sbs news jan 2017

SBS Waterproofing News 03 January 2017

TODAYS NEWS! SBS Waterproof | Roof | Structural back for Business!

The SBS staff and management wish all of our Commercial and Residential customers a Happy New Year and are back in the office preparing for a phenomenal 2017.

2016 was a excellent year with our team being able to secure a number of advanced waterproofing projects. Our specialist approach will continue to provide us with the edge that is needed to dominate our segment again in 2017.

Our focus areas remain the same for 2017

Leaking Balconies - Balcony Repair, if not properly executed, could result in recurring problems and significant

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Derbigum SP4 & Sylbond TS200 Self Adhesive Balcony Repair System

“ Our teams are rested and ready to make 2017 another success”

- SHELDON SMITH


damage to your property. SBS has a 100% track record with balcony repairs. We do not take any shortcuts and use appropriate, high quality materials to ensure that the balcony will not leak again.

Balconies in coastal areas are especially susceptible to structural problems if not properly sealed. Corrosive agents attack the steel reinforcement and over time can cause serious damage. Apart from aesthetic damages to surrounding areas, structural damage could lead to serious problems in the long term. It is thus essential to apply the correct products and techniques when waterproofing a balcony. Careful consideration to various factors, including the environment and level of exposure, must be given.

SBS does not apply a one-size-fits-all approach. We have various solutions, to accommodate any balcony and budget. Let one of our specialists give your balcony a free inspection if you feel that there could be a problem.

Warning signs that your balcony may be leaking:

• Paint bubbling or flaking • Damp, musty odours • Excessive mould growth • Rust stains or spots • Cracks

Leaking Roofs - In South Africa there are a few main types of roofs, Tiles, Metal and Flat Roof’s. A Tiled

Roof system requires maintenance every few years to ensure that the system is watertight. Cracked Ridge mortar or Ridge tiles allow moisture to enter the roof.

A metal roof that leaks is often due to the age of the roof sheets or poor design and specification, As an accredited

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SBS Waterproofing’s sister company SBS Gutters (Pty) Ltd flourished in 2016 surpassing all growth expectations and looks forward to an even better 2017

www.sbs-gutters.co.za

“ A balcony repair, if not properly executed can become a costly headache”

- RYAN SMITH

http://www.sbs-gutters.co.za

http://www.sbs-gutters.co.za


installer of Colourbond & Colorplus Roof Sheeting Systems we are able to solve metal roofing issues and install new systems to a very high specification.

A flat roof that leaks is often due lack of maintenance or a poor design / specification and often requires a complete replacement.

SBS is a specialist in Board & Torch Roofing Systems

SBS has been installing "Board and Torch" flat roof systems for many years, with remarkable success. The system is especially effective in areas where harsh sun and corrosive elements can drastically affect the performance, appearance and life span of your roof.

Here are some advantages of a Board & Torch Roof System:

• 30 times stronger than a metal roofing system. • No rain clatter as with metal roofing systems. • No corrosion • 10 Year Guarantee and is a serviceable system that can last the lifespan of the building. • Provides insulation - up to 35% cooler than a metal roofing system • Totally seamless. • Similar properties to a concrete roof-slab system.

As an accredited installer of Colourbond & Colorplus Roof Sheeting Systems we look forward to some exciting new roofing projects again this year.

Basements, Cellars & Retaining Walls Structures that are built below ground level, such as basements, cellars and retaining walls, are very susceptible to waterproofing problems. It is essential that the correct design and construction

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techniques are applied to avoid costly repairs down the road. Ideally, we favour applying positive waterproofing systems, i.e. the waterproofing products are applied to the outside of the structure which gets into contact with moisture. This ensures that no water enters the structure. It is normally relatively easy to apply positive waterproofing to a new construction, but can be a bit more complicated on existing buildings. Where possible and economically viable, we will excavate and apply the waterproofing to the outside surface.

In some cases, it is not possible to access the external surface of an underground wall, e.g. a retaining wall built below a building on a slope. In these cases, a waterproofing system is applied to the inside surface of the building (negative waterproofing). While generally this is not as effective as positive waterproofing, it can still provide a durable and cost effective solution.

We have had much success in applying both positive and negative waterproofing systems. Our specialists will examine your property and ensure that a suitable solution is achieved.

Signs of a waterproofing problem in a basement, cellar or retaining wall:

• Blistering paint • Excessive mould • Musty odour • Rotten skirting boards • Leaking through floor-slab • Loose tiles

Shower Waterproofing & Repair

Showers often leak due to lack of waterproofing, failure of poor waterproofing or plumbing and waste-pipe faults. If your shower is leaking due to a plumbing problem, a simple plumbing repair might not leave your shower water-tight. Often plumbing replacement in a shower structure damages the waterproofing layers which are over-looked by the plumber. We recommend that a complete shower repair be done in order to guarantee against leaking and costly repairs later on. Our shower repairs are backed by our industry leading 10-year guarantee.

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“ We are looking forward to some exciting projects in 2017”

- JARYD SNYMAN


Signs of a leaking shower: • Blistering paint around the shower area • Rotten skirting boards • Rusty door jams • Leaking through floor-slab • Loose shower tiles

Pre-Sale Home Inspections

Buying a house should be an exciting time for you and your family, but this is not always the case. Undisclosed defects on the property could cast a shadow over the entire process. Let SBS offer you peace of mind with a pre-sale home inspection.

Every sale agreement contains an ‘as is’ clause, or as we call it here in South Africa, a ‘voetstoets’ clause. This clause protects the seller of the property but only to a certain extent. The seller has a duty to disclose any latent (hidden) defects and doing so protects them from future claims of fraudulent misrepresentation. It is a necessary clause that shields the seller from any action by the buyer (on discovering any defects he wasn't aware of) that will jeopardise the actual sale of the property. Unfortunately many sellers use the clause as an

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excuse to sell a damaged/defective property without the responsibility of repairing it.

This leaves both the seller and buyer with responsibilities. The seller needs to disclose any defects so that they can avoid legal problems of the sale. The buyer is responsible for properly inspecting any property they wish to purchase. Any problems found are to be included in the offer to purchase, clearly stating that they must be fixed prior to registration of the transfer. The offer will then either be refused or accepted by the seller and if it’s accepted that means the seller has agreed to fix the problem.

There are two types of defects, patent and latent. Patent defects are easier to spot as they are clearly visible during a normal inspection of the property. These defects need to be addressed by the buyer as it cannot be claimed that they “weren't seen” at a later stage. Patent defects can include, but are not limited to, broken windows, broken or sagging gutters, cracks in the walls and leaks that have caused obvious stain marks.

We have previously mentioned latent defects, these could include, but are not limited to, rusted pipes, broken or faulty geysers and/or pool pumps, leaking roofs and very often damp problems that have been concealed with a quick coat of paint. Keeping this in mind, it isn’t advisable to merely take a seller at their word when they say the property is in good shape. Getting an independent property inspector to assess the property can save you time and money.

If you forego the property inspector route and you do end up with defects on the property your only course of action, legally speaking, will be to institute an action for damages and sue the seller. A buyer may not, after signing the contract, then get a quotation and deduct such costs from the purchase price. They cannot refuse to pay any of their occupational rent to insight the seller to fix said problem and they cannot cancel the sale contract. The most amicable option would be to try and negotiate with the seller, and come to an agreement about where the money for the cost of repairs will come from. This is an arrangement that isn’t always easy to reach.

Let’s look at the issue of misrepresentation by the seller. Misrepresentation constitutes fraudulent behaviour on their part and it’s a very important point. This misrepresentation by the seller can occur in two ways. Firstly we have express misrepresentation. This occurs when the buyer asks the seller a question directly about a possible defect, a leaking roof for example, and the seller denies the existence of that defect. The second possible misrepresentation on the part of the seller is non-disclosure. Even if the buyer does not expressly ask about a potential problem, but the seller is aware of said problem, the seller is obligated to inform them.

Contrary to what a buyer may believe, the Consumer Protection Act (which will be referred to as the CPA forthwith), does not apply to sellers unless they sell property on a regular basis. The CPA does therefore apply to estate agents, but

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the buyer would have to prove that the agent intentionally withheld information of a fault. The CPA states that the transaction is “An agreement between or among that person and one or more other persons for the supply, or potential supply, of any goods or services in exchange for consideration.” The buyer has the right to receive goods or services that “are of good quality, in good working order and free of any defects” and that “will be useable and durable for a reasonable period of time, having regard to the use to which they would normally be put and to all the surrounding circumstances of their supply”. The buyer has up to six months from purchase to return the goods, demand repair or replacement, or the return of the purchase price. It might be longer than six months in the case of immovable property, especially if the seller used false, misleading or deceptive representations to help the sale of the property along. All these rules and guidelines involve difficult processes to prove fault and to ultimately get the buyer the quality of property they deserve.

Buyers could only discover defects at a later stage, sometimes months after transfer has taken place. For example a crack in the foundation, or a massive leak that is only discovered after a heavy rain. It can be very hard to prove the seller knew about these defects, which took the buyer a considerable time to even discover themselves, in which case the buyer would have no recourse against the seller.Many of the problems we have mentioned can be avoided by simply having a home inspection done. It is in the Buyers best interests to:

• have the property properly inspected by an independent party; • record known defects in the sales agreement; • have the defects repaired prior to occupation.

What you should get out of the home inspection process is:

• peace of mind; • an unbiased opinion on the condition of the property; • a report of the property both written and photographic; • protection from fraudulent sellers.

“Few would risk buying a pre-used car without an automobile inspection so why risk your life savings on a property that you can’t be sure about?”- Director of Affairs of South Africa

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sbs news jan 2017

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