By Penny Swift Author of “Owner Building in SA” When the regulations regarding an electric fence law was changed in 2011, nobody paid much attention. But now that the authorities are enforcing the electric fence law regulations, people are totally shocked and all fired up. Yesterday a homeowner living in a “wealthy” Pretoria suburb was…
By PENNY SWIFT Building Not According to Approved Plans The City of Cape Town recently ordered builders to halt the construction of a Gordon’s Bay house because the project did not comply with the National Building Regulations (NBR) and is a non-compliant site. In fact, work has been stopped several times, and only after repeated…
Councils Must be Ruthless with Restricting Occupation of Unsafe Buildings I think it must be terrifying to be woken at 04:00 in the morning by a thunderclap that makes the whole building shudder. Then, in a confused state, you realise your bed’s still shaking and, no, it wasn’t thunder, it was the building falling down….
How Construction Laws, National Building Regulations and South African National Standards Affect Homeowners Prior to 1985, various provinces and municipalities in South Africa had their own construction laws and regulations which, although similar, were not the same. Over a period of years, a committee of experts, including architects, builders, developers, and the Bureau of Standards (SABS) professionals researched and compiled…
If you are selling your house, and don’t have approved plans, you could find yourself in a lot of trouble.
What Are You Required to Do with the NHBRC as an Owner Builder? All new homes, by law, have to be registered with the NHBRC, some RDP houses are exempt from this. As an owner builder you may apply for an exemption from the Housing Consumer Protection Measures Act with the NHBRC. There are certain…
Picture Above: The open-plan approach to kitchen design allows optimum use of available space and also creates an illusion of roominess. This arrangement is a sensible combination of the sociable and the practical, with the eating counter also serving as a work surface. A Good Layout Makes A Good Kitchen 4 Types A good kitchen…
How To Design Your Own Kitchen Using Templates For Design Fitting the various individual components of the kitchen into your outline is an exact, and exacting, process in which guesswork shouldn’t feature. Prepare card or plastic cut-outs, or templates, of every major item. These should be carefully drawn to scale for the design. Among your…
How to Design a Small Bathroom Every centimetre counts in a small bathroom, whether it s a guest cloakroom, a shower room or a tiny cubbyhole in an apartment. Small design errors which may go unnoticed in a large bathroom can easily become a major source of frustration in a confined area. • Investigate the…
What Is the SABS? What Does the SABS Do? The South African Bureau of Standards (SABS) was established in terms of the Standards Act, 1945 (Act No. 24 of 1945) and now operates under the latest edition of the Standards Act, 2008 (Act No. 29 of 2008). This national body promotes and maintains the standards…
NHBRC Review of the Technical Requirements A major revision of the Technical Requirements and Home Building Manual will affect the home builders and may affect the rights of housing consumers and those engaged in the housing supply chain. Housing consumers and key players in the housing industry will therefore also be afforded the opportunity to…
Here is a Classic Film Clip on How to Build a House This how to build a house film clip that was made back in 1946 is a must-watch for anyone contemplating doing any sort of building. Even though it was made so many years ago the process has more or less remained the same….
Tips for Bathroom Storage Systems Bathroom storage and work surfaces are two aspects of bathroom planning that are often neglected. Consider your needs at the outset, and you will be rewarded with a bathroom that not only looks neat and streamlined but which also functions more efficiently. A miniature medicine cabinet or narrow glass shelf is frequently…
The picture above: Sleek, sophisticated, and as compact as a ship’s cabin, this good-looking grey marble bathroom has generous sliding windows that provide a magnificent Atlantic view. How to Design Your New Bathroom Designing a successful new bathroom involves far more than simply plumbing in the basic fixtures. The position of the room and its internal…
Main picture above: This deceptively uncluttered kitchen includes a host of special features, including pull-out vertical tiers for groceries, a built-in microwave oven, and a stacked washing machine and tumble dryer, which are concealed behind closed doors. Your Kitchen Planning in Stages The Four Stages of Kitchen Planning Minimum Modules and Enticing Extras These floor…
All About Insulation and Ventilation for Clean, Fresh Air We all need fresh air to live, but how can we ensure that there is always fresh, clean air in the buildings that we live and work in? The answer lies in well-designed ventilation systems that are developed by professionals to keep our buildings healthy and…
Renovate Your Kitchen – Old to New The kitchen is one of the most important rooms in any house. But when you buy a house, you don’t always get the kitchen that meets your needs – never mind your dreams. It is at this point that you may decide it’s a good idea to renovate…
Main Picture Above: Designed with the needs of a family in mind, this small bathroom has durable, easy-to-clean ceramic tile surfaces and owes much of its charm to a simple, streamlined layout and a restful neutral background. Your Bathroom Planning the Right Way Whether it is a guest cloakroom, a luxurious en suite arrangement or…
House Plan Submissions – What is the Process? The City of Cape Town has created an easy-to-follow infographic to explain how the process of house plan submissions works. No Online Plan Submissions Plans cannot be submitted by post or online, they have to be “walked through” personally by the owner or his appointed qualified professional….
City of Cape Town Planning Departments Now Accept Plans On a Memory Stick After at least two years of development, the City of Cape Town has implemented and introduced its new DAMS (Development Application Management System). This new Development Application Management System allows all new development applications to be made and processed through the new DAMS and…
Welding can be fun and easy to do, just get our book here and get started: This offer is now available EXCLUSIVELY to you All About How to Weld the Easy Way In the world of metalworking and fabrication, welding is a fundamental skill that can open up a world of possibilities. Whether you’re a…
Electric fences are governed by the Electrical Machinery Regulations which are part of the Occupational Health and Safety Act. In addition, local authorities and municipalities have their own by-laws that must be complied with. You can download the Electrical Machinery Regs from the link above. Below is an explanation extracted from the City of Cape Town…
A stunning swimming pool picture aboveWould you need to submit plans for a pool like this? See the post below.Pool by Prim City of Johannesburg Relaxes Swimming Pools Plan Submissions The City of Johannesburg’s Planning Department has confirmed that they have relaxed the by-laws relating to swimming pools and plan submissions. These regulations concern the…
The NHBRC has Deregistered from VAT and Adjusted their Fees We have recently had a number of enquiries about how the NHBRC fees are calculated, those are the fees that have to be paid when a proposed new house is registered with them. In 2011 the NHBRC was deregistered for VAT and they adjusted their…
Tap mixer cartridges have changed the way home handymen tackle the task of fixing leaking taps and shower heads. The days of fixing a leaking tap by changing a simple washer are fast fading as more and more new mixer designs are manufactured. This is because of new technology that has been invented to ensure…