A Review Based on Personal Experience Having just finished totally updating the ever-popular title, The Complete Book of Owner Building in South Africa I am left wondering whether owner building is a good idea or not. We’ve completed the exercise three times, and not once made any money, or in fact, even got our money…
1. The National Home Builders Registration Council (NHBRC) gives protection against shoddy workmanship The National Home Builders Registration Council was established in terms of the Housing Consumers Protection Measures Act, 1998 to regulate the building industry and protect home buyers against shoddy workmanship. Motivation at the time was largely charged by fly-by-night-builders who were conning…
Dimensions – Part C Every Room Must be Fit for PurposeEnsuring Adequate Space Allocation in Construction: Part C Specifications The National Building Regulations (NBR) set the framework for construction guidelines in South Africa. When it comes to the dimensions and sizes of rooms and buildings, the NBR isn’t prescriptive. However, the crucial consideration remains that…
Design, Planning and Supervision of All Construction Work Must Follow a Legal Process The comprehensive framework outlined in the SANS 10400, otherwise known as the Code of Practice for the Application of the National Building Regulations (NBR), serves as the backbone for ensuring compliance within the construction and building industry. Each section of this code…
The Importance of Facilities forDisabled People in our Buildings-Part S The National Building Regulations and Building Standards Act was amended and published by the Department of Trade and Industry in May 2008. Some parts of the Act were affected more than others; some changed very little. Part S, which deals with facilities for disabled people…
This is the Number 1 Priority for Homeowners Energy efficiency is the new buzzphrase in the building industry in South Africa. And it is a vital concept to consider when building new homes. Energy efficiency refers to the ability of a home to use energy efficiently, with minimal waste, to provide the necessary services and…
Foundations, Part H, of any structure, large or small, must be built to safely transmit all loads of the building to the ground. If foundations are not correctly built, walls may crack and at worst, could even collapse. While the National Building Regulations specify general requirements for foundations, it is the deemed-to-satisfy rules contained in…
Ways to cope with loadshedding Beleaguered South African Electricity consumers have latched onto a new social media meme when they install a solar panel or two and a battery. They then rush out to their favourite hang-out and proudly boast about how they are going “off-grid.” Then they quote a number, normally somewhere below R150,000.00….
Energy! The first phase, Starting Right, is already behind schedule. It seems that the SETs and other plans may only be developed later this year. Updated Climate Plan On 24 March 2021, Cabinet approved an updated draft NDC for public comment. It has been widely criticized for not being ambitious enough and falling short of…
Will Solar Panels Add Value to Your Home? As a homeowner, there’s a good chance that you want to increase the resale value of your home. You’ve upgraded your kitchen, added a patio, and built a swimming pool. What next? Internationally, Solar is Undoubtedly Worth the Investment In the U.S. there is a huge emphasis…
Energy-efficient houses and buildings refer to the use of techniques and materials that reduce the amount of energy required to operate and maintain a structure. There are numerous benefits to incorporating energy-efficient features in buildings, ranging from economic to environmental advantages. In this article, we will explore some of the key benefits of energy efficiency…
All about Roofs Roofs come in all shapes and forms, ranging from “flat” concrete roofs to steeply pitched roofs. Some roofs are tiled while others types of roofing is finished with sheeting of various types. Thatch is also used for roofing, though the structure of rafters and beams is completely different to that used for…
By Penny Swift Author Implications of Non-Compliant Electric Fencing and Outdated Certificates of Compliance Electricity is a charged subject that often shocks those who don’t realize how important compliance is. Home Security Just look at all the illegal electrical connections looming over informal settlements. Notice people on social media asking who can do electrical jobs…
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…
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…
How to Solve Kitchen Traffic Flow Problems The patterns of kitchen traffic should be taken into account when planning the new layout. Ideally, the kitchen traffic flow should not interfere with the work triangle. If this is unavoidable, however, try and ensure that the triangle intersects the path to the fridge. Here we have listed…
The Open-plan Kitchen Option There was a time, not too long ago, when South African home owners were not overly concerned about the dimensions of their rooms. Nowadays, with construction costs – indeed all costs – spiralling, the emphasis is on the compact, and on an internal arrangement that makes optimum use of every available…
Caption for pic above: There are no absolutes in bathroom design: your aim is to produce an environment that is comfortable, convenient and easy to maintain, and that works for the people who will use it. Know Your Plumber 1. You and Your Plumber The location and layout of a bathroom is invariably dictated by…
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…
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…