The homeowner’s library
Know what your home needs.
Repair or replace. What to check. What to budget. Practical guides for Johannesburg homes and complexes, organised around the job in front of you.
Explore our servicesGates & security
5 guides
Gate motor battery life during power cuts
Battery backup depends on the motor, gate resistance, daily use and battery condition. Here is how to estimate demand and compare replacement options.
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Gate motor maintenance: a complex checklist
Record faults monthly and schedule model-specific servicing. Battery load tests, charging checks and gate safety checks belong in the same maintenance plan.
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How to choose a gate motor
Choose a motor for the gate’s mass, rolling resistance and busiest operating period. Compare complete installed systems, including backup and safety equipment.
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Garage door repair or replacement?
Repair makes sense when the door is sound and the fault is isolated. Compare replacement when damage, repeat faults or obsolete parts make the repair poor value.
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Electric fence maintenance checklist
Check the fence visually, record alarms and arrange professional electrical testing. Maintenance records and certification serve different purposes.
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Roofs & moisture
3 guides
How to investigate a roof leak
Record when the leak appears and arrange a safe inspection of the roof and drainage. The ceiling stain may be some distance from the water’s entry point.
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Rising damp, leaks or condensation?
A stain shows where moisture is visible, not necessarily where it starts. Establish the source before paying for injection, replastering or waterproofing.
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Torch-on or liquid waterproofing?
Choose a waterproofing system for the roof, substrate and drainage. Preparation, junction details and application conditions matter as much as the product type.
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Gardens & outdoors
5 guides
Johannesburg garden maintenance calendar
Plan for summer growth, dry winters and local frost. Adjust mowing, pruning and watering to the plants and conditions in your garden, rather than fixed dates alone.
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Complex garden maintenance: a tender checklist
A useful garden contract names the areas, tasks, visit frequency and waste arrangements. Separate common gardens, private work and once-off cleanup before comparing quotes.
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Garden waste disposal in Johannesburg
Compare municipal drop-off, collection, skip hire and composting by volume and access. Confirm what the chosen facility accepts before loading a vehicle.
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Pressure washing or algae treatment?
Choose the cleaning method for the paving material and type of growth. Persistent damp and poor drainage need attention if algae keeps returning.
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What do dirty solar panels cost you?
The value of cleaning depends on recoverable output and the electricity you can use or sell. A fixed percentage loss cannot describe every roof or season.
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Painting & home repairs
3 guides
How to hire a handyman in Johannesburg
Choose a provider for the actual job, then agree scope, price and responsibility in writing. A clear small-job list makes quotes and completed work easier to compare.
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Choosing a roof paint colour
Choose the coating for the roof material first, then compare colour, heat reflectance and appearance. Colour alone does not determine when a roof needs repainting.
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Exterior paint colours for Johannesburg homes
Use colour trends as a shortlist, then test samples against your roof, paving and daylight. The right exterior product and preparation determine how the finish performs.
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Pool care
1 guide
Planning a job?
Use the guides to prepare your questions, then send your suburb, job details and photos. We can help establish the next step and the scope to quote.
Discuss your projectHome repairs and maintenance in northern Johannesburg.
Have your suburb, a short job list and photos ready.