NCR - Building advice

[Scooterza]

Hi all

Hopefully someone can tell me who I need to speak with. I live in Randburg and my wife and I are looking at ways to extend our home. We are thinking about building a 2nd storey on our property. We see a neighbour has done this so presumably there are no building restrictions preventing us from doing that.

 

My question is, who do we need to speak with about if the home can handle a 2nd storey from a structural point of view? Do we speak to a structural engineer? And can anyone suggest someone?

 

Thanks

[barrykm]

Hi all

Hopefully someone can tell me who I need to speak with. I live in Randburg and my wife and I are looking at ways to extend our home. We are thinking about building a 2nd storey on our property. We see a neighbour has done this so presumably there are no building restrictions preventing us from doing that.

 

My question is, who do we need to speak with about if the home can handle a 2nd storey from a structural point of view? Do we speak to a structural engineer? And can anyone suggest someone?

 

Thanks

 

First thing I would do is get a good architect, who should certainly be able to advise you on both building regulaions and the need for an engineer.

 

Good luck.

[pastapouch]

I'm also in a few minds of that, and the quality of building of many people's work was not on. So, I'm in , build, or buy a new place. Home /Tuis did a thing on building and everyone they asked didn't even want to mention or recommend the builders.

[slowpoke]

scooterza, you will need building plans AND permission from neighbours (at least 4 years ago in randburg that was the requirement when i'd investigated). get a good architect and rather pay more for good builders - don't ask me who... the builder is lucky he left the country otherwise he'd be in a wheelchair now after the f-ups he did on my place and my neighbour's 4 houses up the road's place

[TiBones]

Seems to be a builder's lot. Mine would be lucky if he could actually wheel the wheelchair by himself ,the dØØs

[The Saint]

Rad004's dad owns a construction company Roscon Construction I think it is called, why not look him up and give him a call

[DMC007]

Hi all

Hopefully someone can tell me who I need to speak with. I live in Randburg and my wife and I are looking at ways to extend our home. We are thinking about building a 2nd storey on our property. We see a neighbour has done this so presumably there are no building restrictions preventing us from doing that.

 

My question is, who do we need to speak with about if the home can handle a 2nd storey from a structural point of view? Do we speak to a structural engineer? And can anyone suggest someone?

 

Thanks

 

 

Agreed about the Architect appoinment. However, the Architect is not a Structural Engineer so he/she cannot give you that surety on the stability of your current foundations.

Make an appoinment with an Architect or Architectural Technician and they should be able to recommend a Structural Engineer purely at this stage for the ENDORSEMENT.

 

Once your building plans has been submitted to the Local Authority, this Structural Endorsement will be a requirement.

Here in Cape Town....I normally pay about R850 for that service.

 

The Endorsement reads as follows;

 

The Building is capable of supporting the additional loading imposed by the Additions/Extensions shown on Architects Plan. (Reg. A1(3) SABS 0400)

[rad006]

Thanks Saint

 

ScooterZA give my Dad a call on 082 444 0395. He can help you with everything. Tell him you from the hub for a cyclists discount lol.....

[kosmonooit]

How much money do you have to spend? Lots? Okay, go with someone who will take care of the whole project for you, and hope for the best. Best bet would be an architect with a practice. Get references and check them out. But beware, architects can have big egos and tend to be full of themselves, and not really give you want you want.

 

Otherwise there is the cheaper DIY route, though you should be warned that this route is not for all.

 

You need to get plans drawn up and passed by the council and you need to meet all the specs of the building regulations. I know someone who can help with all the plans and getting them through the council (did some work for me). He also has good connection with a Structural Engineer (who also happens to be a roadie) to help with designing reinforcing and any structural work etc.

 

Once you got the plans passed, then two options. A: put the job out to builders to tender for the project, either for the whole job or just the labour and management, and you supply the building materials. Either way its risky business, standards are very low and sh!t jobs are de-facto and common place. But who cares, who even knows the difference. Never take any thing at face value. Always check references, with visits if possible to gauge quality of work and how they handled the project.

 

Or B:, DIY with informal sector doods, but that requires lots of hands-on and micro-management. I have a few guys with varying skills whom I can recommended: all are very good people and trustworthy. These relationships take a long time to build. Be very careful of strangers who will say yes to everything you ask them if they can do.

 

Let me know if can help further.

Edited October 22, 2010 by kosmonooit

[El Saltemontes]

This is the first time I'm punting myself here on the hub, I have a smallish company that deals with alts, adds and new homes see www.mjeprojects.co.za we were finalists in the "702 small business awards" and I stay in the Randburg area.I have names of engineer's and architects that could help.

I've been in the building industry for more than 30 years.

I would gladly give my advise . P.M me if you would like assistance.

[DMC007]

This is the first time I'm punting myself here on the hub, I have a smallish company that deals with alts, adds and new homes see www.mjeprojects.co.za we were finalists in the "702 small business awards" and I stay in the Randburg area.I have names of engineer's and architects that could help.

I've been in the building industry for more than 30 years.I would gladly give my advise . P.M me if you would like assistance.

 

...that sounds Great, who knows you might even get some building work from Hubbers in your surrounds.

[DMC007]

How much money do you have to spend? Lots? Okay, go with someone who will take care of the whole project for you, and hope for the best. Best bet would be an architect with a practice. Get references and check them out. But beware, architects can have big egos and tend to be full of themselves, and not really give you want you want.

 

 

Thats if you willing to pay 10% of Building cost which could cost you a fortune for Architectural plans.

There are many Pr.Snr.Arch.Tech. that is more than capable of delivering the same service and quality of work.

Best of Luck to you.

[djvr]

kosmosnooit, you sure have a mouthfull about us in the Architectural profession.

[doris]

yup check with engineer - get architect to draw it -0 do you have the inital house plans - nope then you need to do it can help along the way - kosmosnooit - gave you decent advise - not sure on the architects he has used - mine were great - going up on another level can be tricky and allot harder than digging trenches - also gonna create more mess and stress on the home front - move out for a month or 2 if you can

[kosmonooit]

Oops sorry djvr .. my opening line was a recommendation to go to an architect - as for my mouthful, apologies its tong-in-cheek, some of my best friends are architects but its just me really since I have my own ego and ideas about what I want in my little projects, and find it difficult to work with (some) architects who have their own scheme of things, which is fine for most clients. House upgrades and additions are a lot of smaller practices bread and butter, and the advantage is that they will have their own network of trusted builders and sub-contractors to do the work, and they oversee the whole thing plus have there fingers on the pulse of latest building technolgies and practices.