Journal
The answers we give at the kitchen table.
Costs, quotes, approvals, dust and handover — written the way we would explain them to you on the first visit.
12 August 2026 · 7 min
What a kitchen renovation really costs in Johannesburg
A line-by-line breakdown of where the money goes on a R900 000 kitchen — cabinetry, stone, appliances, services and the things nobody quotes for.
29 July 2026 · 6 min
How to read a fixed-price quote, and what to look for
Provisional sums, prime cost allowances and the four words that let a builder move your price after you have signed.
8 July 2026 · 5 min
Living in the house while it is being renovated
Dust walls, temporary kitchens and the honest answer about noise, security and how families actually cope.
23 June 2026 · 8 min
Plans, council and body corporate approval in Johannesburg
What the City of Johannesburg actually requires, what an estate design review adds, and realistic timelines for both.
4 June 2026 · 6 min
Extend or move? The maths for northern suburbs homes
Transfer duty, agent commission and the cost per square metre of new floor area, compared honestly.
19 May 2026 · 4 min
The snag list: what good handover looks like
How we walk a finished house, what belongs on a defect list, and why fourteen days is the only number that matters.