BTO Renovation Checklist: What to Choose for Your Bathroom and Kitchen, and When
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Quick answer: Decide the things that shape your pipes, gas and power first: your hob, water heater, shower type, kitchen sink and basin. Then choose the finishing touches like lighting, fans and window furnishings. Measure at key collection, report any defects within the first year, and time your deliveries to when the site is actually ready.
Collecting the keys to a new flat is exciting. Then you open your notes app and realise you have 47 decisions to make. The good news is that they do not all need to be made at once. Here is the order that tends to work best.
Before key collection: shortlist the big decisions
These choices affect where your pipes and points go, so it helps to settle them before your ID or contractor starts drawing:
- Gas or induction hob. It decides whether you need a gas point or a suitable power point, and shapes the hood above it. See gas or induction.
- Water heater and shower. A rain shower usually pairs with a storage heater. See storage or instant water heater.
- Kitchen sink. Undermount or top-mount changes how your countertop is cut. See our kitchen sink guide.
- Basin and basin cabinet. The width and height decide where the water points sit on the wall. See basin cabinets for small bathrooms.
At key collection: inspect and measure
New HDB flats come with a 1-year defects liability period. If you spot defects, you can report them online or at the Building Service Centre in your precinct. It is easier to sort these out before renovation work covers them up.
While you are there, take these measurements and a few photos:
- The toilet outlet position, measured with our toilet bowl guide.
- The width of each bathroom wall where the basin cabinet will go.
- The length of your kitchen wall for the cabinets, hob and sink.
- Your ceiling height in each room, for lights and fans.
- Window and balcony openings, for curtains and blinds.
The order that makes life easier
| Choose | Why it comes at this point |
|---|---|
| 1. Hob and cooker hood | Sets the cabinet cut-outs, the gas or power point and where the hood ducting goes. |
| 2. Kitchen sink and tap | Sets the countertop cut-out and the water points under the sink. |
| 3. Water heater and shower set | Sets the hot water pipes and the heater position. |
| 4. Basin, basin cabinet and toilet bowl | Sets the water and waste points in the bathroom. |
| 5. Lighting and fan positions | Best planned before any false ceiling closes up. |
| 6. Curtains, blinds and Ziptrak | Measured last, once windows, ceilings and tracks are in place. |
Your BTO bathroom and the 3-year rule
New HDB flats come with the bathroom already waterproofed, so the bathroom wall and floor tiles stay in place for the first 3 years. You can still change the toilet bowl, basin, basin cabinet, taps and shower set, which is often all a BTO bathroom needs. Our HDB bathroom renovation guide explains the details.
During the renovation: timing your deliveries
Buying early is smart, since you lock in your choices and can plan around them. Taking delivery early is less smart, because a toilet bowl sitting on a dusty site is a toilet bowl waiting to be chipped. We provide free warehousing and coordinate a scheduled delivery that matches when your site is ready.
Renovation work runs from 8am to 6pm, and noisy jobs like hacking are kept to weekdays from 9am to 5pm, so plan your schedule around those hours.
Before you move in
- Run every tap and shower, flush every toilet and check for drips.
- Turn on the hood, hob and water heater.
- Keep receipts, warranty cards and model numbers in one folder, or snap photos of them. Our warranty guide explains why.
A simple checklist to save
- Hob type and cooker hood chosen
- Kitchen sink and tap chosen
- Water heater and shower sets chosen
- Basins, basin cabinets and toilet bowls chosen, outlets measured
- Lighting and fan positions marked on the plan
- Curtains, blinds and Ziptrak measured
- Delivery dates agreed with your contractor
- Receipts and warranty cards filed
Frequently asked questions
When should I buy my bathroom and kitchen fittings for a BTO?
Choose them during the design stage, before plumbing and carpentry start, so pipe and power points are placed for the models you picked. You do not need to take delivery until the site is ready.
Can I change my BTO bathroom in the first 3 years?
Yes, you can change the fittings, such as the toilet bowl, basin, basin cabinet, taps and shower set. The bathroom wall and floor tiles stay in place for the first 3 years.
What should I measure at key collection?
Measure the toilet outlet, the bathroom walls where the basin cabinets will go, the kitchen wall, the ceiling heights and the window openings. Photos help too.
How long is the defects period for a new HDB flat?
New HDB flats have a 1-year defects liability period. You can report defects online or at the Building Service Centre in your precinct.
Where this information comes from
We checked the facts in this guide against these Singapore sources in September 2026. Rules change from time to time, so check the latest version before you start work.
- HDB: Rectification of defects in new flats
- HDB: Renovation guidelines for building works
- HDB: Renovation guidelines for electrical works
- HDB: Important information on renovations
Get help choosing
Not sure what fits? Bring a photo and your measurements to any Lucky Khoon showroom and our team will help you pick the right model. We are an authorised dealer for the brands we carry, and our in-house installation team can supply and install for you.
- Enterprise One: 1 Kaki Bukit Road 1 #01-01 to #01-05, Singapore 415934. Bathroom and kitchen: +65 6346 2172
- Tradehub 21: 24 Boon Lay Way #01-72/73, Singapore 609969. Bathroom and kitchen: +65 6795 1862
- TOTO Boutique, Oxley Bizhub: 61 Ubi Road 1 #01-10, Singapore 408727. Tel: +65 6320 3778
Opening hours are on our contact page.
