SA Affordable Housing January / February 2017 // Issue: 62 | Page 19

FEATURES

Cement and concrete:

affordable, durable building
The jury is out - when it comes to affordable building material,
the cement and concrete industries have a lot to offer. But
building affordably should never mean compromising quality.
By Ntsako Khosa

Precast concrete is the most versatile building material and can
be engineered for any application. Image: Toemar.co

Cement is the tried and trusted building material that is
versatile and the backbone of buildings and infrastructure
worldwide. Image: cement.org

H

As a rule most building materials will average out with
regards to cost when bought from reputable suppliers. “A
project becomes costly when it is not managed well. Well
managed projects save money,” says Minnaar.

aving a quality structure or building doesn’t just
start with having the necessary materials for
construction, it’s also about finding ways of working
against the natural elements.
“The earth’s surface is in constant flux, expanding and
contracting with the seasons in response to changes in
temperature, humidity and moisture. Paving is also subject
to expansion and contraction,” says Remi Anderson of
Anston Architectural. “Every pavement needs to be
carefully planned to accommodate movement.”
Incorrectly-specified materials may lead to immediate
or future building failures as a result of increased loads or
owing to the corrosion of foundations from surrounding
soil conditions.
Stone and slate specialists, Bellstone, says that the use
of concrete pavers require less maintenance and they are
also much stronger so they will stand the test of time in
terms of environmental degradation.
Quality products should be used and considered when
building or paving with cement or concrete. Frans Minnaar
of Concrete Manufacturers Association (CMA) points out
that using quality products saves money. “This reduces the
need to redo work that is of an unsatisfactory standard
because quality products weren’t used,” he says.
However using quality products for building or paving
isn’t enough to keep costs as low as possible. A reputable
contractor is necessary to complete the job to your
satisfaction. “They complete projects faster, saving on
project duration and costs. You are also assured that there
will be no returns on completed jobs,” he says.

MAJOR MISTAKES AND THEIR RISKS
Common mistakes that industry experts have seen surface
from poor planning or the use of substandard materials to
save money. “The use of below par material compromises
project quality and increases costs to implement repairs,”
says Minnaar.
Anderson says that it is unprofessional and risky not to
adhere to simple building or paving guidelines. “Not
sticking to the steps can unexpectedly cripple a business
through rectification costs, long after the pavement is
installed,” she says.
Material failures may not only cost the company money,
but also cost them their reputation.
“Unskilled contractors equal substandard results and
this compromises project quality,” warns Minnaar. He also
mentions that using substandard cement is another
mistake. This cement is mostly imported at a cheap price
and compromises quality. Instead he recommends the use
of reputable South African cement producers.
“In instances where one supplier is cheaper than
another, it is probably because the company is using
inferior, non-SABS approved cement, illegal aggregates,
unqualified labour and/or non-purpose built equipment,”
says Johan van Wyk from the Southern Africa Readymix
Association (Sarma).

AFFORDABLE
SA HOUSING

JANUARY - FEBRUARY 2017

17