Moving to Singapore? Ask our regular expats in Singapore questions on relocation and their experience here. Ask about banking, employment pass, insurance, visa, work permit, citizenship or immigration issues.
-
CanadatoSingapore
- Newbie
![Newbie Newbie]()
- Posts: 3
- Joined: Fri, 08 Jul 2005 10:39 am
-
Quote
-
0
login to like this post
Post
by CanadatoSingapore » Fri, 08 Jul 2005 10:47 am
If someone could urgently help me I would be very appreciative. We have heard that we shouldn't take any wood furniture from Canada to Singapore because it will swell and get destroyed, not to mention drawers won't open. Is this true? Please help....Movers are coming tomorrow for an estimate and I need to tell them if we are taking our wooden bedroom suite etc.
Thanks

-
whatalark
- Regular
![Regular Regular]()
- Posts: 98
- Joined: Mon, 06 Jun 2005 3:48 pm
-
Quote
-
0
login to like this post
Post
by whatalark » Fri, 08 Jul 2005 11:33 am
well, i moved a wooden hutch to Singapore along with a dining table and a complete bedroom set.
The hutch and dining table are not happy about it. The drawers in the hutch wouldn't open anymore cos humidity caused them to swell up and pout. The wood also started growing mold. Same with the dining table. The finish on these two pieces is, of course, ruined. The chairs to the dining table are unspeakable. The brocade upholstery rotted and the stuffing is now exposed. I could cry but I won't. Sentiment over stuff seems so misplaced after watching 9/11 and the London blasts.
The bedroom stuff is okay because the wood was treated to withstand humidity. It appears to be nigh-waterproof.
If you don't plan on living in one of those
condos with controlled interior humidity (such as the one I am now staying in) don't bring your untreated wooden furniture.
no trees were hurt in the making of this post but a few electrons were terribly inconvenienced
-
k1w1
- Reporter
![Reporter Reporter]()
- Posts: 665
- Joined: Mon, 30 May 2005 8:20 pm
-
Quote
-
0
login to like this post
Post
by k1w1 » Fri, 08 Jul 2005 1:12 pm
I have heard that anything wooden should not be transported by sea freight, as it is likely to swell. Even if this doesn't pose a problem when you come out, it could be a major pain when you return and the wood splits. I'd leave the wooden stuff at home.
-
dot dot dot
- Manager
![Manager Manager]()
- Posts: 2212
- Joined: Thu, 21 Oct 2004 11:42 am
-
Quote
-
0
login to like this post
Post
by dot dot dot » Fri, 08 Jul 2005 2:02 pm
We moved our complete wooden furniture inventory first from Singapore to The Netherlands and then 2 years later back to SIngapore, no problems so far, except for a few cracks here and there, which were being repaired in a very professional way by local carpenters here.
I would absolutely advise you to ship you wooden furniture if you like it to be taken with you.
ps. there was also additional non-tropical wooden furniture being shipped only from The Netherlands to Singapore, so both with tropical hardwood from this SE asia region as the european woods there were no distinctive differences.
Eric
-
whatalark
- Regular
![Regular Regular]()
- Posts: 98
- Joined: Mon, 06 Jun 2005 3:48 pm
-
Quote
-
0
login to like this post
Post
by whatalark » Fri, 08 Jul 2005 6:21 pm
this may or may not be relevant: my hutch and dining set are made of maple, I believe
no trees were hurt in the making of this post but a few electrons were terribly inconvenienced
-
ksl
- Governor
![Governor Governor]()
- Posts: 5989
- Joined: Mon, 19 Jul 2004 8:52 pm
- Location: Singapore
-
Contact:
-
Quote
-
0
login to like this post
Post
by ksl » Sat, 09 Jul 2005 11:09 am
Actually it all depends on the kind of wood the furniture is made of. If I am not mistaken, Singapore furniture is always made from hard wood, which can be transported to Europe, normally the wood would crack with climate change. It is not a good idea, to bring furniture that is not treated for Asian markets, the results are like you mention swelling and distortion.
Ideally you need a second opinion from a specialist, which is worth while for expensive gear.
If it's a 50/50 cannot decide, why not just bring it, you can always through it away.
-
dot dot dot
- Manager
![Manager Manager]()
- Posts: 2212
- Joined: Thu, 21 Oct 2004 11:42 am
-
Quote
-
0
login to like this post
Post
by dot dot dot » Sun, 10 Jul 2005 8:24 pm
Our furniture is made of teak, elmwood, rosewood, oak, pinewood, rotan and various others. Of course it also has to do woth craftmanship and the quality of the wood used. Not all elmowwod is the same, neither is teak etc. Good quality furniture will have not much problems, it is well dried / preserved before they used it to make furniture. Agree therefore with ksl to have a professional to check it before you move.
But even if there is cracks, you will be amazed how well they can repair here in Singapore, the carpenters did an incredible good job in our case.
Eric
-
Guest
-
Quote
-
0
login to like this post
Post
by Guest » Wed, 13 Jul 2005 6:36 am
furniture is inexpensive here in Singapore. the saving you will make in not having to pay for your move will help you subsidise your purchases in singapore. if however you need to bring some of your furniture bring only those made of wood not the particle boards stuff and plywood stuff those that are made of solid wood would still be better and if you can find out from the manufacturers if the treatment given to the wooden furniture is something that would prevent it from getting whatever in a country like singapore with high humidity. If you cant get an answer then dont bring the furniture. You will enjoy shopping in singapore and will make good friends with many people you will need to know
-
Carpe Diem
- Manager
![Manager Manager]()
- Posts: 1587
- Joined: Tue, 12 Jul 2005 11:29 pm
- Location: Singapore
-
Quote
-
0
login to like this post
Post
by Carpe Diem » Wed, 13 Jul 2005 9:51 am
I also would advise to buy your furniture here, for the reasons explained above. Please note that there are many people doing the same, hence a lot of garage sales. Potential good deals!
La vie est trop courte, profitons de chaque instant
-
Robin Hood
- Newbie
![Newbie Newbie]()
- Posts: 3
- Joined: Wed, 27 Jul 2005 6:08 pm
- Location: Singapore
-
Quote
-
0
login to like this post
Post
by Robin Hood » Wed, 27 Jul 2005 6:55 pm
If you wish to feel more at home, it is better you ship everything to Singapore. Singapore is a free port and you don't have to pay customs duties.
-
-
Moving to Singapore - question about moving furniture
Replies: 1
First post
Hello Singapore Expats - I recently joined this community, but appreciate all the helpful info so far. Excited about our upcoming move.
We...
Last post
If apartment is already fully furnished then the Landlord would usually just rid the pieces or have a garage sale, pretty common thing in Singapore....
- 1 Replies
- 2537 Views
-
Last post by abbby
Mon, 09 Sep 2019 9:53 pm
-
-
LTVP expired, any issues in re-applying?
Replies: 2
First post
Hi,
My parent was under LTVP while I have a PR status expiring in 2019. Her LTVP expired last year and she has been under tourist visa (short term...
Last post
showing support part - is that a written criteria under the application?
I called the hotline number 6391 6100 but it is automated line so there is...
- 2 Replies
- 3478 Views
-
Last post by lipizzaner99
Thu, 29 Mar 2018 6:21 pm
-
-
Moving Budget for Furniture - Who to Contact
Replies: 1
First post
Hi there
Were you given a budget to buy furniture when you moved to Singapore?
If so, were you given a specific company that managed the allowance...
Last post
I’m not sure that’s a thing here, unless you hire an interior designer and have them furnish your house for you.
- 1 Replies
- 1289 Views
-
Last post by Lisafuller
Wed, 22 Sep 2021 2:38 am
-
-
Taxation Issues for Australian Expats
Replies: 3
First post
This is a question for Australian expats, if any on this forum.
I am an Australian citizen looking at moving to Singapore for 3-4 years. I am a bit...
Last post
Just don't own or rent a house that is a residence in Australia.
- 3 Replies
- 4091 Views
-
Last post by PNGMK
Fri, 04 Jan 2019 12:20 pm
-
-
Can anything be done about my NS/deserter issues?
Replies: 23
First post
Hi everyone,
To start off, I've read the incredibly informative article on this website as well as some of the forum posts regarding NS issues. I'm...
Last post
IT's difficult to have any sympathy to those who complain when the procedure to leave Singapore and her NS obligations is laid out and not...
- 23 Replies
- 10741 Views
-
Last post by PNGMK
Wed, 12 Dec 2018 9:20 am
Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 1 guest