Karoo Stone & Lime is a specialist builder based in Prince Albert, founded by Jan Botha — a third-generation builder whose great-grandfather built the original Dutch Reformed parsonage on Church Street in 1872. The team works exclusively in the Klein Karoo: Prince Albert, Calitzdorp, Oudtshoorn, De Rust, Ladismith and the satellite villages.
The specialism is heritage-correct masonry: stone, fired clay brick, lime mortars, traditional thatch substructures. The team has worked with SAHRA on 11 graded buildings.
How they work
- Lime mortars only, not cement, on heritage builds
- All stone sourced within 80km of site
- Borehole, solar and grey-water systems specified and installed
- Small-team builds (3-5 trades, no sub-contracting)
- Per-stage payment with on-site inspections by the owner
Why they're listed
- 16 years specialising in Karoo construction
- All four staff principals are themselves NHBRC-registered
- Featured in Visi, House & Leisure and the SA Heritage Resources Agency review
- Owner-builders themselves on 3 of the homes pictured
Recent projects
- Prince Albert modernist off-grid (Beyer) — R 1.82m, 11 months
- Calitzdorp werf restoration — R 3.4m, 14 months
- De Rust farmhouse rebuild — R 2.6m, 9 months
- Oudtshoorn Cape Dutch extension — R 1.4m, 5 months