Practical, expert-written guides to help you navigate home maintenance, compliance, and contractor hiring in South Africa.
Free advice from Fonster's team of home services experts — written for South African homeowners.
Everything you need to know about Electrical COCs — what gets tested, the most common failures, how much it costs, and how to avoid delays when selling your home.
Read guide →What a Plumbing COC covers, when the law requires one, what gets inspected, common failures, and how to avoid costly delays when selling your home.
Read guide →Real prices for replacing a standard electric, heat pump, solar, or gas geyser — including what's included, when to repair vs replace, and how to claim from insurance.
Read guide →Hourly rates, call-out fees, and what common jobs cost — plus the bundling trick that saves most homeowners 30–40% on handyman work without finding a cheaper contractor.
Read guide →What painting really costs — per room, per m², exterior and roof. How to read a quote, what to insist on, and the red flags that mean a cheap quote will cost you more later.
Read guide →What kitchens, bathrooms, wall removals, garage conversions, and granny flats really cost — how quotes are built up, which approvals you need, and the red flags to walk away from.
Read guide →What paving costs per m² — cement, clay brick, cobble and natural stone. Driveway and patio totals, repair costs, and why the base spec on the quote matters more than the paver.
Read guide →What laminate, vinyl, wood and carpet cost per m² installed — plus subfloor prep costs, whole-house totals, the moisture test that saves floating floors, and the red flags on a cheap quote.
Read guide →What ceramic, porcelain and natural stone cost per m² installed — plus labour-only rates, bathroom and kitchen totals, and why the preparation and waterproofing lines on the quote decide whether the tiles last.
Read guide →What leak repairs, ridge capping, roof coating and full reroofing cost — how to tell repair from restore from replace, and the red flags that mean paying for the same leak twice.
Read guide →What torch-on flat roofs, leaking balconies, rising damp treatment and shower waterproofing cost — why edges and detailing are the whole job, and how to buy waterproofing once instead of twice.
Read guide →What full and phased rewiring costs by home size, the signs your wiring is at end of life, what a per-circuit quote should include — and how phasing turns one big invoice into a plan.
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