SUSTAINABLE BUILDING
CUTTING CORNERS
Sika
UNSUSTAINABLE
& TRIGGERS HIDDEN COSTS
In construction, the most expensive work is often the work that has to be redone. Across the public and private sectors alike, the costs of failure are rarely limited to a simple fix. When quality slips, specifications are misunderstood, or application is inconsistent, the result is rework, delays, and in the worst cases, significant safety and compliance consequences.
A leading construction chemicals and solutions company reflects on the problem.
Paul Adams, Managing Director at Sika South Africa( zaf. sika. com), says this“ pay twice” reality is coming back into sharper focus for asset owners, contractors, and homeowners alike.“ People tend to treat failure as an isolated incident, but in the built environment, it often becomes a chain reaction that includes additional materials, labour, delays, professional fees, downtime, reputational impact, and the ripple effects that come with projects falling behind schedule. For homeowners, the same logic applies at a different scale. Waterproofing that fails after the first rainy season, sealants that don’ t perform as expected, or repairs that aren’ t done as a system can turn a small job into an ongoing headache. Nobody budgets for paying twice, yet it happens often.”
A number of well-documented public cases have reinforced the importance of accountability and compliance across the sector, particularly where oversight and building-control processes fail. South Africa also faces the challenge of ageing buildings and facilities, with significant maintenance backlogs. In an official parliamentary reply to Members questions, the infrastructure maintenance backlog for state-owned facilities was cited at approximately R30 billion.
50 winter 2026 | www. tobuild. co. za