The library
Plain-language answers, written for South Africa.
6 articles on costs, regulations, contracts, contractor selection and the finishes that age well. Researched here. Reviewed by professionals.
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1 articles
Cost guides
Honest, sourced numbers for every line of your build.
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1 articlesRegulations & approvals
Plain-language coverage of SANS, NHBRC, zoning and municipalities.
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1 articlesContractor selection
Choosing, vetting and managing the people on site.
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1 articlesContracts & paperwork
JBCC, retention, guarantees and what to sign.
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1 articlesRenovation playbooks
Room-by-room renovation guides written for SA homes.
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1 articlesFinishes & materials
Spec, source and sequence the finishes that age well.
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Latest in the library
Cost guides· 8 min
What R 2 million actually buys you, by province
An honest snapshot of what a R 2m residential budget delivers across South Africa's nine provinces in 2026, with the assumptions spelled out.
Lerato Mokoena15 May 2026
Regulations & approvals· 6 min
NHBRC enrolment, in plain language
Every new home in South Africa must be enrolled with the NHBRC. Here's what that costs, what it covers, and how to make sure your builder actually does it.
Tshepo Ndlovu08 May 2026
Contracts & paperwork· 12 min
The JBCC contract, annotated for homeowners
A clause-by-clause walk-through of the Joint Building Contracts Committee Principal Building Agreement, the South African industry standard.
Naledi Khumalo28 Apr 2026
Contractor selection· 7 min
12 things builders say that should worry you
The phrases that have preceded every bad SA residential build we've reviewed. Print this. Stick it on the fridge.
Lerato Mokoena22 Apr 2026
Renovation playbooks· 9 min
A kitchen renovation, costed honestly
A complete kitchen rebuild in 2026, line by line, from demolition to handover. With everything most quotes hide.
Sibusiso Dlamini12 Apr 2026
Finishes & materials· 6 min
Specifying finishes: the schedule that saves you R 80 000
The finishes schedule is the most-skipped, most-expensive document in a residential build. Here's how to write one properly.
Pearl van der Merwe30 Mar 2026