Your Complete Guide to Building Better Homes
Through Trusted Residential Construction Knowledge
A comprehensive construction information platform.
SANS & NHBRC
Compliant Guidance
18 Comprehensive Chapters
Covering the full residential construction process
Protect yourself from costly mistakes by verifying contractors, using clear written contracts, and defining the scope of work, pricing, quality standards, and workmanship requirements before construction begins. Manage deposits carefully, pay suppliers directly where appropriate, and link contractor payments only to verified work completed and materials delivered to site.
- Homeowners planning to build
- Owner-builders managing their own project
- Students of construction and building
- Contractors, developers & consultants
- Financial institutions & insurers
Each chapter functions as a stand-alone reference unit, structured for easy navigation.
Chapter 1 - Introduction To Property Ownership
1.1 Selling a Property
1.2 Property Acquisition
1.3 Financing and Release of Funds for Building Loans
1.4 Yearly Maintenance on Residential Properties
1.5 Responsibilities for Owners Planning to Build a House
Chapter 2 - Introduction To The Construction Industry
2.1 Introduction to Project Management
2.2 Project Manager Appointment
2.3 Different Types of Construction
2.4 Differences between Structural Elements and Trades
2.5 Legal Framework of the Republic of South Africa
2.6 Industry-Related Building Standards And Regulations
2.7 NHBRC – National Homebuilders Regulatory Council Compulsory Registration and Enrollment
2.8 Local Authorities
2.9 Types of construction contract agreements
2.10 Choosing the Building Contract
2.11 Master Builders’ Association and Contractual Agreements
2.12 Occupational Health and Safety
2.13 Supplier Payments and Financial Management
2.14 Insurance – LIABILITY AND ALL RISK
2.15 Tender Package
Chapter 3 - Professional Team Appointments, Their Roles and Responsibilities
3.1 Identifing professionals and or consultants to be appointed
3.2 Architect: Building Methods, Design Codes, Sans, Agreement Certificates and Supervision
3.3 Town Planner
3.4 Property Valuator
3.5 Environmental Consultant
3.6 Engaging an Energy Consultant
3.7 Land Surveyor, Surveyor General and Topographic Map
3.8 Engineer, Soil Stability and Structural Design
3.9 Other Engineering Appointments
3.10 Occupational Health and Safety: Agent for the Client Specifications
3.11 Quantity Surveyor
Chapter 4 - The Main Contractor
4.1 The Main Contractor: Scope of work, Quotation, Contract Agreement, and Payment Schedule
Chapter 5 - The Main Contractor Subcontractor's
5.1 SITE CLEARANCE AND CUTTING SUBCONTRACTOR QUOTATION, AGREEMENT, AND PAYMENT SCHEDULE
5.2 BRICKWORK SUBCONTRACTOR
5.3 TIMBER OR STEEL FRAME
5.4 ELECTRICAL INSTALLATIONS
5.5 PLUMBING AND DRAINAGE: LABOUR RATE QUOTATION, AGREEMENT AND PAYMENT SCHEDULE
5.6 TIMBER ROOF TRUSS ASSEMBLY – NOT PRE-FABRICATED: LABOUR RATE QUOTATION, AGREEMENT AND PAYMENT ??? READY MADE
5.7 TIMBER ROOF TRUSS INSTALLATION
5.8 ROOF COVERING
5.9 PLASTER WORK CEILINGS, WALLS, AND FLOOR SCREEDS LABOUR RATE QUOTATION, AGREEMENT, AND PAYMENT SCHEDULE
5.10 CEILINGS INSTALLATION RATE QUOTATION, AGREEMENT AND PAYMENT SCHEDULE
5.11 TILING WALL TILES LABOUR RATE QUOTATION, AGREEMENT AND PAYMENT SCHEDULE
5.12 TILING FLOOR TILER LABOUR RATE AND PAYMENT SCHEDULE
5.13 PAINTWORK LABOUR RATE QUOTATION, AGREEMENT AND PAYMENT SCHEDULE
5.14 FINISHING CARPENTER DOORS, SKIRTINGS ETC
5.15 PAVING: LABOUR RATE QUOTATION, AGREEMENT AND PAYMENT SCHEDULE
5.16 CASUAL LABOURERS
Chapter 6 - The Tender Phase
6.1 Definitions and general
6.2 Types of services
6.3 the Tender package and subcontractors selection process
6.4 Invitations to tender – the main contractor and nominated subcontractors for turnkey projects
6.5 Compliance with Occupational Health and Safety ( OHS) Act
Chapter 7 - The Ten Project Management Knowledge Areas
7.1 Human Resource Management
7.2 Integration Management
7.3 Stakeholder Management
7.4 Scope Management
7.5 Project Communication
7.6 Time Management
7.7 Quality Management
7.8 Procurement Management
7.9 Cost Management
7.10 Risk Management
Chapter 8 - The Five Project Management Processes
8.1 Initiating Process
8.2 Project Planning Process
8.3 Project Execution Process
8.4 Control Process
8.5 Closing the Project
Chapter 9 - Turnkey Projects
9.1 Contractor Selection and Responsibilities
9.2 Masonry Construction As per Drawings And Specifications – Turnkey Appointment
9.3 Timber or steel frame Structure – Turnkey Apointment
9.4 AGRÉMENT Certificate Structure – Turnkey Apointment
9.5 Certification By A Certification Body Or Listed Competent Person – STEEL FRAME CONSTRUCTION??
9.6 Major Building Demolition As Per Drawings And Specifications
Chapter 10 - Demolitions, Minor Work. Minor Building Work and Additions
10.1 Demolitions
10.2 Alterations
10.3 Minor Building Work
10.4 aDDITIONS
Chapter 11 - Earthworks
11.1 Earthworks – Bulk Excavations and Compacted Backfilling
Chapter 12 - Lateral Support, Anchoring and Piling
12.1 Lateral Support
12.2 Anchoring
12.3 Piling
Chapter 13 - Construction Templates and Automated Project Systems
Chapter 14 - Site Clearance, Site Establishment and Local Authority Services Connections
14.1 Site Clearance
14.2 Site Establishment
14.3 Local Authority Services Connections – Sewage and Water
Chapter 15 - Typical Construction Project Sequencing
15.1 Project appointments
15.2 Provision for contingencies
15.3 minor earthworks, cut and fill, and compaction
15.4 minor earthworks, back-filling, and compaction for raft foundations
15.5 Set out of the building
15.6 excavations for trench, Pad Foot, or raft foundations
15.7 Testing requested by Engineer
15.8 Free-standing and other retaining walls
15.9 reinforced steel for foundations – procurement
15.10 25 MPA Concrete in foundations (19 mm Stone and 42.5N OR R cement)- procurement
15.11 masonry work – Face bricks and or clinker bricks – procurement
15.12 masonry work –
NFX Bricks – procurement
15.13 Cement for mortar for masonry work – procurement
15.14 Building Sand – Procurement
15.15 Brickwork sundries – procurement
15.16 WATERPROOFING – procurement DAMP PROOF COURSE (DPC) UNDER WALLS, UNDER SURFACE BEDS (USB) VERTICALLY AGAINST WALLS IN FILLING UNDER WALLS VERTICALLY IN CAVITY WALL CONSTRUCTION AGAINST VERTICAL BASEMENT WALLS
15.17 BUILDING THE FOUNDATION AND RETAINING WALLS – Execution SUB STRUCTURE EXECUTION CHECKLIST
15.18 UNDER FLOOR PRE-BACK FILLING CHECKLIST
15.19 BACKFILLING UNDER FLOORS MATERIALS AND EXECUTION
15.20 ELECTRICAL INSTALLATIONS – execution FIRST FIX OF PIPES IN FLOORS CHECKLIST
15.21 PLUMBING FIRST FIX OF PIPES IN FLOORS CHECKLIST
15.22 SUBSOIL DRAINAGE: CHECKLIST
15.23 PESTICIDES SOIL POISONING UNDER FLOORS
15.24 DAMP PROOF COURSE/DAMP-PROOF POLYTHENE MEMBRANE UNDER FLOORS: CHECKLIST
15.25 MPA CONCRETE IN FLOORS EXECUTION
15.26 DAMP PROOF COURSE/DAMP-PROOF POLYTHENE MEMBRANE UNDER walls: execution CHECKLIST
15.27 DOOR FRAMES STEEL, ALUMINUM AND WOODEN
15.28 GLAZING AND FENESTRATION: WINDOW FRAMES: STEEL, ALUMINIUM AND WOODEN
15.29 PRESSED STEEL CUPBOARD AND DOOR FRAMES
15.30 PRESSED STEEL CUPBOARD AND DOOR FRAMES
15.31 MASONRY SUPERSTRUCTURE WALLS – BRICKWORK (GROUND STOREY)
15.32 EXTERNAL INSPECTIONS CITY COUNCIL AND MORTGAGER
15.33 STEEL REINFORCED CONCRETE FLOOR SLABS, ROOF SLABS, STAIRWAYS AND BEAMS
15.34 MASONRY: SUPERSTRUCTURE BRICKWORK (FIRST STOREY and more)
15.35 ROOF TRUSS CONSTRUCTION: PLATE NAILED TIMBER, BOLTED TIMBER OR STEEL
15.36 ROOF TRUSSES ERECTING THE ROOF TRUSSES LABOUR AMOUNT UNDER ITEM 3.4.??
15.37 MASONRY: BRICKWORK IN BEAM FILLING
15.38 PAINTER VISIBLE ROOF TIMBER
15.39 KITCHEN LAYOUT
15.40 SKY LIGHTS
Reference: SANS 10400-N: 2012 Edition 3.01, Part N: Glazing
15.41 PLUMBER RAINWATER DISPOSAL GUTTERS AND FLASHINGS NOT INCLUDED WITH ROOF
15.42 PLUMBER WATER SUPPLY FIRST FIX WATER SUPPLY, PIPES IN WALLS, CLOSE UP AND PLASTER MESH
15.43 PLUMBER WASTE WATER DISPOSAL FIRST FIX PIPES IN WALLS, CLOSE UP AND PLASTER MESH
15.44 ROOF COVERINGS AND CLADDING
15.45 ELECTRICAL INSTALLATIONS FIRST FIX PIPES IN WALLS, CLOSE UP AND PLASTER MESH
15.46 PLUMBER: GEYSER INSTALLATION
15.47 PLUMBER DRAINAGE UNDERGROUND
15.48 UNDERFLOOR HEATING
15.49 PLASTERING TO CEILINGS, WALLS AND FLOOR SCREEDS:
15.50 CEILINGS, PARTITIONS AND ACCESS FLOORING
15.51 PLASTERING TO CEILINGS, WALLS AND FLOOR SCREEDS
15.52 BURGLAR PROOFING
15.53 WATERPROOFING
15.54 GLAZING / aluminium windows and doors
Reference: SANS 10400-B: 2012 Edition 3, Part B: Structural design; SANS 10400-N: 2012 Edition
15.55 GARAGE DOORS
15.56 FLOOR TILES
15.57 WALL TILES
15.58 CARPENTRY AND JOINERY TIMBER FLOORS, STAIRWAYS AND HANDRAILS
15.59 CARPENTRY AND JOINERY: DOORS, SKIRTINGS AND OTHER
15.60 FINISHING CARPENTER OTHER CUPBOARDS
15.61 PAINT WORK
15.62 BATHROOM FITTINGS
15.63 KITCHEN CUPBOARDS: SUPPLY AND INSTALLATION
15.64 KITCHEN FITTINGS
15.65 WALL TILES: BATHROOMS AND SHOWERS
15.66 TILING: WALL TILES FOR BATHROOMS AND SHOWERS
15.67 TILING: WALL TILES FOR KITCHEN
15.68 CUPBOARDS
15.69 CARPORTS AND CANOPIES
15.70 AIR CONDITIONING
15.71 STORMWATER
15.72 EXTERNAL WORKS: PAVING AND STORMWATER DISPOSAL
15.73 STOVE, OVEN, CANOPIES AND EXTRACTORS
15.74 CURTAIN RAILS AND WINDOW BLINDS
15.75 PROVISIONAL COSTS
15.76 LIGHT FITTINGS
15.77 CLEANING
15.78 EXTERNAL WORKS: RUBBLE AND WASTE REMOVAL
15.79 EXTERNAL WORKS: RUBBLE AND WASTE REMOVAL
15.80 EXTERNAL WORKS: SWIMMING POOL
15.81 EXTERNAL WORKS FENCING AND GATES
15.82 EXTERNAL WORKS: FACE OR CLINKER BRICK WALL FENCE SELF CONTRACT
15.83 EXTERNAL WORKS: LANDSCAPING
15.84 OTHER FLOOR COVERINGS
15.85 FINAL INSPECTIONS:
CERTIFICATES OF COMPLIANCE AND FINAL COMPLETION CERTIFICATE.
15.86 LOCAL AUTHORITY: OCCUPATION CERTIFICATE
15.87 LOCAL AUTHORITY: ELECTRICAL CONNECTION
Chapter 16 - Record Keeping and Close Out of Project
16.1 Human Resources and Role-players
16.2 Designers Roles and Responsibilities
16.3 Communication Protocol
16.4 Document Filing
16.5 Conclution
Chapter 17 - Summary of Project Costs
Chapter 18 - Alternative Construction Methods
18.1 Introduction
18.2 Steel Frame Construction
18.3 Shipping Container Constructions
18.4 Timber Frame Constructions
18.5 I-Beam and composite material construction
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