Using the right tool for the job is just as important as having the right materials , which work together to create a masterpiece that will be admired for years to come .
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The right tool for the job
Using the right tool for the job is just as important as having the right materials , which work together to create a masterpiece that will be admired for years to come .
By Ntsako Khosa
The exhibition showcases innovative products for homebuilders . Image : Sterling Custom Homes
No project can get off the ground without proper construction machinery , equipment and tools . When it comes to the affordable building sector , the requirements are no different despite budgets that are possibly more constrained than most .
WHAT THE LAW SAYS
The South African government has set out regulations that apply to the designers , manufacturers , installers , sellers , users , employers and suppliers who design , manufacture , install , sell , generate or use electrical machinery . By law , protective personal equipment ( PPE ) is required on site . An employer should provide PPE free of charge and maintain its protective equipment in good condition . PPE can prevent incidents when used by employees engaged in working on or close to live electrical machinery or dead electrical machinery which may become live .
ON THE INTERNATIONAL MARKET
The largest construction trade event , the International Builders Show hosted by Popular Mechanics , showcased the most innovative products for home builders . The show was attended by 80 000 builders , re-modellers , developers , designers and their trade partners to seminars , presentations and five hectares of exhibits from more than 1 500 exhibitors at Orlando ' s Orange County Convention Centre in the US .
WHAT IS AVAILABLE ?
Products that were found on display were innovative , affordable and relevant to different markets in the construction industry . These are some of the products that the affordable housing sector can benefit from .
The Winbag is a unique tool that makes hanging windows and levelling doors a breeze . It ' s an inflatable shim that can fill gaps from 3 to 5cm . It ' s rated at about 100kg and can be fine-tuned to make windows level and can also help install doors without scratching the surface . With this tool , you no longer need to fiddle with a bunch of wood shims — just give it a few pumps and you ' re in business . Remodelling is a messy affair , which is why dust barriers are commonly used to demarcate rooms that are being renovated from those that you are living in .
The Winbag makes hanging windows and levelling doors easier . Image : YouTube
16
MAY - JUNE 2017
AFFORDABLE
SA HOUSING