Planning an extension: foundations, slabs & costs—a 2025 guide before breaking ground
Planning a home extension in South Africa? This 2025 guide covers costs per m², foundations & municipal approvals. Get a realistic budget & avoid costly mistakes.
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Converting an old garage to a bedroom with a ensuite and bathroom ,putting a new passge anolng the existing 2 bedrooms changing all windows putting a new garage putting 2 new bay windows cladded with timber outside removing existing paving 80 square metres and laying new paving building a new braai area
Electrical * Supply of all material needed, plugs, ush boxes, cables, conduit pipe, garden store room light, etc * Remove old lighting in garden store room, install new tting and bulb, tubing and installation of new plug point in garden store room * Chase the wall, Tubing, install plug point in o ce, remove 2 lights ttings and replace with others from another bedroom, * Replace 1 bulb, remove 1 light from onother wall and install on light point. * Remove fan from upstairs, tubing and installation in downstairs bedroom, install 2 lights points on wall * Neaten up intercom cable glue it above the doo
I would like to know IF the following is possible, given structural engineering/guidelines etc (load bearing walls) 1. There is a wall separating a bedroom and a very small guest toilet. The same wall also leads to a very cramped closet space. I would like to open up the wall, to create a larger and more modern full bathroom that is IN-Room or En-suite. 2. There is a wall separating the kitchen & scullery. I would like to open up the wall and create a larger more modern kitchen. 3. I have another bedroom that already has a very small en-suite. I would like to make structural adjustments to open up the space, and create a larger modern IN-Room or En-Suite bathroom.
To build a double story house of sqm from the ground up through the following building phases: Demolishing the old structure Set up the foundation and pouring the concrete Digging, reinforcement and pouring the conceret (Ready Mix use) Building foundation box, filling, compacting and pouring concrete slab Build structure to window level Build structure to wall plate Slab first-floor shuttering/reinforcement First-floor slab pouring with ready-mix and pump Build structure to window level Build structure to roof level, window slab Plastering inside Plastering outside Topping screed and window corners Staircase Roof Electrical Plumbing
3 roundavals A,B and C Roundaval A 4 bedroom roundavel no bathrooms 7m diameter and 2.7m height Using ruby light face brick and rejects bricks inside for 2 walls Use maxi bricks to separate bedrooms roofing use Harvey thatch tile and timber roundavel B 9m diameter with 3.4m height 1 bedroom and open kitchen, lounge and dinning room Using ruby light face brick and rejects bricks inside for 2 walls Use maxi bricks to separate bedroom roofing use Harvey thatch tile and timber
We have a small outbuilding that currently has a small room and a bathroom. The total floor size is less than 20 square metres. We would like to make it double story. I have attached a drawing of the current layout and also 2 photographs of what it currently looks like and what we would like it to look like. We are open to suggestions as to the building materials for the upper floor (brick or other, and slab or wooden flooring). It would require a space saving (probably spiral) internal staircase, but for now we are only trying to get an indication of the actual structural building costs.
Renovation List for Sedibeng: Paving Painting the whole office Carports White paint for pharmacy windows Modern shark for biohazard Tilling clients rest room Aircon for store room the one we have is not working Plugs in Hts room Window for hts office blinds for one window Window for hts office
We are looking at getting our flatlet (attached to our house) renovated. It is a small 1 bed 1 bath. We are looking at stripping everything and getting a small kitchenette area done, including a few cupboards, sink and gas stove. Also, the bathroom needs to be revamped to include a shower, basin and toilet.
Remove every thing in the bathroom (bath and shower and washbasin and stones against the walls). Then tile walls and floor and install washbasin and shower all with new taps. Install a ceiling and geyser on the outside. (It can be a gas geyser). The other option is to leave the stones and put copper pipes in. I am not sure...
The property is approximately 1, m², and the idea is to build a simple, cost-effective rustic barn/ranch-style restaurant. I’m trying to keep construction as economical as possible while still using durable, insulated materials suitable for a commercial restaurant. The main enclosed restaurant building will be approximately m² (10 m × 16 m) and will seat a maximum of 40 people indoors. I am not looking for a conventional brick-and-mortar building if we can avoid it. My preference is a lightweight/hybrid construction system, potentially: A small amount of structural steel where required for the main clear spans Treated timber framing for the secondary structure and walls Nutec/fibre-cement exterior cladding Proper insulation in the walls Corrugated zinc/IBR-type roofing with proper roof insulation Exposed steel/timber internally where possible Power-floated/sealed concrete floor as the finished floor Minimal internal ceilings and unnecessary decorative construction The look should be rustic, industrial and agricultural — essentially a well-built modern farm/barn structure converted into a warm restaurant. Exposed structural elements are part of the design, so we don't need to spend money hiding everything. Restaurant layout The building needs to contain: An open commercial kitchen that faces the dining room so customers can see the chefs cooking A chef/pass counter in front of the kitchen Small prep/scullery area Dry storage Refrigeration/freezer space A wooden L-shaped bar Indoor dining for up to 40 customers Basic storage/service areas The kitchen will be relatively small and simple. Most heavy cooking equipment will run on LPG, which should reduce the electrical and solar requirements. I would like the kitchen, scullery and bar positioned close together so that we can keep the plumbing, drainage and electrical runs as short and economical as possible. Veranda Along the front of the restaurant I want a simple covered veranda of approximately 40 m². Again, this does not need to be an expensive structure. A basic steel/timber frame with an IBR/zinc roof would be suitable. The veranda will provide additional outdoor restaurant seating. Outdoor area There will also eventually be an outdoor stretch-tent seating area of approximately 60 m². This can initially be very simple with treated timber poles, a stretch tent, festoon lighting and gravel/compacted ground rather than expensive decking. Toilets The customer toilets will be in a separate external ablution block of approximately 18–20 m² close to the restaurant/veranda. I would also like this constructed as economically as possible, potentially using treated timber framing, Nutec/fibre-cement cladding, zinc/IBR roofing and moisture-resistant internal materials rather than conventional brick construction, subject to what is legally required. The final toilet configuration obviously needs to comply with municipal, accessibility and commercial restaurant requirements. Services The development will also require: Complete restaurant plumbing Kitchen and bar plumbing Grease trap Septic system if municipal sewer is unavailable Water storage/tank and pumps if required Electrical DB and complete electrical installation Interior and exterior LED lighting Emergency lighting LPG installation Commercial kitchen extraction Fire/safety requirements Starter solar/inverter/battery system Provision to expand the solar system later Parking and outside works The property is approximately 1, m². I want approximately 18–22 vehicle parking spaces, depending on municipal requirements. I do not want expensive paving or tar initially. The intention is properly prepared and compacted gravel parking and driveway, with suitable stormwater drainage. Landscaping will also be very basic and rustic — gravel, local stone, indigenous plants, aloes, grasses, etc. Most important: construction cost This project is extremely budget-conscious. The property itself costs R,, and my absolute target for the entire project is around R2.3 million including the property, so I need the actual development/build to remain as close as possible to approximately R1.5–R1.6 million, leaving some contingency. I am therefore very open to recommendations regarding cheaper construction methods and materials. If there is something cheaper than Nutec/timber/steel that will still be durable, insulated, safe and compliant, I am happy to consider it. I'm not trying to build a luxury building. I want to spend money on the things that matter structurally and legally while using the rustic barn aesthetic to keep finishes inexpensive. The priorities are: Simple structure, durable materials, good insulation, waterproof roof, solid concrete floor, safe commercial kitchen, proper plumbing/electrical, and keeping construction costs as low as reasonably possible. The building should also preferably be designed so that it can be extended later if the restaurant grows. I have concept floor plans and exterior drawings that I can send through to show the overall look and layout I'm trying to achieve. I'd appreciate your thoughts on whether this type of construction is achievable within the budget and what construction method you would recommend to bring the cost down.