Do you need a building plan for a carport in South Africa?

The unpredictable South African weather can often leave you worrying about the safety of your car, and you may be seeking an affordable and quick solution, like a carport. But don’t you need plans to build a carport? According to the Minor Building Works Schedule, a carport less than 40m2 with less than two enclosed sides…

Can You Build / Design Your Own House In South Africa?

Embarking on the journey to construct your own home in South Africa is a thrilling and fulfilling endeavor. It offers you the unique opportunity to craft a dwelling that aligns perfectly with your desires and requirements. While the prospect of owner-building your house is indeed feasible in South Africa, it necessitates meticulous planning, unwavering compliance…

When Can You Build Without Plans In South Africa?

While homeowners may be fully capable of managing a building project, building work in South Africa is regulated through the national building regulations and the local authority. Failure to comply with regulations and the lack of necessary permissions or approvals could lead to costly circumstances for property owners. But are there exceptions? When and what…

Can I build a wall around my house in South Africa?

Boundary walls can cause quite a lot of conflict between neighbors. I have seen countless issues resulting in both legal and civil consequences that are well worth avoiding. What are your rights if you want to build a wall around your own house? In South Africa, you can build a wall around your house as…

What is a good size house for a family of four?

With the average building size having declined significantly in the last couple of years, one might wonder what a good-sized house is for an average family of 4 and what factors to consider when hunting for a home.  A regular, average-sized, new freestanding house for a family of 4, consisting of 2 adults and two…

What is a good size house for a family of 3?

Buying or building a house is a big step for any family. Like most of us, you may be on a budget and would like to get the best home for your money. At the same time, you want your family to be comfortable, not only now but in years to come. With that in…

How High Should You Fill a Swimming Pool?

Where you are simply maintaining your water level or filling your pool from scratch, the water level of your pool needs to be kept in check. Having the water level too high or too low both have problems. With that in mind, how high should you fill your swimming pool? Your pool should be filled…

How Do I Get Rid of Mosquito Larvae in My Pool?

That fact that there are mosquito larvae in a pool, means that that pool has most likely has been neglected. Low chlorine levels and stagnant water are perfect breeding grounds for these dirty little bloodsuckers. Try shocking your pool by adding 3 pounds of chlorine for every 10,000 gallons of pool water to raise the…

How do I Shock my Pool? [Without Pool Shock]

There is a lot of uncertainty about swimming pool shocking methods and products when there really doesn’t need to be. Shocking your pool is an effective and simple process used to clean green pools quickly. To avoid wasting your time, I will first answer, as plainly as I can, the question: How do I shock…