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May 2010Contents

CopyrightAll 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 eld or elds.

COVER STORY

4 Every Buldg Project Easy to Acheve

COnCRETE

7 Qualty Cocrete Floors10 What Causes Cracks Plaster

12 Cotractors Ca Make Moey

WindOWS & dOORS

14 How to Cut Glass for Wdows

inSulATiOn

17 Value of Buldg isulato

FindinG FinAnCE

21 Facal Relef for KZn

23 lEAdinG inFO

TRAnSPORT

24 Buy the Rght Truck

SuCCESS

28 Sharg Her Success

31 Win A PRiZE

TiMBER PROduCTS

32 Choosg Roof Trusses 24

17

Promech Publishing has a BEE

rating of 97.2%

Proprietor and Publisher:

PROMECH PUBLISHINGTel: (011) 781-1401

Fax: (011) 781-1403

E-mail: [email protected]

Website: www.promech.co.za

Printed by:

Typo Colour Printing

Tel: (011) 402-3468

The Skills On Site team - Top: Susan Custers, publisher; Zinobia Docrat, production;

Raymond Campling, editor. Seated: Debbie Pienaar, advertising sales; Catherine

Macdiva, administration; Jackie Nene, subscriptions/circulation.

AcknowledgementsIn 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

7

14

COnTRACTORS CORnER

35 new Chemcals for SA

37 in TOuCH

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COVER STORY

Building contracts usually require the use of a vari-

ety of equipment, such as power tools, compaction,drilling and breaking equipment, concrete equip-

ment, scaffolding and other light construction

equipment. Emerging and small building compa-

nies often find it very difficult to be able to buy

all the equipment needed to complete the job

properly. This is where the hiring of equipment

becomes an attractive option.

C

o-owner and founder ofTalisman Plant & Tool Hire,

Colin du Plessis, saysthat small building com-

panies should consider the hiring optionwhen tendering for jobs. We hear of companies whohave all the skills to do the job, but lack the equip-ment. Often they decide not to tender for a contract

because of this. Now they can nd the right equip -ment for the job without having to spend a fortune

on buying it outright.

There are denite benets to hiring equipment from awell-known company such as Talisman. Youknow exactly how much you will be payingto hire the equipment for the required time

period. This will allow you to draw up a proper

budget in advance, Du Plessis says.Talisman Plant & Tool Hire has 17 years

experience in this eld. They supply a va-riety of light construction equipment and

scaffolding and are able to assist clients toidentify the correct equipment needed for

each job. We believe in nding the bestsolutions for each client. We are able to dothis at each of our franchise stores because

of our extensive experience in the building,construction, maintenance and renovationenvironment, Du Plessis partner Louis van

Vuuren adds.

According to both Du Plessis and Van Vuuren,advice and services offered to clients shouldinclude:

Is this the best piece of equipment forthe job?

Every BuildingProject Easy to

AchieveIs there other

equipment thatshould be used alongwith this equipment to com-

plete the job properly?

What approximate time period willclients need to hire the equipment

for?

How best can we advise and train the operator

of the equipment rented from Talisman?

Talismans staff are all trained by the manufacturers

or suppliers of the equipment, so they know exactlywhat each piece of equipment can do and what

are its most appropriate applications.There are other advantages to hiring equipment.Firstly, Talisman replaces its range of products with

newer models on a regular basis. This means thatas new models with better features come onto themarket, we test them. If they pass our criteria we

add them to our fleet of over 100 different typesof equipment, Van Vuuren says. Therefore the

companys clients will always be using the latest

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COVER STORY

technology, allowing them to complete

their contracts faster and with a high levelof quality.

When a building company hires equip-

ment, they will not be responsible for themaintenance of the equipment. If apiece of equipment fails or breaks down,we will exchange it immediately so that

the client does not lose valuable time onthe job, Van Vuuren explains. Clientscan also decide to upgrade to a more

powerful machine should they wish to atany stage.

One way of looking at this is that if youown, for exam-ple, a hammer

dril l and thedrill stops work-

ing, you eitherhave to at-tempt repair-

ing it yourself,or if its underwarranty, you

need to sendit back to the

supplier. Eitherway, you losevaluable time

when its notworking. Timelost is money

lost! This wonthappen whenyou h i re a

hammer drill.If it stops working, we will immediately supply you

with another one, Du Plessis explains.

Often a project will require a number of different types

of equipment for a short period of time. By hiring, in-stead of buying the equipment, you pay only for thetime used and then the equipment can be returned

to Talisman. This means that our clients can oftenundertake jobs that other contractors are unable todo because they do not own the right equipment,

Van Vuuren says.

Hiring equipment is tax friendly as companies can

claim 100% of the hire expense as a tax deduc-tion. This is unlike owning the equipment, wheredepreciation and interest calculations for tax

purposes are more complicated. To own theequipment doesnt make good business sense!

Van Vuuren adds.

Talisman has built its business on providing a friendly

and helpful service to the building industry. Allour franchise owners believe that the clientsneeds are priority and they will not leave a

stone unturned to make sure our clients receiveexcellent service and advice. Franchise owners andtheir staff are available to make sure that equipment

hired by the client will be easy to

use and do the required job, VanVuuren says.

The company has recently

launched a new advertising cam-

paign which reects their abilityto tackle large and complicated

projects with hire solutions for yourequipment needs. Our equip-ment is ideal for every contractor,

whether they are developing,constructing, doing maintenance,

improvements or renovations, sayDu Plessis and Van Vuuren. With 63

stores countrywide, a Talisman Plant& Tool Hire franchise is within easyreach of all building projects.

Talisman, Tel: 086 111 4473 (HIRE) or visit

www.talisman.co.za

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All the guidelines forbatching, mixing,transporting, placing

and curing concreteshould be followed.

This will ensure that high qualityis built in at the beginning andthat future trouble and expensive

maintenance will be avoided.

In addition, pay special attention

to foundation material, the thick-ness of the slab and the strengthof the mix, and provide joints to

allow for contraction. And curethe slab well.

So lets take a good look at howto do this....

FoundationsThe performance of a concrete

oor on the ground dependslargely on the underlying mate-rial providing uniform support.

Provide a carefully compacted100 150 mm thick layer of suit-

able fill material immediatelybelow the concrete. Avoid clayeymaterials. Finish the surface ofthis foundation layer smoothly,

true to level.

CONCRETE

Quality

FloorsWe expect concrete floors to last for many

years, despite heavy loads and hard wear. The

Concrete and Cement Institute (C&CI) gives tips

on how to make good quality floors that last for

many years.

Correct mixing is important

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Finishing tipsDelayed

trowelling

Delayed trowel-ling will result ina hardwearing,

smooth nish. Afterwood-oating theconcrete surfacein the normal man-

ner as rapidly aspossible after com-

paction, leave theslab undisturbedunt i l b leeding

has ceased, the

bleedwater hasevaporated (or

has been re-moved) and the

concrete is start-ing to stiffen (afootprint should

barely show). Thistakes from 2 to4 hours plan

ahead!

Then (and only then!), use a steel trowel to give the surface the desired smoothness a number of trowellingsmay be needed. Heavy pressure is required on the trowel if possible, use power operated equipment.

Remember: correct timing of the trowelling is of great importance, and it is important that no bleedwateris trowelled back into the surface!

Non-slip finishIf areas on the slab or stair-treads need a non-slip surface, nishing should be with a wood oat ratherthan a steel trowel.

Some more donts for nishing oor surfaces

Dont trowel-in dry cement or dry cement-sand mixtures to the surface of the concrete to absorb bleed-water this results in a surface layer of material with low resistance to abrasion and wear, and one that is

particularly prone to dusting and scaling.

Dont trowel materials for surface nishing before the surface is ready for steel trowelling.

Dont apply water to the concrete during trowelling as it will reduce the strength and hardness of the

nal surface.

For a coloured nish, add the pigment to the screed or topping or use a proprietary coloured surfacehardener and follow the manufacturers instructions.

The delay period before trowelling can be shortened by mopping up the bleedwater with sacking, or bylight scraping or brushing, but this can roughen the surface.

Coloured nishes should be added as a screed

DampproofingWhere dampproong is necessary, cover the wholesurface of the foundation with polyethylene (plastic)

sheeting, at least 0,25 mm thick. Where strips join,

overlap them by about 200 mm. Turn the plasticsheeting up around the edge of the oor slab by atleast the thickness of the slab. Where possible buildthe excess plastic into adjacent brickwork. The plasticprevents the concrete from absorbing moisture from

the ground below.

The floor slabConcrete oor slabs for houses should be at least100 mm thick, cast with medium strength concrete.

Lay the oor in panels not more than 3 m wide and

long. Square panels are best, but where long panelsare needed, the ratio of length to width should notexceed one-and-a-quarter times the size.

Dont add more water to the mix than that necessaryto compact the concrete fully with the available equip-

CONCRETE

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CONCRETE

Proper troweling can leave a perfect nish

ment, and pay special attention tocompacting the concrete close

to the panel edges. A thin layer ofmortar will appear on the surface

when the concrete has been fullycompacted.

Start damp curing the surface and

any exposed edges as soon as pos-sible, and keep the slab covered

for at least seven days. Except inspecial circumstances, dont adda screed or topping. Well-propor-

tioned concrete can be trowelledto almost any smoothness and, ifthe delayed trowelling technique

is used, the resulting surface willbe hard and strong enough for

most applications in houses andoutbuildings.

Concrete and Cement Institute, Hanlie

Turner, Tel: (011) 315 0300 or go to www.

cnci.org.za

Correct foundations are important

Plasticsheetsforwaterproong

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0,075mm sieve); and

Not using building lime or a masonry cement when

the sand lacks ne material.

When the cracks are noticed while the plaster is stillplastic, they are often oated closed, only to reap -pear some time later. These cracks can be lled witha proprietary ller and painted over. Glass bre tissuecan also be applied during painting.

Cracking that results when an excessive amount of

water is lost from the plaster in the rst hours afterapplication is known as plastic shrinkage cracking.

Map cracking can be due to plastic shrinkage ascan the horizontal cracks that form at corners andbetween windows.

Drying shrinkage cracksThese are the result of moisture loss after the plasterhas hardened. Plaster will always shrink and crack so

it is desirable that it should develop a large number

of ne, unnoticeable cracks at close spacings. Plasterwith very high cement contents and those that are

made with poor quality sands, having a high waterrequirement, will tend to develop a few, widely spaced

cracks. Plaster applied in layers that are too thick will

also crack in this way. These cracks are normally stableand can be lled with a ller and painted over.

Structural cracksSome cracks visible in the plaster may result from

cracking of the wall. This can be caused by differen-tial movement of the foundations, moisture expan-

sion or drying shrinkage of masonry units, or thermalmovement of the roof. This type of crack often forms

in straight vertical or horizontal lines, or in steppeddiagonal lines, and may be quite ugly. The crackwidth will often vary with the seasons.

Because these cracks originate in the wall and not theplaster, repairing the plaster is ineffective. A special-

ist should be called in to establish the cause of thecracking and to recommend remedial measures.

Such measures may include structural alterationsthat change cracks into movement joints. Visible

joints can be hidden by cover strips xed on one sideof the joint or sealed with elastic sealants.

There are specially printed leaets and books of plas-

tering available from the C&CI.

Concrete and Cement Institute, Hanlie Turner, Tel: (011) 315 0300

or go to www.cnci.org.za

CONCRETE

Contact Debbie Pienaar onTel (011) 781-1401,

Fax (011) 781-1403 orE-mail: [email protected]

for your advertisement bookings

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CONCRETE

Contractors CanMake Money

Building contractors wanting to grow their business-

es should look at making concrete building products

to supply the needs of their own businesses and that

of the surrounding communities.

As long as a need exists, and if the rightmaterials can be found in the area, thenit makes sense to start another businessto supply these. If good management is

applied to these types of businesses, amanufacturing plant makes a lot of sense - and canmake a lot of money.

All that is required, says Walter Ebeling of Pan MixersSA, is a suitable site, access to the right materials for

making the products and an investment in reliablebrick and block making machines. Most importantly,

there needs to be a demand within the community,

and if that exists, then there is no reason why a wellmanaged manufacturing business should not be

successful.

A small brick, block & paving manufacturing operation

can be set up from around R200 000 and, dependingon the performance of the staff, can expect to makereturns of anywhere between R14 000 to R90 000

profit per month depending on local raw material aswell as product selling prices. Walter stresses that thiscan be achieved, but only if tight management exists,

the right materials are brought in and the machinesdont break down. That is why contractors should

buy reliable machines that are made in South Africa

for South African conditions.Here are three questions you need to ask if you want

to set up a concrete product manufacturing plant:

Is there a demand for bricks, blocks, lintels or pav-

ing stones in your area?

1.

Are there many other suppliers and can they

meet the demand?

Is there access to cement and y ash as binders inaddition to a reasonable priced source of either,

river sand, crusher dust, klinker ash or ne stones(6,7mm) needed to make strong concrete?

If the market needs more materials than the localmarket can supply, and if you have access to the

right materials, then it is worth investigating further.

2.

3.

Walter Ebeling of Pan Mixers

A plant in operation

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Also, remember mobileplants can be set up andmoved to where demand

does exist.

Now look at:

Cost of labour in thearea?

Does the marketneed bricks, blocks,

or pavers?

How many per

week?

If the need exists, then:

Speak to the expertsat Pan Mixers SA.

Make your nal deci-sion.

Get nance.

Choose the right ma-chine.

Remember that the opera-

tion will be set up aroundthe machine you chooseand that reliability is need-

ed. Also, you will need tofind management thatis able to motivate your

staff and make sure thatquality is always the mainpriority. Theft of materials

and end-products canruin the business - and socan unproductive staff, so

this is very important.

Once the operation is mak-ing money, it is importantto manage it well and to

use the prots to grow andimprove the operationor start new ones. If the

shiny new M3 you alwayswanted is now within yourreach, remember that it

wont make your businessany money - so rather investthe money in your growing

business.

Pan Mixers SA, Walter Ebeling,

Tel: (011) 397 3754, Fax: (011)

397 4721, Email: sales@panmix-

ers.co.za, Web: www.panmixers.

co.za

1.

2.

3.

1.

2.

3.

4.

A good supply of sand or stone is needed to make blocks

Concrete paver

Bricks in stock

CONCRETE

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WINDOWS & DOORS

1Clean the surface, but only along where you plan toscore. Any grime or silica (the substance that makes twopieces of glass slide on top of each other to preventscratching) will ruin your score and make you think

you cannot cut properly. Just run your nger alongthe surface of the glass where you plan to score.

2

Obtain a glass cutter and some light oil. You can

buy cutting oil at a stained glass store or use a smallamount of kerosene. Dip the cutter in the oil beforeyou score the glass. An oiled cutter creates a smoother

score line.

3Grasp your cutter like a pencil. Make sure to look atthe wheel and its orientation to the glass and alignit properly. This is a very simple grasp to achieve, sodo not unduly complicate it.

4Use a scrap piece of glass to practice on. Applypressure to the glass as you pull the cutter along the

surface, rolling on the small carbide wheel. The scoremust run from one edge of the glass to the other edge.Listen for a smooth sound. A gritty sound means that

you are pushing too hard or that you did not oil yourcutter. The less sound you make, the better your scorewill be. If you push too hard (a very common mistake),

your cut gets hot, meaning that it snaps and pops.Try it and youll see. You are aiming to get a uniform

score. If you are pressing too hard in one spot andperfectly in another, the glass will not break the waythat you want it to. Small imperfections in your score

will cause your cut to go skew.

How to CutGlass forWindows

Glass cutter

Pencil grip for glass cutting

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5Score along a straight edge. Use a yardstick (meterruler) or a normal desk ruler. Use something that hasa high enough prole so that it wont conict withthe wheel on the cutter, as would a ruler with a thinmetal edge.

6Practice on scrap glass until youre ready for the realthing. Youll have a score that is not popping and isbarely visible if you were to wipe the oil away. It should

look like a small scratch, thats all, nothing more.

7Grasp each side of the cut as if you were trying to

break a potato chip in half with two hands. All it takesis minor pressure. It is all in the wrist action. Your elbowsdo not move. Simply twist your wrists (your right wristwill turn clockwise and your left will turn counterclock-

wise). Imagine that the score you made is half thedepth of the glass and now you need to open it up

by using the score as a weak spot.

Note: It may simply start as a run. A run is wherethe glass is starting to break along your score. It may

also run the entire length of your score. Either is ne.If it only runs 2.5 cm or so, apply a little more twistingpressure and it will continue to run.

8Youre done as soon as you have two pieces of glass

instead of the one you started with. Use ne sandpa-per or even better, a sharpening stone, to remove

the sharp edge. This edge will be where the verticaledge meets the horizontal surfaces. Not only does

sanding reduce the chances of your being cut butsanded glass is less likely to chip along the edges andhas some added strength.

Use scrap glass to practice

Score the glass

Wipe the oil away and apply light pressure

Glass will break along the line

WINDOWS & DOORS

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Warnings

If you apply a decent amount of pressure andnothing happens, stop. You are going to cut

yourself. Imagine the piece of glass you are cut-ting has no score; would you apply heavy twistingpressure with your bare hands to a piece of glass?

No. If it does not happen easily, it is not going to

Sharpening stone

Wear gloves

happen. Relax and be gentle with it.

Edges are sharp and will cut you badly; respectglass or it will hurt you. Stitches are not unlikely,and they are common among learning cutters.

Wear gloves. Edges and points are very sharp. Sowear a heavy cloth glove or leather. But it should

t properly so you can move your hands.

Wear goggles. If the glass cracks irregularly a

piece could shoot off towards your face.

Be sure and clean your work area thoroughly toclean up any bits of glass. Even if you cant seethem, they can get stuck in your feet or hands

and hurt.

Never eat or leave food or drink in areas whereyoure working with glass.

If you do not achieve a proper scoring of the

glass, do not go back over it with the glass cutteras it will damage the cutting wheel and likely not

solve your problems. Practicing with scrap glassis very practical as a bad scoring that has gaps,

uneven spots etc. is not easily corrected and maymean youve ruined the glass.

Glass cutting doesnt work with tempered glass be-cause it is vulnerable to break up in little pieces.

Wear eye protection

Dont eat near food

WINDOWS & DOORS

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Standard types of insulation

There are currently four types of insulation thatare regularly used by construction contrac-

tors. These are loose-ll, spray foam, batts orblankets and rigid board types. The choice

of building insulation to use is dependenton the area where the insulation is applied.

Loose-ll is commonly used in hard-to-reachareas, such as voids within walls that aretoo small for other types of insulation. Batts

and blankets are used in large, at areassuch in wall voids of prefabricated homes.Rigid board insulation is generally used in

roong and for sealing walls. Spray foam is

unique in that it can be used for nearly anyapplication due to its liquid form when it is

rst applied.

Effectiveness of insulationThe best way to decide what you need isbased on the climate of the area and choose

a material that stops the ow of heat or cold.This is known as the R-value and is the capa-bility of the type of insulation to keep heat in

or out. Ask your building supplier what is best

so that the area being insulated can be lledwith the most suitable and practical type.

Good insulation saves electricity

Insulation saves electricity and looks after the planet

Value ofBuildingInsulation

The use of insulation to keep buildings warm in winter and

cool in summer is valuable to homeowners and helps them

spend less on electricity. Insulation in its many forms can

be applied throughout an affordable house, no matter the

buildings design or use. By installing insulation, future ho-

meowners spend less money and homes built by contractors

that insulate homes will be demanded by future owners.

Developers will get to know who to use when they start their

next project. It also helps the country save electricity and so

is good for the countrys economy.

INSULATION

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For this reason a new affordable housing de-velopment has been launched in Empangeni,

KwaZulu Natal to give some relief to the largenumber ofpeople look-

ing for houses in thisbig section of the

market.

The development,

undertaken by Ned-bank Corporate

Property Finance:Affordable Housingand PSE Develop-ments, will be known

as Imbali Village andcomprises of 153free standing resi-

dential units. It willform an extension

of the establishedNgwelezane suburb

just outside Empan-

geni. Ngwelezane

falls in the UthunguluDistrict Municipality

in the north easternregion of KZN, and

is close to the lightindustrial and service area of Empangeni.

Relief for KZNManie Annandale, head of Nedbank CorporateProperty Finances Affordable Housing Unit says thatthe project provides Nedbank with a long-awaited

opportunity to enter the Northern KZN affordablehousing development sector.

Demand for affordably priced housing in the area isstrong due to land scarcity, high prices of new landand complicated and prolonged processes to get

approval. Therefore we are delighted to be in a posi-tion to assist with providing simple solutions to funding

affordable housing for the people of Ngwelezane.

PSE Developments is owned by Chris Scheepers

and Ettienne Weyer and specialises in affordable

housing developments in Kwazulu Natal. Previous

projects include affordable housing developmentsin Birdswood, Zidedele Village and Esikhaweni. Thecompany has its own NHBRC registered construction

company called Mvuleni Construction Services, whichit has appointed for the construction of the homes.

FINDING FINANCE

Financial Relief to KZNNedbank is

playing its role in alleviat-

ing the housing backlog in the affordable

housing sector. Its latest project addresses a

need for housing in a province that urgently re-

quires government and the private sector to play

a role in providing quality houses to those who

do not qualify for RDP houses but cant af ford

a normal bond.

Owning a house builds wealth

Rural Zululand

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Mvuleni Construction Services is a 50% BEE-ownedconstruction company.

Building wealthThe affordable housing market has shown massivegrowth over the last few years. A well built home in

a well located area will, in time, appreciate in value,enabling owners to increase their personal wealth

and buying power as well as their ability to scale upthe property ladder.

Stand sizes offered are relatively big, with the smallest

stand size at 311m and the biggest stand at 600m.Standard affordable housing stands usually measure

between 150m and 250m. All of the plots are freehold and will be built on a plot and plan basis with fourplan options, ranging from a 50m two bedroom home

to a 97m three bedroom home with the choice of anadd-on garage for each option. Finished homes arepriced from R295 000 to R395 000. The development

targets individuals with a joint monthly income levelof about R7000 to R15000 per month.

The development will be divided into threephases. Phase One was launched recently andconsists of 43 plots. The 62 units in Phase Two

are expected to be launched in September2010, while Phase Three will comprise 48 unitsand development is expected to commence

in April 2011.

The initiative by Nedbank allows qualifying buyers tobegin building a basis to grow their wealth throughan investment in property.

Manie Annandale, Nedbank Corporate Property Finance, Tel: (011)

294 6647, Cell: 082 900 0380, Email: [email protected]. PSE

Development Initiatives, Ettienne Weyers, Tel: (032) 946 3986, Cell:

083 784 8881, [email protected]

FINDING FINANCE

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TRANSPORT

It all depends on where your specialisty lies and

what is best for your business. A drop-side truckmight be perfect for loading bags of cement

and supplies, but if you nd that most of yourbusiness is in earthworks then you would do bet-

ter buying a tipper.

Probably the most versatile of all truck bodies is thedrop-side or bakkie type of truck. This can do allkinds of jobs from transporting goods to a site, to

hauling machines and clearing rubble from a site.This is the truck type that is most often operated by

small and medium sized operators with good reason it is versatile.

But, it has its limitations. When it is used for purposesoutside of its intended use it is likely to get damaged.It can also take a lot of time to load and unload.

Lets have a look at truck bodies that are used inbuilding:

Van Usefulness on site 3/10

This type of body is used mainly for deliveries andsecure cargo. It is suitable for carrying high value

goods as it can be locked up and secured. This typeof truck has a limited use as a contractors truck be-cause the body is quite soft and should not be used

to load sand of rubble. It is also quite hard to load

and unload because of its doors at the back of thetruck.

It may be considered if you transport dry cement inbags to prevent the cement from getting wet in therain or if you transport other high value goods like

power tools and construction equipment.

Drop side Usefulness on site 8/10

The drop side truck is the most useful of all types for

general construction. Although it may not be thebest choice for certain jobs it certainly can do itquite well. It can be used to transport supplies, sand

and aggregate, building rubble, equipment andmachinery, as well as dry cement and even workers

around the site.

It is not suitable for big solid loads that need to besecured, such as big earthmoving machines, or extra

heavy structural steel lengths. These can damage thesides. It can also be difcult to load and unload loosematerials like sand or gravel and can take a team of

Buy The Right TruckWhen your business gets to a point where you need

to buy a truck it is important to make the right deci-

sion upfront and know what your future needs will

be.

Old or new, choose a truck that is right for you

The van body has limited use in construction

Tipper truck

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men a few hours to complete using hand tools.

Tipper Usefulness on site 6/10

This is a specialised truck for moving loose materials.Due to the shape of the load area it is not a goodidea to load much else into it . But, if you are doing a

lot of site clearing or earthworks this truck can saveyou hundreds of man-hours a month on labour. This

truck is only suitable for work where excavators andexcavators or TLBs operate.

A tipper is not suited to carrying equipment or any-thing that needs to be secured. It is strong and toughenough to carry rocks and gravel all day long and is

best used for just that.

Flat bed Usefulness on site 3/10

A at bed truck is only suitable for transporting heavyloads that need to be well secured. It is used mainlyfor transporting excavators and other heavy machines

and some have a special low loading bay to makeit easier to get the equipment on and off. It has a

tough deck and can withstand heavy loads. It alsohas many tie-down points for ropes and cables orchains to secure loads. It may sometimes be used for

loading dry cement in pallets, as well as bricks.

This is a heavy piece of equipment and has a limiteduse. If you own earthmoving equipment or self-del iver

cement and bricks to your sites then it will pay for itself.But, it has limited usefulness to smaller contractors that

do general building.

Mixer Usefulness on site 3/10

A mixer is designed with one purpose in mind and if

used for that purpose can set a contractor up to mixlarge volumes of concrete anywhere. It is only use-

ful in applications where large amounts of concreteneed to mixed. If you are laying lots of foundations

every month and are involved in civils then a mixermay be an option to buy but generally will not be

useful to smaller builders.

The mixer cannot carry any other loads and shouldnot be used for anything other than what it was de-

signed for.

When size mattersOnce you have decided on the truck that you needyou have done half the work. The rest still needs to be

looked at very carefully. Things like where the truckwill be stored at night or when it is not on site are smallthings, but can be a problem when you try park it only

to nd you didnt do your homework.

The following are the real issues to look at:

Size and power outputThere are two main factors that must be looked at to

decide what engine and power you will need. Thatis the average size of the load to be carried and the

average distance to be travelled.

If you buy a truck for site clearing and will be movinglarge amounts of earth every day all day, a small

truck with a 3.5 litre engine will eventually prove to beunsuitable. The strain of carrying a full load every trip

will begin to wear the truck down and it will become

tired quite quickly. Maybe look at a bigger truck with

A atbed trailer

Choose a truck with enough engine power

TRANSPORT

8/7/2019 SOS May 2010


The beat goes onThe 2010 Soccer World Cup will offer many

challenges for the operations management

profession. But what happens when it is all over?Supply Chain and Operations Management

professionals must maintain a steady, reliable

beat as we continue to move African industry

forward to ensure our sustainable footprint.

25 - 28 July 2010

Sun City

The SAPICS Annual Conference is the LeadingEvent in Africa for Supply Chain and Operations

Management Professionals.

32nd Annual Conference & Exhibition

T 011 023 6707, F 086 575 2979 [email protected]

With the participation of: Principal sponsor:

Silver sponsor:Gold sponsor:

Platinum sponsors:

8/7/2019 SOS May 2010


TRANSPORT

an engine size in the range of 5-8 litre diesel turbo.This truck will carry the same load without strain and

should remain reliable longer.

If the truck is doing long distances on roads with lotsof hills or steep rises always get a truck with a slightly

bigger, more powerful enginethan is needed. Just like trucks

that carry big loads all day,the strain on a small enginedtruck with a load is too big

and will eventually cause it

to break.

Cost of ownershipThe secret of buying a good

truck is to talk to other build-ers who own similar trucks tothe ones you want to buy.

Ask them clever questions sothat they give you accurateanswers and not just answers

based on their liking of a par-ticular brand. Always look at

more than one brand so youcan make a comparison. Askabout:

Reliability and how oftenit is taken for repairs.

1.

Make sure the truck isnt thirsty

Choose a dealer that you trust will look after you

Availability of partsand spares.

Fuel consumptionand how much fuel it

uses per100km.

Cost of services andrepairs.

Nearby dealersthat can help whenrequired.

How it was

nanced.

Service from

dealerLastly, but most impor-

tantly, visit the dealersand see how they treat

you. Ask them the samesix questions aboveand also ask them how

they can help you addvalue to your businessthrough buying one of

their trucks.

You will be amazed at

the excellence of somedealers service and

just how bad some other are. Choose the truck that

is right for you, and importantly buy it from a dealerthat you trust.

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

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SUCCESS

Makoekie and her husband Mpho Tso-tetsi are the founders and owners of

Impota Trading, a building and civilconstruction company. Their clientsinclude the Department of Public

Works, City of Johannesburg, Johannesburg RoadsAgency and Roadcrete. The Tsotetsis rags to riches

story is truly inspir-ing.

It really demon-strates the value ofhard work, determi-

nation and positivethinking. They start-ed their business

with very little helpand in the middleof great debt. In

their rst year of op-eration their CIDB

grading went from

Grade 1 to Grade4. Although their

first few projectsdid not earn them

much prot they were soon tendering for and beingawarded huge projects with big payoffs.

Makoekie now inspires other women to reach for their

dreams and has set up an HIV/AIDS NGO in OrlandoTownship whereby she is able to give back her time

and skills to the community. However, things werentalways this great for Makoekie and Mpho.

After completing a secretarial and business practicediploma at a technical college in Swaziland, she spentten years working in the banking industry in Swaziland,

Zimbabwe and South Africa. In 1998 she resigned fromher job to start a hairdressing salon which did not dovery well at all. In the same year her husband was

retrenched and their savings soon began to dwindle.Before longthey found

t h e m s e l v e shitt ing rock

bottom. Theirflat, car and

furniture wererepossessed.They could notafford school

fees for theirtwo children

and the familyhad nowhereto go.

One day, justin passing, an

o p e r a t i o n smanager for a government department asked Mpho

if he knew someone in construction who could dosome repairs in one of their buildings. After makingenquiries Mpho found no-one who could do the work.He didnt leave it at that though. Mpho saw a gap

which needed addressing and in January 2005 he and

Sharing

HerSuccess

Makoekie Tsotetsi

When asked to describe her-

self, Makoekie used the words

simple, ordinary and humble.

A description which is a starkcontrast to the impression

one gets when coming face to

face with the force that is Ma-

koekie Tsotetsi. Well dressed,

attractive and articulate Ma-

koekie exudes confidence and

strength. In fact, when talking

to her, a person cannot help

but feel that this is an extraor-

dinary woman.

Makoekie undertakes work with Roadcrete

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SUCCESS

A project to build a sport eld means people dont have to play in the streets

Impota Trading

can undertake

large-scale

construction

projects

Makoekie registered a construction business.

Their rst contract was for R34000.00. They found andmade use of experts to get the job done but made

no prot at all. The client was however very impressedand word of their good work soon spread. Their secondproject went much the same way and by their third

project they had begun to make a small prot whichthey used to purchase ofce equipment.

Makoekie however was not satised and thoughtto herself Why must I settle for crumbs when I canhave a loaf? The status quo at the time was unac-

ceptable to her and being the dreamer that she is,Makoekie decided that she would go out and win a

tender for a million Rand project. Thinking back she

says deantly Why couldnt I get the big projects,what was stopping me? Nothing apparently, their

next contract was for R2.5 million. It was a Departmentof Public Works project which received an award in

the category for the best sports eld and combinationcourt constructed in that year.

Makoekies story brings to the mind the saying do

what youve got to do so you can do what you wantto do. It is clear that Makoekie is passionate aboutuplifting the youth. Aside from Impotas corporate

social responsibility program Courage the Tsotetsisare involved in a number of social development ini-

tiatives including the foster care of scholars and the

establishment of a SEDA funded co-op for the provi-sion of cleaning services and materials for a group

of youngsters.

Makoekie believes in giving back and in sharing her

success. She had the following to impart when asked,

8/7/2019 SOS May 2010


to what does she attribute her success? Firstly, apositive mindset, I decided a long time ago that I

would be deaf to negativity. Secondly, vision, goalsand objectives. Have a vision, translate that into

goals then strive to reach your goals with honestyand integrity. Thirdly, do what you have said youwould do. Always honour your commitments and

Johannesburg Roads Agency is another of the companys clients

SUCCESS

when you cannot, be transparent about it.

Makoekie has been involved in Khuthaza programmesfor several years and is always willing to go the extramile to share her knowledge and skills with others.

Khuthaza, Elizabeth OLeary, Tel: (011) 275 0268, Fax: 086 648 6379,

Email: [email protected], Web: www.khuthaza.org.za

8/7/2019 SOS May 2010


WIN A PRIZE(Closing date for entries is 15 June 2010)

Answer the following easy questions in the space

provided. The answers are found in the pages in

the magazine. There is only one winner and the

person will be contacted personally to collect

their prize at the ofces of Promech Publishing in

Blairgowrie, Randburg.

All correct entries will be placed in a box and a

winner chosen. The judges decision is nal.

FAX YOUR ANSWERS TO:Promech Publishing on Fax: (011) 781-1403,

P O Box 373, Pinegowrie, 2123

NAME: .....

TEL: .....

Name two types of tools available

for hire from Talisman.___________________________________

___________________________________

_________________________________

Who sponsored the youth centre in

Riebeeck West?___________________________________

__________________________________

_________________________________

What kind of products are avail-

able from Den Braven?___________________________________

___________________________________

_________________________________

What is a flatbed truck used for?___________________________________

__________________________________

_________________________________

Name two types of t russes used foraffordable houses.___________________________________

___________________________________

_________________________________

1

2

3

4

5

WinnerBrendon Arnesen of Durban is our lucky prize winner. He is involved

in road construction and his Bosch Rotary Hammer will be put to use

on the road construction sites, as well as in his own project to rebuild

his house.

WIN THIS VALUABLE PRIZE!

Estimated retail Price R1000-00

The best builders know that using the right

tool for the right job saves time and money.

Thats why Den Braven have a range of

quality sealants and adhesives for every

job. Den Braven is the fi rst choice for

professional building contractors.

8/7/2019 SOS May 2010

32/40

8/7/2019 SOS May 2010


Light gauge steel trussesLight gauge steel roong system was introducedto South Africa in 2000 from the USA, where it wasinvented in 1989. It is today a widely used light

gauge steel roong system.

Steel trusses can be factory assembled. On site

assembly is easy and can contribute to job cre-ation on building sites. These trusses are also on

average 30% lighter than timber, and so reduceserection time and effort.

When steel trusses are correctly designed and

used on affordable houses, a minimum roof pitchcan use less material and results in a cheaper

overall solution.

The ability to transport steel materials in kit-form

for site assembly can reduce transport costs byapproximately 60%.

Good quality steel roof trusses are made from light

weight galvanized steel, providing the benets ofalways straight members with no site wastage.

It is not affected by weather or pests and otherproblems that affect wood.

Light gauge steel is very environmentally friendlyas it is fully recyclable, as well as being non-com-bustible.

How to get good value quotes:Contact your nearest roof truss supplier who will

gladly provide you with the relevant informationon both timber and light gauge steel using a

software package.

You need to provide a full building drawing inpaper or electronic format, which clearly shows

all the requirements with regard to roof pitch, roofcovering, and roof overhangs.

TIMBER PRODUCTS

Steel frame assembly is easy

You could also contact truss manufacturers anddistributors directly for more information on truss

suppliers and suitable products.

8/7/2019 SOS May 2010


Example of a building plan

TIMBER PRODUCTS

Timber roof

Steel roof

Both types of roof structures also require an inspection

by a professional for structural compliance, which iscarried out nationally through various professional

bodies.Upon successful inspection of the roof, a certicateis issued.

MiTek Industries South Africa, Uwe Schlter, Tel: (011) 237 8700,

Fax: (086) 644 2754, Email: [email protected]

Supply of trussesTimber nail-plated trusses will be supplied pre-fabri-

cated to site by the supplier.

Light gauge steel trusses can be supplied both pre-

fabricated or in kit-form for assembly directly onsite.

Erection of roof structureBoth types of roof structures, timber and light gauge

steel, require holding down xing to walls as well asbracing of roof.

8/7/2019 SOS May 2010


The companys products were previouslydistributed in South Africa by Engineered

Concrete Systems. A combination of growthpotential in Africa and demand in SouthAfrica led the group to acquire Engineered

Concrete Systems and re-establish the company asMapei South Africa (Pty) Ltd.

Mapei SAs general manager, Christo van der Merwe,

says that while the company has been in the localmarket for only two years, internationally the com-pany has over 70 years experience. As part of an

international group, we pass numerous benets ontoour clients in terms of having access to knowledge-

able technical experts, research capabilities andproduct specialists.

Our products are complemented by a full service

offering, from product knowledge and technical as-sistance, to on-site support and training.

Mapei SA distributes its products throughout sub-Sa-haran Africa and has a strategically located distribu-

tion centre close to OR Tambo International Airport.

This enables us to effectively and efciently delivergoods throughout the region.

New Chemicals for SAGlobal group

Mapei has announced the launch of Mapei South Africa. The Mapei Group

is an Italian-based manufacturer of chemical and adhesive products for the construction

industry.

Mapei SA general manager, Christo van der Merwe

To date, Mapeis most prominent project has beenproviding the materials for Soccer City the Soccer

World Cup 2010 stadium situated in Soweto. TheMapei range of specialised concrete sealants, ad-hesive and repair materials, as well as mortars were

supplied for use in the upgrading and repairing ofthe stadium.

Mapei SA (Pty) Ltd, Lollita Pitso, Tel: (011) 552 8476, Cell: 082 050

1944, Email: [email protected]

CONTRACTORS CORNER

Now thats what we call a light tting

Eish!!!

8/7/2019 SOS May 2010


8/7/2019 SOS May 2010


Riebeek West to get youth centrePretoria Portland Cement (PPC), the leading cementcompany in South Africa has invested R3.5 million into

the construction of a youth centre in Riebeek West.

The partnership includes a community-based Goedged-aght Trust and the Swartland Municipality and is partof the Riebeek Social Labour Plan (SLP) programme.Each party involved in the project recently signed

a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) to move theproject forward.

Using a local contractor for the construction, theyouth centre will include educational facilities such

as a library with a computer centre and a gym. It willhost life skills youth leadership programmes, as well as

Present at the signing of the MOA at Riebeeck West, was Frikkie Van Zyl, Riebeeck

general manager, Ingrid Lestrade, director: expansion co-ordinator and Joggie

Scholz, Swartland Municipal Manager

cultural exchange programmes with countries such as

Germany. There will also be a trauma room that willprovide the local police with a much needed coun-seling facility for crime victims in the community.

The signing of the MOA today is a great achievementfor PPC and the community partners. The centre, with

all its facilities, will greatly benet the whole RiebeeckWest community for years to come, said PPCs Direc-tor: Organisational Performance and Transformation,Sello Helepi. The project highlights PPCs commitment

to giving back to the communities in which itoperates and we, as PPC, are proud to be a

partner in a project of this magnitude.

To ensure that PPC is addressing a relevantand real need in the community, the companyengaged with the Swartland Municipality andcommunity leaders who helped to identify the

need for the youth center.

Over many decades PPC has contributed to

overcoming the poverty and skills barriers by fo-cusing our efforts where it really matters. It is thisbottom-up, broad-based approach to creating

meaningful empowerment that makes us proudto be a part of the 119 year old legacy of ourbusiness and a longstanding social partner for

all our communities, concluded Helepi.

PPC recently improved its BBBEE rating to a level

3. This rating, together with the highest preferentialprocurement recognition level in the cement

industry of 138% reects PPCs commitment totransformation in South Africa.

PPC Cement, Nomzamo Basson, Tel: 082 870 4235, Email: nomzamo.

[email protected]

In Touch

Peter Blake, Hatch project delivery director

Skills for the peopleEngineering consulting rm, Hatch, hascontributed R2-million to the AfricanAcademy education institution to train

previously disadvantaged draughtspeople enabling the school to build anew wing at its Boksburg premises.

The grant will allow for an additionalintake of up to 400 students per year to

be trained in all disciplines of draught-ing including those skills needed for thebuilding industry. Hatch Africa is working

towards addressing the big skills short-age in the engineering sector through

its large-scale sponsorship of AfricanAcademy.

The academys courses bridge the gap

between secondary education and thepractical requirements of the employer

8/7/2019 SOS May 2010


market in South Africa, which previously could onlybe learned through several years of practical experi-ence through an apprenticeship.

From the building of bridges, to mines, to malls andhouses, draughts people are key to every architec-

tural, engineering and construction project, which iswhy these skills must be replaced, says Hatch projectdelivery director Peter Blake.

Since the school began16 years ago, African Academy

has witnessed close to 95% of its students nding jobsafter graduation. Hatch managing director Rory Kirkpoints out that for Hatch, it is not just about making amoney contribution, but that industry must also play

a role in ensuring that job opportunities are availableto students after they graduate.

South Africa has one of the lowest numbers of en-gineers in the world - this is shown in the growing

shortage of skilled labour in the elds of engineeringand construction. In total, South Africa producesonly 20% of the 5 000 draughts people required each

year. According to the South African Institution ofMechanical Engineering, South Africa has the lowestratio of engineers per citizen, with an average of one

engineer to every 2 865 citizens.

Initiatives such as the partnership between Hatch

and African Academy, which is a non-prot organi-sation, are important if South Africa is to resolve thebig skills shortage in the engineering and construc-

tion sectors.

African Academy is seen as one of Africas leading

draughting education and training institutions, and hasproven its worth in assisting industries to raise qualityand productivity levels by producing graduates of

the highest standard.

Whats more, the Academy prides itself on its excel-

lent pass rates and consistently places over 95% of itsstudents in employment. The academy offers a variety

of qualications, software training courses and skills

programmes to cater for the needs of all individualsand companies alike.

Hatch, Tel: (011) 239 5300, Fax: (011) 239 5790, Web: www.hatch.

co.za

In Touch

8/7/2019 SOS May 2010


TheDepartmentofLabour,workingforyou

Every year around the world, 2 million people die from work-related accidents anddiseases*.

This is why South Africa and other countries around the world have signedConventions with the International Labour Organisation, commiting themselves toensure that those conventions are given life through legislation, among other things.

The Bill of Rights also protects individuals rights to an environment that is notharmful to their health and well-being.

Through the Occupational Health and Safety Act (OHSA) the Department of Labourensures that workers or any other person who enters a work environment are safe

and their health is not put at risk.

The Departments Inspection and Enforcement Services will enforce the legislationand assist employers to implement the OHSA, ensuring that:

In workplaces that have 20 or more workers, there is a health and safetyrepresentative who is appointed by workers to represent them on health andsafety matters

The health and safety representatives are trained by the employer to be ableto carry out their responsibilities and also participates in all health and safetycommittees and consultations with Department of Labour Inspectors

Employers provide personal protective equipment (PPE), to be worn by workerswhen they carry out hazardous work

Employers must make sure that workers receive proper training for the work theydo Proper supervision is provided where it is necessary.

Get Informed!If you would like to know more about the Department of Labour and how it is makinglabour laws to work for you, then SMS TM to 41894 to get more information. R1.50/sms. Free SMSes do not apply.

Take actionIf you would like the Department to help you make your work environment safer, or toreport accidents or conditions that may lead to accidents and pose health risks, thenvisit your nearest Department of Labour or call 012 309 4000.

You can also log onto www.labour.gov.za for more information.

Follow us on Twitter (@DepartmentOfLabour) or join our Facebook group (Departmentof Labour) for updated information on activities, events and workshops meant to helpyou implement labour laws.

*statistics from the International Labour Organisation website www.ILO.org

isyourworkplace?How safe

Layout and design by the Design Studio, Directorate of Communication, Department of Labour. Website: www.labour.gov.za

8/7/2019 SOS May 2010

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As a leading building materials group, AfriSam is proud

to launch its new Eco Building Cement. Due to its unique,

environmentally-responsible composition, this high quality,

general building cement offers excellent long-term strengthand durability with a Carbon Footprint half that of the world

average for cement.

Available in the greater Gauteng area in the traditional 50kg

bag as well as a convenient new 20kg bag for easy handling

and minimal wastage.

AfriSam - conserving the environment for future generations.

ECO BUILDING CEMENTBuild a better future

BEST IN CLASS

453 g/kgECO BUILDINGCEMENT

890 g/kgWORLD AVERAGE

ECO BUILDING CEMENT 453 g/kg

CARBON FOOTPRINT

2AfriSam is committed to reducing its Carbon Footprint.

CO2 statistics are calculated in accordance with the

Cement CO2 Protocol developed by the World Resources

Institute and World Business Council for Sustainable Development.

sos may 2010

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