar to Dubai i.e. expensive. Petrol and bottled water are cheap after that it soon ratchets up and if you like a bevy $10 - $12 a pint of beer can soon add up. I see you have housing included - where is that? Also will they provide you a car? If not budget around $1000 for a 4x4 rental a month. Maybe drop me PM if you want some more detail mate.
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Soldato
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Well impressed, subscribed 
Soldato
Tell me about it! Had to buy a jacket from Dubai Mall ready for dinner because I was just in a t-shirt. Warmed up at the weekend though and still went to Yas Waterpark in AD as planned. Good time had!
I have been away this week and in two short weeks we plan to be moving in and there still is a lot of things that need to be completed but I think we are getting there. What is showing some good progress is the outside annexe. Took this one this morning:
and by the end of the day when I popped back:
The foreman thinks he will be finished in about 12 working days on the annexe then allowing the interior fit out. I will be impressed is he meets this timeframe.
Meanwhile on the inside the kitchen tiling was happening today:
and the kitchen island is starting to look great:
We have elected to go Corian for the kitchen countertops and bathroom vanity units. This work should start by the end of next week with some luck. Also this weekend the local internet/TV provider will come over to the villa to connect up the services. I am excited to finally get to use the Ubiquity access points.
and by the end of the day when I popped back:
The foreman thinks he will be finished in about 12 working days on the annexe then allowing the interior fit out. I will be impressed is he meets this timeframe.
Meanwhile on the inside the kitchen tiling was happening today:
and the kitchen island is starting to look great:
We have elected to go Corian for the kitchen countertops and bathroom vanity units. This work should start by the end of next week with some luck. Also this weekend the local internet/TV provider will come over to the villa to connect up the services. I am excited to finally get to use the Ubiquity access points.
Soldato
Im surprised that the paint doesn't blister outside in that heat! Coming together nicely ronski