SA Affordable Housing January / February 2017 // Issue: 62 | Page 25

FEATURES

First year students in good on campus accommodation have an
80% chance of passing, a percentage
that is almost halved when they are
not adequately housed.
Exposed brick walls – even stock bricks - are trendy and
add character without having to invest in artwork or décor.
“Unlike many other surfaces that will need to be regularly
painted, treated or plastered, the colour and texture
choices of natural brick make a statement, but outlast even
the rowdiest students,” says Shangase.
Tips on exteriors: From the property investor’s
perspective, low maintenance buildings keep levies down.
“Avoid buildings with lifts, large common property areas
and integrated technology,” Shangase advises. This will all
obviously depend on what kind of building you are putting
up and for which market you are catering for.
Paved patios and courtyards are cheaper to maintain
than a large garden and students love having a place to
entertain. Replace flimsy patio furniture with built-in brick
seating and fire pits. Clay paving is tough and inexpensive
to lay. Segmented paving stones can be replaced and
standard colours and size ensure a consistent look,
according to Shangase.
“Potchefstroom is a university town, so student and
lecturer accommodation is our bread and butter,” reports
Jacques Marais, marketing director of Berts Bricks.
“However in the past five years specifically we have seen a
flourishing residential property market, while we know
prices in other cities are flat.”
“We believe it is because clay brick is the obvious
choice in new developments for students. In terms of
exteriors, clay face bricks require little or no maintenance
– bricks don’t rot, tarnish, puncture, fade, rust, scuff, peel
or erode. The thermal expansion and contraction of clay
brick is minimal throughout the year – no unsightly cracks
to repair,” says Marais.
“Our environmental agenda happened by accident, as
cutting edge green building techniques proved to be the
most cost effective, high quality options. Innovative
Building Technologies and materials reduce construction
time, and costs, dramatically,” says Schooling. Most use
recycled materials (such as steel) or industrial by-products
(such as polymer), which drastically reduce waste and cost
without compromising temperature regulation or the
lifespan of the building.
So what can be done to bring costs down? There seems
to be a general case for using clay brick…
Tips on interiors: Make use of ceramic products like tiles
and fired bricks that are tough and hard-wearing, instead
of timber floors or carpets, says Musa Shangase of
Corobrik, president of the Claybrick Association. Blinds
look smart but break easily while curtains can be washed
and quickly replaced.

We will be about 600 000 beds for studen