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I.B.S Construction building and renovation work in Cape Town
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Building and home advice

Practical advice on boundary walls, plastering materials and project costs, helping you plan building work with confidence.

Skimmed passage ceiling and cornice — skim over paintSkimming
October 17, 2026

Can You Skim Over Old Painted Walls?

Can you skim over paint? Yes, with the right prep. Bonding problems, what must be done first, when to strip instead, and 2026 Cape Town skimming costs.

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Timber deck boards laid over joists — timber decking cape townCarpentry
October 17, 2026

Timber Decking Cape Town: Cost Per m² & Wood Types

Timber decking Cape Town costs: pine R1,000-R1,270 per m2, balau R1,270-R2,000 installed. Wood types, coastal weathering and maintenance explained.

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Timber deck sub-frame joists over a void — cheap carpenter near meCarpentry
October 16, 2026

Cheap Carpenter Near Me: Value Without Cutting Corners

Looking for a cheap carpenter near me in Cape Town? What drives carpentry cost, where saving is safe, and the quality signs worth paying for in 2026.

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Finished white-painted rear elevation with timber doors and windows; alt new buildingPainting
October 16, 2026

Feature Wall Painting and Textured Finishes: What They Cost

Feature wall painting is the cheapest way to change how a room feels. One wall, a few litres of paint, and a space reads completely differently for a fraction of a full repaint. Textured and decorative finishes go further, and cost more. In 2026 speciality and textured finishes in South Africa typically run R100 to […]

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Painter on ladder painting exterior gable wallPainting
October 16, 2026

Cornice, Trim and Enamel Painting: Cost Per Door

Trim painting cost is the line most homeowners are surprised by. Doors, frames, skirting and cornice look like a small part of the job next to the walls, but they carry a disproportionate share of the labour. In 2026 South African contractors typically quote R300 to R700 per door for enamel work, with simpler doors […]

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Exterior wall painting on high gable via ladderPainting
October 15, 2026

Painting Over Face Brick: Should You Do It?

Painting face brick is one of the few decorating decisions you cannot comfortably undo. Once paint is in the pores of the brick, getting back to a clean, natural face is difficult, expensive and often impossible without damaging the brick. That does not make it wrong. It makes it a decision worth taking slowly. The […]

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Freshly painted garage exterior and doorPainting
October 15, 2026

How Much Paint Do I Need? A South African Coverage Guide

How much paint do I need is the question every repaint starts with, and getting it wrong costs money in both directions. Buy short and you make a second trip mid-job. Buy long and you own three half tins you will never open again. The maths is simple. Area, divided by coverage, multiplied by coats, […]

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Timber deck partly boarded beside a Cape Town home
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