Build a Concrete Paver Patio on Your Own
It is easy to make mistakes when pouring concrete for a single slab but with this concrete paver patio, you can get excellent results, a long-life patio and a mistake-free installation.
How to Use Sand as a Mould for Concrete Projects
There are some projects where you simply cannot make a mould for concrete projects, particularly when they have an irregular shape or consist of a circle or curves and this is where using sand makes a huge difference.
Build Your Own Wood-Fired Stove Top, Pizza Oven and Braai
We show you how to build your own wood-fire stove top, pizza oven and braai using affordable and recycled materials.
10 Things About Concrete You Probably Didn't Know
Used in structures, roads, foundations and bridges and more, here are 10 things about concrete you probably did not know.
Dealing with Recurring Cracks in Walls
All the houses in my development have a problem with recurring cracks due to the installation of a slab for the second floor.
Build Sofa for Outdoor Entertaining
This custom outdoor sofa is definitely going on my 'To Do' list as a future project for my outdoor entertaining area.
Install a brick firepit
Bring the bushveld to your outdoor area with this brick firepit.
Choosing a builder
With so many 'fly-by-night' contractors out there, any building project can quickly turn into a nightmare. Learn what to look for when selecting a builder.
Build a concrete firepit
With chilly evenings heading our way here's how to build a simple concrete firepit that will add a dash of style to an outdoor patio, while warming up cold nights in the garden. This project is easy enough to complete in a weekend.
Build an earthbag rondavel
If you want an easy way to build a rondavel, using earthbags is one of the most affordable and eco-friendly ways to do it
Improving an RDP house
RDP housing provide a basic structure with very little in the way of elements that make a house a home. Even on a small budget you can buy a few materials and supplies at your local Builders Warehouse to turn any RDP house into a place to call home.
How to make a concrete bench
Concrete is an inexpensive way to make a variety of projects, but it's also the ideal material to use for making a garden bench that not only offers a comfortable place to sit and relax, but also becomes a feature in a garden.
How difficult is DIY plastering?
Since winter (or dry season) is the best time to tackle plastering projects there are obviously quite a few homeowners getting stuck in. If you want advice on how to plaster or find out whether plastering is easy or difficult, read on...
Prevent cracks between old and new brick walls
While there are a few reasons why newly added walls would crack, especially where a new wall is joined to an old wall, the main reason is due to lack of proper foundations or the walls not being joined together properly
Basic bricklaying skills
With DIY on the increase, more and more homeowners are looking to acquire basic skills for quick and easy DIY projects. One skill set that saves you thousands of rands is learning a few basic bricklaying skills.
Kwikblox shuttered concrete construction
If you are looking to build a new home from scratch, consider the option for using shuttered concrete for the structure. Shuttered concrete is 40% cheaper than conventional construction yet offers the highest thermal and acoustic properties available.
How to install corrugated sheet metal roof
Corrugated sheet metal is an inexpensive and lightweight material that can be used for roofing, cladding or a range of decorative applications. You can buy small quantities of corrugated sheet metal at your local Builders Warehouse
Build your own pizza oven
Instead of focusing your attention on building a firepit, rather spend more effort into building a pizza oven that not only warms up your outdoor space and adds atmosphere, but can also be used for cooking a variety of meals, including pizza!
Upgrade your outdoors with pavers
With so many options to choose from for enhancing an outdoor living space, cement pavers allow you to create a beautiful space on a budget, and outdoor spaces are just as important as indoors when more homeowners are looking to improve rather than move.
What is damp proof course - DPC?
A damp-proof course, commonly referred to as a DPC, is the first layer of brick laid over a damp-proof membrane as a moisture barrier applied to foundations to prevent moisture rising into brickwork.
How to add colour to cement or concrete
Concrete doesn't have to be grey. Cement colour products stain the concrete while you're mixing or finishing it, offering shades of red, brown, buff, charcoal, and terra-cotta.
Foundation settling in a new or existing home
When buying a new home, having a home built, or moving into a home that is only a couple of years old, foundation settlement is a common problem and one that can worry homeowners.
DIY concrete patio
Concrete as a building material can be very economical if you can tackle the labour yourself and is still a very solid choice if you are paying for part or all of the physical work as well.
Concrete countertops
I would like to share a few things we would do differently if we were to start over on our concrete countertops. Don't get me wrong, we love our concrete countertops but we have also done some experimenting and would make a few slight changes.
Building green
It's a brave family that demolishes an old house to build a greener home. They moved into a rental home and watched their old house be demolished day by day, and then watched the transformation take place as their new, green home was built in its place.
Concrete worktops
DIY concrete experts show how to design, build and install a beautiful concrete countertop for a newly remodelled kitchen.
Plastering walls
Plastering needs practice and a good technique for perfect results. It is possible to tackle smaller areas with good results but leave ceilings to the professionals.
Concrete garden table
Create a polished concrete table with a solid wood base, with inlays of glass, leaves, tile or other materials. This project is simple enough for even a beginner to tackle and give you some insight into working with concrete.
Epoxy flooring
Rust-Oleum EPOXYShield garage floor coating provides an easy to clean showroom quality flooring option for a garage floor.
Lay concrete slab
Whether you are laying a slab for a braai, pathway or a patio, the process is the same. Here are the steps to get the job done.
Concrete braai bench
This braai originally sat on a wobbly table. The new built-in bench is constructed of bricks, coprox dualcote and tiled, with meranti doors underneath to hide the gas bottle. A mosaic feature was created on a piece of plywood to hang above
Replace roof tile
Missing or broken roof tiles allow water to penetrate the roof space and wind to lift more of the neighbouring tiles. If you attend to the problem immediately you won't end up with serious repairs later on.
How to mix cement
There are various ways to mix concrete and each is used for a specific job. Here is an easy guide to the various mixes and their uses:
How to tile a floor
Planning to give your bathroom or kitchen floor a new look. Here's how to lay ceramic floor tiles for a professional finish.
What is fibre cement board?
Fibre cement boards are manufactured from a combination of Portland cement, silica and completely natural fibres for an environmentally-friendly and safe building product.
Repair cracks in concrete
Whether it is on the patio, in the garage or across the driveway, cracked concrete looks unsightly and if left unattended will only crack and crumble even more.
Cut circles in tile
Most bathrooms require at least one hole in tiles for a floor or shower waste outlet, or for a toilet and pedestal if you are tiling an existing bathroom layout.
Hang into drywall
Battling to hang pictures, mirrors or shelves onto your drywalling? Whatever the wall, there is a fischer plug to fit all
Fix it right the first time
As the pioneer of chemical anchoring, fischer Fixing systems takes fixing very seriously and offers a comprehensive range to accommodate these needs.
Cement mix for garden ornaments
Too little water and the concrete mix will be stiff and unworkable. Too much water results in weak concrete prone to cracking and breaking.
How to lay screed floor
A concrete screed floor is the best way to level an uneven floor, or prepare for polished concrete flooring.
Drywall partitioning
We've all come across the term, but what exactly is this product and how can we use it effectively in our homes?
Polished concrete
Heavy-duty polishing machines equipped with progressively finer grits of diamond-impregnated segments or disks (akin to sandpaper) are used to gradually grind down surfaces to the desired degree of shine and smoothness.
Slate tile floor
Whilst tiling a floor with slate tiles follows the basic tiling procedure, due to their characteristics there are a few 'should know' techniques.