Skills on Site March 2011 1

2 Skills on Site March 2011

 March 2011

COVER STORY contractor’s corner

4 PPC’s New Brand Campaign 25 Corruption Sinks Contractors
Breathes Life into the Company’s
Iconic Elephant transport

18
26 Bakkie or Van, You Choose
CONCRETE & CEMENT 27 Vans for Gutter Contractor
6 Storing Cement
29 LEADING INFO
power tools
9 Power Tools: Hire or Buy
11 How to Drill Cores FINance
30 Bank Targets Affordable Market
waterproofing & drainage
14 Don’t Forget Drainage! Endorsing body
33 Celebration to Mark 2010’s Achievements
alternative building

35
18 How to Build Steel Frame Rooms SUCCESS STORY
35 Being Your Own Boss is a Bright Idea!
electrical
22 What’s Inside an Electrician’s Toolbox 38 in touch

Proprietor and Publisher:

PROMECH PUBLISHING
Tel: (011) 781-1401
Fax: (011) 781-1403
E-mail: skillsonsite@promech.co.za
Website: www.promech.co.za
Printed by:
CTP Printers
Tel: (011) 230-7000

Acknowledgements
In order to bring you the most up-to-date infor-
mation from around the globe, we make use of
Internet websites that are current and provide
information that is relevant to local builders.
Information from the following sites has been
included in this issue: WikiHow – www.wikihow.
com, Stock.Xchange – www.sxc.hu

Promech Publishing has a BEE

The “Skills On Site” team - Top: Susan Custers, publisher; Zinobia Docrat, production;
Raymond Campling, editor. Seated: Candis Allen, advertising sales; Catherine Macdiva, rating of 97.2%
administration; Jackie Nene, subscriptions/circulation.

Copyright
All rights reserved. No editorial matter published in “Skills On Site” may be reproduced in any form or language without written permission
of the publishers. While every effort is made to ensure accurate reproduction, the editor, authors, publishers and their employees or agents
shall not be responsible or in any way liable for any errors, omissions or inaccuracies in the publication - whether arising from negligence or
otherwise or for any consequences arising therefrom. The inclusion or exclusion of any product does not mean that the publisher or editorial
board advocates or rejects its use either generally or in any particular field or fields.

Skills on Site March 2011 3

Pretoria Portland Cement (PPC) today
launched a new 360-degree brand campaign
using its strong South African heritage to rein-
force its commitment to the local market. The
campaign will inject a fresh personality into
the PPC brand and entrench PPC’s position as
leading supplier of cement in southern Africa,
highlighting the company’s intentions to grow
into an emerging-markets player.

In a stirring television commercial a majestic

African elephant, made of cement, suddenly
comes to life in the city. As it traverses the South
African landscape, the majestic creature begins
a journey of transforming nothing into something,
based on people’s needs.
Throughout the brand campaign, PPC clearly Paul Stuiver (PPC CEO) and Richard Tomes (PPC Customer Executive)
demonstrates the strength, reliability and consis-
tency of its cement products that continues to deliver A dedicated team of 114 people worked over a
successful construction results. three-day period, putting in 2900 hours of pre and
post production to create the emotive PPC television
By breathing life into the company’s iconic elephant,
commercial. Innovative technology incorporating
the campaign marks a definite change to PPC’s
film, stock frame and 3D was used to produce the
campaigns from previous years. The new campaign
new commercial.
is designed to communicate what the PPC brand
is about and how, together with the company, its PPC is an iconic brand and its cement has been used
strength continues to meet customer needs. for the past 119 years and will continue being used to
build South African landmarks and the development
“At PPC all our core principles are based on the fact
of its infrastructure and major construction projects,
that we are more than cement producers. We help
just like it did with the Union Buildings, Gariep Dam,
our customers shape their success. Our new campaign
Van Staden’s River Bridge, and some of the new
talks to this and demonstrates how we can be part
2010 stadia.
of making a difference,” said Richard Tomes, PPC’s
Customer Executive.
As the South African market grows, so does PPC’s
ambition to be at the cutting edge of innovation.
By depicting change and growth throughout the To view the new
commercial, PPC is demonstrating the importance campaign please visit
of using building material of high-quality cement in www.ppc.co.za
solving everyday needs for South Africans.
”We are taking a clear message to the nation - that
PPC Cement
PPC and its cement products not only has the ability
to help customers realise their construction dreams, Tel: +27 (0)11 386 9000
but also the compassion to better the lives of every Fax: +27 (0)11 386 9001
citizen,” commented Tomes. contactus@ppc.co.za
4 Skills on Site March 2011
 OUR STRENGTH, YOUR VISION.
TJDR45644

When you’re building a home, you need strength you can rely on. For over 100 years, the
consistent and reliable strength of PPC Cement has helped engineers, concrete product
manufacturers and builders just like you to do exactly that. From renovations around the
house to walls and extensions, if you can think it, you can build it with PPC.
For more information call our toll-free line on 0800 023 470 or visit www.ppc.co.za
Skills on Site March 2011 5
CONCRETE & CEMENT

Storing cement properly is important because if you

don’t, you might have to throw away brand new bags
of unused cement! Follow these simple tips and you
will never waste a bag of cement that got damaged
in storage again!

How to store cement

• For short periods, cement can be stored outside on
a platform raised above the ground and covered
with plastic sheeting to keep it dry. But this is risky
if there is a possibility that it might rain. It is very
important to keep the bags dry and away from
moisture. Because cement is finely ground, it easily
absorbs water and also moisture from the air.
• To store cement for longer periods, you will need
a storage area or storeroom that is as watertight
and as airtight as possible. Provide a damp proof
barrier on the floor such as a plastic sheet or wood
planks and stack bags at least 30cms away from
the walls. Stack bags close together to reduce air
circulation around them.
• Do not stack the bags more than 15 bags high to
reduce the risk of the stack toppling over. A falling
50kg bag of cement is a dangerous thing! You can
place the bags along and across so the bags use
each other for support. This makes the piles sturdier
and less likely to topple over.
• Due to pressure from the weight of high stacks,
cement in the lower bags may begin to cake.
When taken out to use, all you need to do is to
roll these bags over. Also, when removing stored
bags, remove them from two or three stacks, rather
than all from one stack. This will prevent the stack
toppling over. Be careful when going near stacks
or removing bags from them, these have 100’s of
kilos of weight.
• Use the cement as soon as possible, preferably
within two to three months. When taking bags to
use, always use the bags you’ve had the longest
first. To be able to make sure you do this, stack the
Cement bags on a pallet stored along and across To reduce the risk
of them toppling over
Safety tips when working with cement!
• Avoid eye, mouth and skin contact with
cement.
• Wash skin exposed to wet concrete as soon
as possible with plenty of fresh water.
• Remove and wash any clothing that gets
cement on it.
bags carefully as they arrive so you can keep track
of which are the newest and oldest bags.
• For larger projects, or if you plan to store the cement
for a while, get it delivered to the site on pallets
shrink-wrapped in plastic by the supplier.
Dead cement
Lumps in cement indicate that the bag has been
exposed to moisture. If these lumps can be broken
easily by hand, you can still use the cement, but add
a little extra cement to the mixture.
“Dead cement” is where the cement has already
begun the chemical reaction with water. You can tell
this has happened because the cement has started

6 Skills on Site March 2011

 CONCRETE & CEMENT

Prize winner!
Elija Matlala of Mpumalanga is the lucky winner of a R2000
voucher to buy Enduro Purple turbo and continuous rim blades
from Diamond Products. The prize will make a big difference
in his business because in the past he has been using normal
grinding wheels and less advanced blades to do wall chasing
for electrical conduits. The concrete blunts them quite quickly,
but with Diamond Products range one blade will last weeks. His
electrical contractor business will go from strength to strength.
Elija Matlala, Tel: 082 474 2286.

Always use your oldest cement bags first

hardening and clumping. Throw that bag away, it's

dead and it won’t be safe to use in construction. But
if you need cement for unimportant work, you can
use it but this cement might not be very strong. Only
use this cement if the strength of the cement needed
for the job doesn’t matter, don’t take chances!
So remember, It is not only bags of cement that have
turned from powder into solid cement blocks that
need to been thrown away!
Concrete and Cement Institute, Hanlie Turner, Tel (011) 315 0300,
Fax: (011) 315 0584, Email: hanlie.turner@cnci.org.za, Web: www.
cnci.org.za

Skills on Site March 2011 7

8 Skills on Site March 2011

At some point in time every building contractor is
faced with the question: should I rent or buy certain
power tools.
T
his one little question is, in fact, quite com-
plicated and “Skills On Site” has compiled a
few “rules of thumb” to help you make the
decision more easily.
Rule 1: Determine how often you will
need it
The most important factor in whether to hire or buy
is how often you will need the power tool for the job
you do. If it is once a day or even once a week then
it is probably time to go to your dealer and buy the
tool. If on the other hand you use that type of tool
only occasionally then it makes no sense to buy and
you should rather hire.
If you put together a list of the tools you can’t do
without then those are the power tools that you
should buy. Tools that you would not want to take
with you wherever you go are most likely the ones
you should hire. It is true that you will leave the tools
that are not part of your everyday kit at the office
and probably won’t have them on site the day you
need them anyway.
Rule 2: Get the tool that’s right for the job
This is very important because you have to decide
which tool is right for the job you want to have done.
POWER TOOLS
The right tool for the job means that you are doing
the job easily and in the least amount of time. It also
means you are not wasting money on things like bits,
blades etc. that may wear out or break if they are
used for the wrong job.
Sometimes the right tool for the job is more expensive
than you wanted to pay. In this situation you should
look back to Rule 1 and decide on the best route to
take. On the other hand, if you really can’t afford to
buy it and need it often then you can hire it. Also,
remember if you cannot afford the right tool for the
job, but need that tool often - you are charging your
customers too little!
Rule 3: Cost vs quality
Every contractor has a different opinion about which
brand of tool is better for them. One thing is for sure
– buy quality when it comes to the tools you buy. The
difference between quality branded products that
are made for professional usage and supermarket
DIY tools is very big and goes back to using the right
tool for the job.
Remember when buying tools for everyday use, on
the construction site, buy only professional tools. DIY
tools are not made for this type of heavy duty work
and rough conditions and will not last very long. Also,
Skills on Site March 2011 9
 POWER TOOLS

it pays to buy products from companies that guar-

antee their products and that have service facilities
and spares available in your area.
Professional tools may cost double or three times the
price of supermarket brands, but if you consider that
professional tools will outlast them 10 or even 100
times longer then its better to pay more upfront. For
the same reason you will find that most reputable hire
companies only stock reputable brands of power tools.

Rule 4: Calculate the cost of hire vs buy

On average the expected lifespan of a power tool
like a grinder or saw is two years under normal condi-
tions, including accidental breakages, theft and wear
and tear. In order to make a decision based on cost
alone divide the cost of the power tool needed by
the amount of times you will use the tool over a two
year period. For example, R5000 divided by 20 (based
on using a power tool 10 times per year for two years)
= R250. This means that as the owner it is costing you
the equivalent of R250 every time you use this tool.
The same tool may cost you between R70 and R130
per day to hire. So, based on cost it would make sense
to rather hire the tool. If you do the same calculation
with tools that you use often the calculation will be
reversed and show that it is cheaper to buy these
power tools.

Rule 5: Be ready and prepared

A good contractor knows power tools are an impor-
tant part of the job and in order to be prepared has
access to the right tools for the job. For this reason it
is important that you either own the tools or that you
partner with a good tool hire company where you
can get whatever you need whenever you need it.
Also look at the risks involved. If you do not have a
safe place to store expensive equipment, you may
rather want to hire your tools. On the other hand if
you work out of town the cost of transport to hire the
equipment and inconvenience of travelling to the
nearest store to hire equipment may be unbearable.
Either way, both have their place for contractors.
10 Skills on Site March 2011
 POWER TOOLS

When you need to drill a core into the

wall for plumbing or electrical conduits it
is important that you use the best tool for
the job. The right tool means you will do
it accurately and quickly without damaging
either the power tool or the cutting edge.

S
uppliers of cutting products for the building
industry, Diamond Products, gives us some tips
Step 2
on coring. They produce a big range of high
performance dry cut bits that offer great per- Use the hole as a guide, by inserting the pilot exten-
formance and their products are affordable. sion into the hole. Start drilling (with your drill running
at 1200 - 2200 RPM).

This is how
Using a dry-cut core bit like the LD10, that is designed
and manufactured specifically for the plumbing, elec-
trical and air-conditioning industries, you can use a
standard drill (800 - 1200 Watt Drill) running between
1800 – 2200 RPM.

Step 1 Step 3
Drill a pilot hole using a 14 mm masonry drill bit in the
Gently move the Dry-Core bit in and out to clear the
wall with a standard drill.
dust and avoid binding or caking of material on the
cutting edge.

Skills on Site March 2011 11

12 Skills on Site March 2011
 POWER TOOLS

Remember no force is needed because the tool will

do the work for you.
Step 5
Re-insert the Dry-Core bit to start the process again
to drill through the second brick.

Step 4 Step 6
Once you’ve cut through the first brick, remove the Remove the core and you will have a perfectly, neat
Dry-Cut bit and tap the bit until the core is removed. hole for inserting pipes, cables, etc.

Remember
Do not use hammer action when drilling cores. Even if the material is hard and the going is slow always let
the tool and the bit do the work. Never put too much force behind the tool to try and cut faster, as this
can damage the powertool over a period of time. It will also blunt the bit quicker and probably not make
your work go any quicker.
Diamond Products, Tel: (011) 552 8310, Fax: (011) 552 8312, Email: info@diamondpc.co.za, Web: www.diamondpc.co.za

Skills on Site March 2011 13

WATERPROOFING AND DRAINAGE
Putting proper drainage in a property is very impor-
tant because without it, buildings and belongings
can get damaged in heavy rains and gardens will
turn into mud. Leaks, damp problems, collapsing
foundations and soil erosion (where soil gets washed
away) can all be caused by water not draining prop-
erly.
Remember to plan for water
running into your property!
14 Skills on Site March 2011
I
t is also important because of new laws that
are being introduced. Housing developments
that release more than 5% more rainwater than
the natural veld did before it was developed
will no longer be allowed. It is always best to
plan your drainage system before you start building
because installing it afterwards is more difficult and
expensive!
When working out drainage, think of where the water
will come from, where it needs to go and how it will
get there. All drainage systems
need a place where the water
enters it, a pipe, drain or trench to
transport the water, and a place
where the water can be sent so
that it doesn’t cause flooding on
another part of the property, or
a neighbour’s property. It is best
to try and send the water as di-
rectly as possible into the storm
water system.
Remember you can’t only worry
about the water that collects on
your property, you need to also
plan for water that will run into your
property from other properties.
To design drainage you first need
to work out where the big flows
of water will come from. Gutters
always collect a lot of water that
needs somewhere to go. Look at
the properties around your prop-
erty to see if their water is going
to flow into yours and where it is
going to flow from.
Standing water
Water also collects on big paved,
concreted or tarred areas. You
want to stop this because standing
water can damage the surface
and is also unhygienic.
Giving the surface a slight slope
lets the water runs off. But this
can also cause a heavy flow of
water, so you need to have a
drain in the direction that the
water is going to flow.
 WATERPROOFING AND DRAINAGE

Water always flows downhill and collects in any

lower part of the surface but water flow can be
controlled simply and cheaply by angling surfaces
properly to direct the water to where you need it
to go, so that your drains can do their job.

Controlling water flow

There are a few different ways you can control the
flow of water on the property:
• Gutters help control the flow of water that lands
on your roof during a rain storm. The water goes
down the downpipe and can then be channelled
into a direction so it drains away properly.
• Channel drains are long narrow troughs that have
metal grates at the top and drainage pipes at
the bottom to get rid of the water that flows into
the trough. These are often used in driveways and
paved areas.
• French drains are trenches dug into the soil and
filled with gravel. The trench must slope downhill or
must be dug so that it gets deeper and the water
will flow along the slope.
French drains can be filled with pebbles or gravel

Skills on Site March 2011 15

cement innovation
Here are FIVE solid reasons why you
should use a Cemcrete product in your
next construction project:

1. Cemcrete boasts a product range of over 60 products:

ranging from beautiful swimming pool plasters, internal
and external wall and oor nishes, cement- and
acrylic-based waterproong systems, adhesives,
grouts, mortars; and more - we’ll help you nd the
perfect product for your construction or renovation swimming pool plasters
project.

2. All Cemcrete products are made “t-for-purpose”,

bragging desirable qualities such as being UV-stable,
waterproof, durable, easy to maintain, hard-wearing,
and more, giving you peace of mind...

3. Cemcrete’s dedicated national sales and technical

teams are just a phone call, email or site visit away for
all your product and application queries.

4. Cemcrete offers you hands-on product training courses

at the Head Ofce in Industria, Johannesburg; fully
equipped to provide attendees sufcient background wall coatings
and hands-on experience needed to tackle projects
with absolute condence.

5. Cemcrete is all about innovation - if you have a specic

problem you’re not sure how to solve, we’ll use our 37
years of experience to advise you on how one of our
products can solve your problem.

View www.cemcrete.co.za for the full range or visit

the Ideas Centres in Johannesburg (10 Telford Road,
Industria) and Cape Town (1 Franschhoek Crescent,
Panorama) for loads of inspiration...
oor coatings
Cemcrete – the cement innovation company.

the cement innovation company

Cemcrete (Pty) Ltd www.cemcrete.co.za info@cemcrete.co.za Tel. (011) 474 2415 Fax. (011) 474 2416

16 Ideas
New Centre Opening
Skills on Site March 2011
31 March 2011: 227 Jan Smuts Avenue, Johannesburg

Channel drain
They work even better when there is a pipe with holes
in it for the water to travel along. You can buy this pipe
or to save money make your own by buying some PVC
pipes and drilling holes into them. Remember not to
make holes along the bottom of the pipe because
that is where the water will flow.
Safety
All of the parts of your drainage system need to be
WATERPROOFING AND DRAINAGE
Buildings can get damaged by damp if the water isn’t drained away
installed in a way that they can’t cause any injuries,
so make sure pipes are properly covered so people
can’t trip over them, and holes are covered with
metal grates. Doing this also stops your drains from
getting clogged up or damaged.
Your customers will be happy that you, the contrac-
tor, installed a good drainage system every time the
rains come!
Skills on Site March 2011 17
ALTERNATIVE BUILDING

How to Build Steel Frame

Rooms
Steel framing is used in many offices and houses
for quick and easy construction. It is also known as
prefabricated building or dry walling when it is used
indoors.

It has many advantages over concrete and bricks

or even wood frames when it comes to dry walling
or prefabricated buildings. Steel studs are perfectly
straight. They don’t shrink or split. They are light and
easy to store, plus they resist fire, insects and rot. They
are also easier to move or correct.
In this article we look at interior walls and how to either
finish the interior of a steel frame house or add rooms
in existing houses. Here’s how:
Steps
1. Screw lengths of track to the floor (slab) and ceil-
ing. The frame or tracks are slightly wider than studs,
so you can snap them in.
3. Join studs to tracks by clamping the two members
tightly with a C-clamp locking pliers and driving a 12
mm pan-head screw in the middle where they meet.
Drive the screws at medium speed. Choose a clutch
setting strong enough to drive the screw home but
not so strong that it strips the screw hole and weakens
the joint.

2. To trim to correct length, cut both side flanges of

a steel stud, using straight-cut snips. Then bend one
flange up (clear of the snips’ jaws) and cut across the
length. To cut multiple pieces at once, use a miter saw
with a metal cutting blade. For easier electrical and
plumbing installations later on, keep all the keyhole
knockouts aligned by cutting all studs to length from 4. Fasten to the ceiling track or fabricate metal head-
the same end. Protect your hands with heavy-duty ers by cutting the track 50 mm longer than the rough
gloves. opening width. Cut each flange of the track (on both

18 Skills on Site March 2011

 ALTERNATIVE BUILDING

ends) 25 mm lengthwise and bend the web down 90

degrees using sheet metal locking pliers. Screw these
into concrete roof or steel frame.
5. Secure electrical cable along the center line of
each stud with cable ties screwed to the studs. Pop
a plastic bushing into each knockout to keep the
cable from rubbing against the sharp edges.

Pan head self drilling screws

Building tips
• Levels with one magnetic side are helpful when
working with steel studs.
• At door jambs, if you trim a wooden 2x4 (5 cm
x 10 cm) slightly, it will slide inside of the steel stud
which makes the door frame much sturdier... this
makes hinges easier to attach and the house more
soild.

6. Add wood nailers as needed for doors, windows • Self-tapping screws make joining pieces much
and cabinets. If your steel stud wall seems flimsy, easier.
keep in mind that it gains full rigidity once drywall or
sheathing is applied. Hang drywall or sheathing using
31 mm self-tapping drywall screws spaced every 20.3
cm along edges (where two sheets meet on a stud)
and 30.5 cm on centre elsewhere. You may need
screws placed closer together, and you’re better off
having too many than having to add more after the
inspector comes.

Things You’ll Need

Steel studs are sold in a
variety of widths, lengths
and gauges (the lower
the gauge number, the
thicker the steel. The studs
are screwed to steel track
(of matching width) with 12
mm pan-head screws.

Drywall screws

Skills on Site March 2011 19

Flexible waterproofing slurry. duraflex

USES: W ha t yo u ne ed
• Protection and repair of balconies, terraces, concrete structure • Mechanical mi ?
xer
supports and bridges. • short bristled
brush, rubber sq
• Waterproofing of new and old buildings (inside and outside). apply duraflex ueegee, trowel or
spray to
• Waterproofing of showers, tanks, containers & water reservoirs
• Can be painted and covered with tiles.
Ti m e ne ed ed
• A coat takes 16 ho
urs to dry before yo

d
• After 3 days it is u can apply anoth
resistant to mech er coat.
urflex is a slurry waterproofing solution that can be used for a wide • It is fully cured aft anical stress
er 7 days
range of applications. Contractors should always have duraflex • No priming requir
ed.
with them for waterproofing and damp problems.
Prep a ra tio n
All surfaces to be
clean, dry, sound,
oil, fungal growth free of all laitance
15 kg and loose and fla , grease,
Benefits fect how well it sti
cks to the surface
king particles tha
t might af-
• Excellent waterproof barrier. blasting. Cracks les . Concrete may req
s than 3mm in width uire grit
• Effective on negative or positive side. the crack is not lik can be coated as
5 kg ely to open up mo long as
than 3mm in width re than 3mm. Cracks
• High bond strength. should be chased greater
±15mm in depth. -out to 4mm in wi
• Excellent freeze/thaw resistance. This should be fill dth and
less liquid provid ed with duraflex ap
• Excellent resistance to chloride ing a thicker cons plied using
crack has hardene istency. When ma
d the coating shou terial in the
• Brush, trowel, or spray applied. ld be applied over
the crack.
• Reliable application
• Self-curing
• Low in lace cost.
• Non-toxic
• Good abrasion resistance.
• Approved for use in drinking water systems.

Mixing
It is very important to use a mechanical mixer, such as a slow speed
electric drill fitted with a suitable paddle. Fill approximately three quarters
of component A (milky liquid) into a pail and, with continuous stirring,
slowly add component B (grayish powder). Mixing must be continued 2 Part Waterproof structures and bridges
until the mix is completely mixed and free of lumps. For horizontal sur-
faces such as the base of reservoirs, add the remaining component A.
For other applications only add enough of component A to provide the
right consistency. When the two components are mixed together you
get a plastic liquid that starts off thick but gets thinner the more you
mix it. This makes it easy to apply.

Application
Duraflex may be applied with a short bristled brush, rubber squeegee,
trowel or spray.
Brush: should be applied in 3 coats to provide a final dry thickness Treat rising damp Waterproof balconies
of 2mm - 3mm on surfaces. Alternate coats should be applied at right
angles to each other, allowing 16 hours between coats. Protection on
Trowel: 1st coat should be applied at a thickness of 1mm - 1.5mm Completion
using a normal trowel. Allow to cure for 16 hours. duraflex may be left as is, be tiled
2nd coat should be applied by using a notched trowel and leveled over or over coated with a high
immediately by using a spiked roller. quality PVA/acrylic paint.
Pot life @ 10ºC : 2 hrs, @ 20ºC : 1 hour, @ 30ºC : 0,5 hours
Resistance to water pressure: Attained after 7 days cure pressure:
20 atmospheres, Negative Colours
Pressure: 4 atmospheres Grey
Off White
Black Waterproof a shower before tiling
Coverage
8m /15kg per coat (requires 2 coats).
2

Cleaning Fo r mo re in fo rmat ion

Tools, brushes and mixing equipment should be cleaned immediately
after use and before material has set with a.b.e. super brush cleaner
p l e a s e ca l l a n a . b . e b r a n c h
followed by washing with soap and water. o r v i s i t w w w. a b e.co. z a

20 Skills on Site March 2011

Asphaltic waterproofing membrane malthoid 2, 3 & 5 ply

USES:
• malthoid 2 ply: Damp-proof coursing in brickwork (DPC) 1,7mm
W ha t yo u ne ed
• malthoid 3 ply: Damp-proof coursing in brickwork (DPC) 2mm • a.b.e bituprime
?
Damp-proof coursing under floor screeds to prime the conc
• a.b.e. bitugrip rete
to put on primed
malthoid 5 concrete when us
• malthoid 5 ply: Damp-proof coursing in brickwork (DPC) 2.8mm ing
• a.b.e. silvakote
Damp-proof coursing under floor screeds when malthoid is
to weather going to be expo
sed
• Sharp knife
• Flat roof waterproofing when an asphaltic membrane is used.
(min. falls 2%)
Prep arat io n
• As an underlay on timber decks. All surfaces must
be clean, dry and
sticking out free from anything
sharp
• As a protection layer over a.b.e. index torch-on waterproofing
membranes before applying screeds and tiles.

m
althoid 2,3 & 5 ply is a specialised application product for damp
proofing as well as an underlay or protection layer.

Benefits Surface Finish

• Very difficult to puncture. Fine washed sand.
• Easy to apply.
• Protection for torch on membranes.
• Rot proof.
• Economical.

Bonding/Priming
• Prime concrete surfaces with a.b.e.
bituprime and allow to dry.
• Use a.b.e. bitugrip as an adhesive to
bond malthoid 5 ply to primed concrete,
and the overlaps.

Application Used on wendy house roofs

Tear off the paper wrapper and simply roll
out product on surface. Use a sharp knife
to cut to right length. Overlaps: 75 mm side
& end laps 100 mm.

Protection on Completion
In the event of the malthoid being exposed,
coat with a.b.e. silvakote for protection
against UV rays. Allow malthoid 5 ply to
weather for 6 weeks before overcoating.

Caution
• 2 & 3 ply not for exposed roof water-
proofing.
• Do not use on completely flat roofs.
• Stack full rolls on end no more than 2
layers high. Used under roof tiles
• Stack cut rolls no more than 1,8m high.

Packaging
malthoid 2 & 3 ply is supplied in various roll sizes:
20m x 900mm
20m x 112mm
20m x 225mm
Fo r mo re in fo rmat ion
20m x 300mm p l e a s e ca l l a n a . b . e b r a n c h
20m x 450mm
malthoid 5 ply is supplied in 20m x 900mm rolls.
o r v i s i t w w w. a b e.co. z a

Skills on Site March 2011 21

 ELECTRICAL

What’s Inside an
Electrician’s Toolbox
Time is m oney and using the right tools for the job can help you save both. These items should be in any
electrician’s toolbox to help them get the job done right.

1. Utility knife: You will be using this a lot so make 4. Tape Measure:
sure it fits comfortably in your hand and that cheap Helps you work
blades are easily available for it. neatly and not
waste materials.

5. Wire Stripper/cutter: Use to strip the plastic coating

2. Screwdrivers: Rubber grip screwdrivers provide off wires or cut the wire completely.
a little more protection from accidental shocks. Dif-
ferent size Phillips (star tip) and flat screwdrivers are
always useful.

3. Fish Tape: A reusable coil of flat wire that is used

to pull electrical wires through conduits.

6. Volt meter: Checks

voltages and verifies
that circuits are “live”
and working correctly.

22 Skills on Site March 2011

 ELECTRICAL

7. Electrician’s Pliers:
A good set of needle Some places where you can stock your
nose pliers allow you to toolkit are:
grip, cut, strip and crimp • Cashbuild, Tel: 0860 100 582, web: www.cashbuild.co.za
wires as well as helps you work • Build-it, Tel: 0861 284 5348, web: www.buildit.co.za
quickly. Rubber insulation on • Builders warehouse, Tel: 0860 284 53377, web: www.builders.co.za
the handles provides extra • Mica, Tel: 086 112 2114, web: www.mica.co.za
safety. • Voltex Tel: 011 879 2000, web: www.voltex.co.za
• Communica, Tel: 011 879 2000, web: www.communica.co.za
•HellermannTyton Tel: 011 879 6620, web: www.hellermanntyton.
8. Hammer: Claw Hammer is a very versatile tool to co.za
have.

10. The Toolbox: A good tool

box is easy to carry and
has lots of space for
your tool collection
to grow. It should
also have places to
store smaller screws
and connectors.
Make sure it’s durable
9. Insulating tape: Protects and insulates live wires and it can even be
and connection. Get a roll of Red and a roll of black used as a handy step
to match to the colour of your wiring. ladder.

Skills on Site March 2011 23

24 Skills on Site March 2011
 CONTRACTOR’S CORNER

The two biggest enemies of contracting firms are

fraud and corruption. That is because both have the
ability to ruin a business instantly and to ruin ser-
vice delivery to entire communities.

T
he Construction Industry Development Board
(cidb) is working tirelessly to stop fraud and cor-
ruption in the building and construction industry.
It has introduced a toll-free fraud and corruption
hotline where contractors can report corruption on
tenders and contracts. It can also be used to report
contractor fraud where companies obtain cidb grad-
ing based on fraudulent information.
Call 0800 11 24 34
The hotline is managed by an external consulting firm
and is totally anonymous, in other words nobody can
find out the callers details or information. Even senior
management of the cidb, who set up the hotline do
not have access to the information, and by agree-
ment with the consultant they don’t even know where Corruption is a dead end
the hotline is based.
This was done by the cidb to encourage people in the
industry to feel free to report fraud and corruption. If public and published on the cidb’s website and in
you are aware of the following fraud and corruption certain media.
call the hotline: How it affects you
Contractor fraud Fraud and corruption are like slow poisons that instantly
• Companies that provide the cidb with fraudulent make some people rich while the masses suffer for
or overstated financial and project information in many years afterwards. Not only does service delivery
order to be registered on a higher grade on the cidb become less effective, but in time government money
register of contractors is spent fruitlessly and on fewer projects because cor-
rupt officials and contractors charge overly high rates.
Public sector (Government) corruption
• Tenders or contracts awarded by government In this way honest contractors get fewer opportuni-
entities to contractors that are not registered or are ties and those opportunities that are made public
not at the required cidb level are not the profitable ones. When law enforcement
agents find out about it the officials and contractors
• Where tenders are awarded to friends and family lose everything – including their reputations.
or business associates of the officials working for gov-
ernment departments or entities responsible without Fraud and corruption also lead to higher tax for ev-
following proper tender procedures and procurement eryone, poorer quality building and construction and
policies unhealthy competition where only the chosen few
are in a position to make money.
• Where officials ask for money for favours
Chain reaction
Cases that are reported to the hotline are investigated Stop the chain reaction today and make sure that
and can lead to contractors being fined and their track the industry is free of fraud and corruption for the sake
record of fraud being published on the cidb website. of our country and its citizens. Call the cidb Fraud
Government entities, departments and municipalities and Corruption Hotline on 0800 11 24 34. All calls
found guilty will be reported to the Auditor General are anonymous and each caller will get a reference
for further investigation, and may face fines. In ad- number that they can use to follow the progress of
dition fraudulent or corrupt activities will be made the investigation.

Skills on Site March 2011 25

TRANSPORT

New Merc on the block

Mercedes Benz South Africa has just
launched the all-new Vito and Viano
van models. The newcomers combine
the reliability and comfort that is stan-
dard on all Mercedes Benz vehicles in
a hard-working package.
Aiming for a low cost-of-ownership
the vans only need to be serviced
every 30 000km and use less fuel than
the previous models, despite having
more power.

Contractors usually think no further than buying a

bakkie or truck to move goods around from site to
site, but in many instances a van is a better option.

hen it comes to moving equipment a van

can offer many advantages including
better security for high value loads, walk-
in convenience of getting to different
goods without necessarily unpacking - and crew-cab
configurations can carry staff safely and comfortably
with a load in the back.
Where loose loads are carried or in areas with very
bad access (rural tracks) a bakkie is obviously a bet-
ter choice, but particularly electricians, plumbers and
carpenters should look at vans as an option.
Nowadays many contractors are seeing vans as the
way to go especially where the vehicle is not used
for oversized loads. They see it as creating a better Most popular vans available in South Africa:
impression on site and when visiting clients’ sites, Manufacturer Models
especially when pulling in with a vehicle from a top
manufacturer like Mercedes Benz or Volkswagen. Mercedes Benz Viano, Vito and Sprinter

Vans also offer more car-like benefits such as bet- Volkswagen Combi, Transporter, Crafter
ter ride quality and in many instances better fuel Toyota Quantum
economy. Iveco Daily
Here are some more benefits of vans: Nissan Primastar, Interstar
• Low load bed Hyundai H1
• Better access through walk in doors (either side
Fiat Ducato
and back)
• More secure load area protected by in-vehicle Opel Vivaro, Movano
systems Peugeot Expert, Boxer
• Safer staff carrying capacity in crew-cab
CAM Inyathi
configuration
• More professional image presented to clients Renault Trafic

26 Skills on Site March 2011


A Durban gutter contractor, Longspan Gutters they were a problem for a variety of reasons, including
replaced its fleet of bakkies and trailers with vans
a number of years ago and has never looked back
since then.
he company just bought eight more Mer-
cedes-Benz Sprinter vans because they are
more manoeuvrable in and out of driveways
and send the right image of the company
to clients.
Gus Behn, CEO of Longspan Gutters shares his reasons
for choosing the vans with “Skills On Site.”
For the transport of the long seamless gutters Longspan
just bought another eight Mercedes-Benz Sprinter vans
to add to its growing van fleet “We specializes in the
roll-forming and installing of seamless aluminium gut-
ters. Business is 80% residential with the rest divided
between commercial and industrial work,” he says.
“All our manufacturing is done on site with the acces-
sories being pre-loaded – so the loads are quite long
and fragile. We used to have bakkies and trailers but
TRANSPORT
jack-knifing. Sprinters give us the good, clean image
we are looking for plus the manoeuvrability to get in
and out of narrow driveways,” he adds.
The Sprinter 518 CDI panel van with a load capacity
of 15.5 m3 and a loading area of 4 300 mm, together
with a loading height of 1 940 mm is extremely flex-
ible when it comes to packing a load.
“Extra-large door openings at the rear and left-
hand-side, together with the easy access design,
allows for fast, efficient and convenient loading and
unloading,” says Mpumelelo Zulu, Product Specialist,
Mercedes-Benz Vans.
“Twin co-driver’s seat with a number of storage
compartments and a folding table in the backrest is
ideally suited for assisting the workmen with ease of
dealing with administrative paperwork, refreshments
and the like,” concludes Zulu.
Mercedes-Benz, Shirle Greig, Tel: (012) 677 1904,
Fax: (012) 677 1682, Email: shirle.greig@daimler.com
Skills on Site March 2011 27
28 Skills on Site March 2011
 LEADING INFO

These statistics are provided exclusively for Skills on Site readers by Databuild, the leading provider of construction related information in
South Africa. Databuild has been providing information for thirty five years and tracks projects from planning through to awarded stages.
Each month Databuild will provide statistics reflecting trends in the industry.
For more information about Databuild please contact us on (011) 259-4500 or visit us at www.databuild.co.za

Value of awarded projetcs by province in Rmillions

Province Value in Rmillions
Eastern Cape 201.12
Free State 289.93
Gauteng 1301.20
KwaZulu Natal 439.22
Limpopo 529.69
Mpumalanga 262.91
North West 71.05
Northern Cape 199.26
Western Cape 2086.56
Grand Total 5380.93

CIDB GRADING CIDB Value in CIDB Value in CIDB Value in CIDB Value in CIDB Value in
Grade 2 Rmillion Grade 3 Rmillion Grade 4 Rmillion Grade 5 Rmillion Grade 6 Rmillion
Eastern Cape 3 1.67 11 16.55 1 2.50 7 28.90 3 20.00
Free State 1 1.50 7 9.73 6 15.20 3 65.00
Gauteng 1 1.40 1 1.80 1 4.80 1 4.00 2 14.80
KwaZulu Natal 3 1.99 18 20.55 11 60.20 7 34.28 6 94.50
Limpopo 1 0.50 5 10.04 6 14.78 25 185.62 8 75.45
Mpumalanga 13 23.19 1 2.62 2 36.80 3 30.60
North West 5 13.00 5 47.05
Northern Cape 2 0.00 3 7.90 3 12.36 4 44.00
Western Cape 15 6.04 13 15.38 6 10.69 7 54.30 10 103.00
Total value per grading in Rmillions 24 13.10 75 110.24 35 118.69 52 356.26 44 494.40

29
Skills on Site March 2011 29
FINANCE

First National Bank (FNB) has targeted affordable Huge demand

housing as a key growth area, setting a target of Despite huge demand for housing in South Africa
financing 100 000 homes in this sector by 2012. there is still an undersupply in the affordable hous-
ing market space (currently defined as houses in the

F
R180 000 to R500 0000 price range).
NB has fi-
nanced more FNB Housing Finance has been working with govern-
than 76 000 af- ment and other stakeholders to come up with solu-
fordable hous-
ing units since the
establishment of its
affordable housing
finance business unit
in 2002. The bank aims
to finance more than
10 000 housing units by
end June 2011 and an
additional 15 000 by
end June 2012.
Marius Marais Profit growth
Despite the economic downturn and a tough reces-
sion, FNB Housing Finance managed to grow its profit
from end user finance in this market by 84% in the
2009/2010 financial year.
Marius Marais, CEO of FNB Housing Finance, says this
growth emphasizes the importance of being a respon-
sible lender and always putting customers’ needs first.
“The bottom line is that we focused on the quality of
the loans granted rather than on the quantity. This
enabled us to endure the hardships of the recession
and limit our defaults within acceptable levels.”

30 Skills on Site March 2011

 FINANCE

tions to address the housing backlog and increase

housing delivery.
“At FNB we support government’s drive of develop-
ing an integrated human settlement. To us it is more
than providing end-user finance to our customers,
it is also about enabling and creating sustainable
communities through the provision of quality afford-
able housing and to achieve this it is crucial for all
stakeholders to work closely together and share best
practises for the benefit of our country,” says Marais.
“As we move out of a recession, and stability re-
turns to the property market, we see tremendous
opportunities,” adds Marais. “The rapid growth of
our cities, and the increasing demand for affordable
shelter, means an ongoing demand for affordable
housing. We intend to hold onto our position as a
major player in that space, and to ensure respon-
sible consumers have access to the best possible
housing finance solution,” he concludes.
First National Bank, Busi Mngomezulu, Tel: (011) 371 9124, Email:
bmngomezulu@fnb.co.za

Skills on Site March 2011 31

32 Skills on Site March 2011

Learners in Khuthaza’s three skills development programmes celebrated their graduations from the courses at
a glitzy a year-end function in Sandton at the end of last year.
he event marked the end of a tough year
of learning and they were finally free to cel-
ebrate their achievements in style without
the pressures of learning and studying - for
the first time in eight months since they
had begun.
The evening started with a cocktail party in Hollywood
style, and from the beginning it was clear that learners,
partners, lecturers, mentors and guests are not only
smart and savvy business people, but also smart and
stylish dressers with an eye for fashion.
Even despite some of the heaviest rain of the year
the event was moved indoors where the speakers
reminded all present of the important work that lies
ahead in the building and construction industry.
Also, of the important role that Khuthaza plays in posi-
tioning women (and for the first time in 2010 men) for
entrance into the housing and construction related
professions.
Learners graduated from the following 8-month cer-
tificate programmes:
Graduates, their partners, guests and lecturers celebrated a year of hard work, sweat and achievement at the annual year end function of Khuthaza
ENDORSING BODY
Cornerstone (Entry level)
The Khuthaza Cornerstone programme is for those
new entrants to the construction industry and enables
them to build a foundation of knowledge and skills.
This programme is aimed at those who are in the early
stages of setting up their construction businesses.
Connection (Intermediate level)
The Khuthaza Connection programme is for partici-
pants to build on their existing knowledge and skills.
It provides learners with skills, exposure, networks and
knowledge that will enable them to improve the ef-
ficient operations of their companies.
Re a abelana (More Experienced)
Re a abelana creates a forum for participants have
greater access to leaders in the industry and oppor-
tunities with the established sector. It provides partici-
pants with skills, exposure, networks and knowledge
that will enable them to grow their businesses and
plan for the long term.
Khuthaza, Elizabeth O’Leary, Tel: (011) 275 0268, Fax: 086 648 6379,
Email: info@khuthaza.org.za, Web: www.khuthaza.org.za
Skills on Site March 2011 33
Demolish
the competition

NEW! The most competent demolition hammer for work in concrete, stone or asphalt: the
Bosch GSH 27 VC Professional. With its impact energy of 69 joules, the GSH 27 VC is the
world’s most powerful electric breaker. Capable of an average material removal rate of 3.2
tons/ hour, the Bosch demolition hammer is an essential for the professional. Despite its
power, users will benefit from very low vibration thanks to its vibration-reduced hammer
mechanism and its decoupled handles. Designed for rugged operations and constructed
from quality materials, the GSH 27 VC boasts an extended lifetime. Professional tools for
Professionals.

34 Skills on Site March 2011

www.bosch-pt.com/ za/ en
 SUCCESS

Enock Phiri has strong ideas on how a contractor should treat their clients. As an electrician with his own
company, he believes that reputations are everything, so he makes sure he keeps his good reputation!

kills On Site” spoke to Enock to find out how he

built up his own successful electrician company
from nothing and what he plans for the future.
Enock used to work for a company that didn’t
look after its client’s well, so it didn’t have a
good reputation. Because of this, the company was
struggling and in 1998 Enock got retrenched, but he
learnt from their mistakes and has always taken pride
in his work. “When I was still working for that company
my boss used to sometimes borrow my toolbox on the
weekends because it was the most pristine” he tells us.
Taxi to success
After being retrenched, he took his toolbox, caught
a taxi to Fourways and knocked on doors to look for
business.
He tells us about the first job he got by himself. “When
going from door to door I met someone whose friend
was renovating a house and the electricity wasn’t
working. He agreed to let me have a look and see if
I could find the problem.
I quickly found out that the problem was the elec-
tricity cable going to the house, but the client didn’t
believe me! Back then it was difficult to get taken
Enock always keeps his toolbox neat
Enock Phiri
seriously being black and having no experience of
working on my own. The client even got two other
electricians in because he didn’t trust my opinion but
they all agreed with me that it was the cable.
So I got a cheque to go and buy materials, this was
the first cheque I had ever been given!” Enock laughs
when he remembers how scared he was that the
electricity still wasn’t going to work after he installed
the new cable, but when he turned on the switch,
the lights went on.
Enock Electrical was started
“I was paid well for that job but I didn’t go and buy
clothes or shoes, I bought more tools. After that job I
also got more confidence and I slowly started getting
more and more work, mostly from builders” he says. And
so his company, “Enock Electrical” was started.
It wasn’t easy though, Enock tells us about when he
used to have to catch taxis and take all his equipment,
including ladders with him. This was very difficult to
do in a crowded taxi!
But he always made a plan and would pay the driver
a little extra to drop him closer to his job. Now of
course he has his own truck, which he keeps in good

Skills on Site March 2011 35

36 Skills on Site March 2011

condition and services often, so it will never let him
down and make him late for a client.
Relationships
Enock always comes back to the importance of
relationships and he has a few secrets to his success
that are easy to follow, but very few people do follow
them. “Relationships with clients are important and
you have to accommodate them,” he says. “I’ve
never advertised, all my business comes from refer-
rals. Honesty drives me.”
He tells us about all the dishonest people in his in-
dustry, like those who will charge a big amount to
fix a small fault, and tell the customer the fault was
complicated and needed lots of parts. This is not
how he operates, as he always calls his clients after
finding the problem and explains it to them.
He communicates with them to build up the trust. “All
my clients are happy,” says Enoch. I’ve never had an
unhappy client because I don’t charge a deposit, so
they pay me when they’re happy.”
Sub-contracting
But it isn’t only important to build good relationships
with clients. Building good relationships with other elec-
tricians has landed him a lot of sub-contracting jobs.
His relationships with other contractors like builders,
plumbers and security installers have also got him a
lot of new business and he is always networking with
them, telling clients about them if they are good and
they tell clients about him.
“People need to be able to trust the contractors who
come into their homes and offices. Sometimes they
give their contractors keys and alarm codes.” he says.
Enock has a gets on well with his employees and he
has never had a problem of an employee stealing
anything from a client’s premises. “Pay your guys
well and look after them so they will look after you.”
SUCCESS
Put work first
“Weekends and nights are great to get work. A res-
taurant called me on a Saturday night because their
electricity had stopped working. When I got there,
people were using candles at the tables but they
were waiting for their food.
“It took me 2 minutes to get the electricity working
again and when I did the people started clapping!”
Enock laughs. “I gave out my number to some of
them and got new business from that.”
Another tip he gives is how important it is always
stay in contact. “If you lose contact in this industry,
you’re dead” warns Enock. “I’ve had the same phone
number for 13 years and I never switch off my phone,
so clients can always get hold of me, even the ones
from a long time ago. If you do a good job and are
always available, your clients will use you forever, if
they can’t get hold of you then they will find some-
one else.”
Don’t get left behind
As his final piece of advice, he tells us that there are
always new products in the electrical industry and lots
of ways to save electricity. This is important as clients
want to be energy efficient.
“Times have changed and you need to keep up
with the technology,” says Enock. So he makes sure
he always knows about the latest products and tells
clients about them. When he does an installation his
clients can be rest assured that he is using the latest
equipment.
Clients don’t always know what they want so Enock
makes lots of suggestions and plans very carefully.
He also isn’t afraid to tell clients if what they want
is a bad idea or if it is not allowed and will lead to
the installation failing the electrical inspection for a
certificate of compliance.
Looking to the future
Right now Enock has jobs lined up for the next 3
months. He also has on-going work from big clients
like Romans Pizza, which uses him for all electrical
work when renovating stores, as well as installations
in new stores. Now he is considering expanding his
company and knows it will have a lot of challenges.
At the moment he inspects every job his employees do
and he is always very involved with every project. This
is how he’s kept his reputation of always doing very
good work. ”With a big company I won’t be able to do
that, but let’s see what happens,” concludes Enock.
Enock Electrical, Enock Phiri, Tel: 082 732 7992, Email: abde@
yahoo.co.uk
Skills on Site March 2011 37
 In Touch
C hristmas dreams
come true
Warm hearted learners on
Khuthaza’s Cornerstone pro-
gramme used their newly gained
building skills to make the Christ-
mas dreams of a granny in
Finetown come true.
The learners on Khuthaza’s Cor- Tsakane Mudau
nerstone programme decided
that they wanted to do some good within a needy
community and with the help and assistance of one
of the main contractors on the Finetown housing de-
velopment, Tsakani Mudau, they were able to build
Gogo Maria Mokoena her high quality dream house.
Cornerstone learners built a house for Gogo Maria Mokoena
According to Cindy Shai, Programme Coordinator
of Khuthaza, Cornerstone is the organisation’s entry
level, 8 month certificate programme.
“Participants from the Cornerstone Programme
showed great initiative by asking Khuthaza to help
them build a house. We spoke with Tsakani, one of
the more experienced contractors involved with us
and she welcomed the idea.
“She also welcomed the participants to her site in
Finetown and the volunteers gaining valuable ex-
perience at the same time as doing good for the
community. They helped build a house for Mama
Maria, affectionately known by our participants as
Gogo and they demonstrated significant commit-
ment to the programme and to the development of
their businesses. “At the end of the hard work we are
happy to say that Gogo got her new house before
Christmas,” Cindy says in closing.
Khuthaza, Cindy Shai, Tel: (011) 275 0268, Email: info@khuthaza.
org.za, Web: www.khuthaza.org.za, Tsakani Mudau, 082 333 7705
38 Skills on Site March 2011
T ruck manufacturer trains locals
UD Trucks Southern Africa, has invested more than
R5 million in the training of staff and community
members this year, and is planning to continue
expanding its programme and investment in the
future.
“Trucking forms an integral part of the South Af-
rican economy and it is of great importance to
ensure that the wheels of industry and business
continue to rotate effectively,” explains Johan
Richards, CEO of UD Trucks South Africa.
“We strive to provide our staff and surrounding
community with ongoing developmental oppor-
tunities that not only allow us as a company to
achieve our goals, but empower and contribute
to the overall development of the learners who
participate.”
Apart from providing training for its staff, UD also
is providing numerous free opportunities for un-
employed and disabled community members to
empower and equip themselves. .
“We believe the best place to start is with our own
staff, allowing them the opportunity to create a
better life for themselves and their communities
at large,” concluded Richards.
Nissan Diesel, Ray Schulz, Tel: (012) 564-9550, E-mail: ray-
monds@nissandiesel.co.za
Skills on Site March 2011 39
40 Skills on Site March 2011