100 Tips on Construction Experience

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100 Tips for Construction Experience
1. For waterproofing, film-type waterproofing is recommended.
2. Waterproofing work should be carried out after concealed works are completed and inspected.
3. After waterproofing is done, two water retention tests must be conducted.
4. The waterproof layer in bathrooms should be at least 1.8 meters high.
5. Extra waterproofing treatment is needed at areas like floor drains, corners, and pipe joints.
6. Use odor-proof floor drains.
7. Hot water pipes should be on the left; cold water pipes on the right.
8. Try to avoid running water pipes along the floor.
9. Cold water pipes need a 25px protective layer inside walls; hot water pipes require 37.5px. Therefore, grooves must be dug deep enough.
10. When installing PPR pipes, consider the thickness of tiles to ensure pipes aren’t visible.
11. Cooking takes only minutes, but washing vegetables takes longer—so buy a large sink.
12. Faucets and washbasins must match each other; otherwise installation becomes impossible.
13. Silicone, not cement, should be used when installing toilets.
14. After installing toilets and faucets, take care to protect them.
15. Consider the distance between toilet holes when purchasing a toilet.
16. Decide whether your washing machine needs top or bottom drainage.
17. It’s best not to install telephones in bathrooms, as they’re prone to moisture damage.
18. Determine mirror dimensions beforehand; otherwise, the mirror light may end up too high.
19. Leave maintenance access holes for bathroom pipes.
20. Power and low-voltage wires must not be run through the same conduit.
21. Left wire = neutral; Right wire = live; Top wire = ground.
22. Electrical outlets should be 300mm above the floor; switches at 1.4m.
23. Switches shouldn’t be installed behind doors.
24. More outlets are always better.
25. High-power appliances like ovens require 16A outlets.
26. Use high-quality electrical boxes.
27. Electrical boxes must match their panels; otherwise installation fails.
28. The cross-sectional area of wires inside PVC conduits must not exceed 40% of the conduit’s area.
29. Bedroom air conditioners shouldn’t be positioned directly opposite the bed.
30. Air conditioning vents should slope outward to prevent rainwater ingress.
31. Dual-switch control for lights is preferable.
32. Install splash-proof outlets in bathrooms.
33. Add an outlet on the balcony as well.
34. Wire conduits must be laid horizontally/vertically neatly for easy future use.
35. Install check valves in shared flue ducts.
36. Ensure workers read appliance manuals thoroughly before installation.
37. Keep manuals, warranty cards, and other documents safe.

Carpentry
38. Cement past its three-month shelf life must not be used.
39. Do not mix different types or grades of cement.
40. Only river sand should be used; taste it to verify.
41. Wall and floor tiles must soak for over two hours and dry naturally before installation.
42. Buy extra tiles to avoid color variations later.
43. No more than one row of cut tiles per wall is allowed.
44. Clean tiles immediately after grouting.
45. Apply waterproofing to the back of light-colored marble flooring.
46. Cut corners at 45-degree angles.
47. Floor tiles must slope toward the drain to prevent water accumulation.
48. Cut tiles around pipe openings so they still appear whole.
49. Dry-laying is preferred for marble flooring.
50. Choose floor tiles that are stain-resistant and non-slip—not just aesthetically pleasing.
51. Matte-finish tiles are difficult to clean.
52. Pay attention to drainage direction when laying balcony tiles.

Plumbing
53. Use kiln-dried larch for floor joists.
54. Cut large wooden boards into pieces upon purchase for drying.
55. Mark horizontal lines across the house before carpentry begins.
56. Paint patterned wood panels immediately after delivery to prevent stains.
57. Ceiling fans must not be mounted on ceiling joists.
58. Select colors for patterned panels beforehand.
59. Distance between ceiling suspension rods from walls must not exceed 300mm.
60. Secure gypsum boards using countersunk self-tapping screws (1–2mm deep) with rust protection; gun nails are prohibited.
61. Spacing between gypsum board nails must not exceed 200mm.
62. Leave a 3mm gap between gypsum boards and walls for crack prevention.
63. Use corner guards at gypsum board edges.
64. Paint top/bottom edges of wooden doors.
65. Apply waterproofing to the base of bathroom door frames.
66. Ensure all interior doors are uniform in size.
67. Avoid having carpenters make furniture—they rarely do it well.
68. Opt for prefabricated cabinets; DIY attempts often fail both structurally and aesthetically.
69. Plan all dimensions carefully—modifications become cumbersome later.
70. Don’t use hidden tracks for DIY sliding doors; repairs become impossible.
71. In small bathrooms, choose sliding doors over swing doors to save space.
72. Consult foremen extensively on uncertain tasks—never let them improvise.
73. Cash in hand ensures reliability.
74. Limit glass usage if children live at home.
75. Demand workers study blueprints meticulously.
76. Kitchen drawers are highly practical.
77. Floor joist flatness tolerance: 5mm.
78. Lay subflooring at 30° or 45° angles with 2–3mm gaps between boards; stagger joints.
79. Maintain an 8–10mm gap between flooring and walls.
80. For composite flooring exceeding 8m in length, include expansion joints.
81. Minimize use of medium-density fiberboard for door frames.
82. Invest in premium hinges and hardware.
83. Mount bathroom heaters on wooden joists—not directly on ceilings.

Painting
84. Avoid diluting medium/dark latex paints; this causes color inconsistencies.
85. Apply tape over gypsum board seams.
86. Use cotton cloth over wall cracks for better adhesion.
87. Remove existing plaster or seal it with glue before painting.
88. Stick to reputable paint brands; avoid lesser-known options suggested by contractors.
89. Postpone painting in excessively humid weather.
90. Sand only after paint fully dries.
91. Wait until prior coats are dry before applying new layers.
92. Apply rust-proof coating to metal surfaces.
93. Cold weather compromises paint quality.
94. Mask hinges/locks with masking tape during door painting.
95. Ensure proper ventilation in hot weather.
96. Apply clear varnish to walls prior to wallpaper installation.
97. Remove switch/outlet covers before wallpapering.
98. Glossy/silk-textured paints must be applied in one go; touch-ups cause color mismatches.
99. Fill gaps around baseboards using putty and paint afterward.
100. Protect frosted glass with newspaper during transport/storage