Home improvement in Limpopo

Making your home flood-ready

No contractor can flood-proof a house against an extreme event, but you can reduce the damage from heavy rain and recover faster. Start with where the water goes:

• Stormwater: make sure yard drainage and paving channels lead water off the stand rather than into the house or garage.
• Floors and walls: low-lying rooms benefit from waterproofing and damp-proofing and from floor finishes that tolerate getting wet. Tiling recovers far better than carpets or laminate.
• Electrics: if a room has flooded before, ask an electrician about raising plug points and the distribution board. See electrical work.
• Trees: dead or leaning trees near the house are a risk in storms. A tree felling contractor can assess them before the season.

Hail, heat and the roof

In north-eastern South Africa, including Limpopo, the hail season runs mainly from October to March. It peaks in November, and storms usually strike in the afternoon. Hail modelling suggests that by December the extreme north-east is largely hail free, so early summer is the period to watch.

Your roof deals with both hail and fierce sun. When you get roofing quotes, ask about impact resistance and about insulation under the roof covering, which keeps rooms cooler. Ceilings with proper insulation, efficient air conditioning and shaded outdoor areas such as carports all make a real difference in Limpopo's heat. The air conditioning cost guide gives typical prices.

Solar approval in Polokwane and Modimolle-Mookgophong

In Polokwane, rooftop solar may not be connected to the grid without the municipality's written approval. A PV system also needs approval from Planning and Building Development Management if roof panels stand more than 1.5 m above the roof or more than 600 mm above its highest point, or if ground-mounted panels stand more than 2.1 m high.

Modimolle-Mookgophong treats an unapproved grid connection as an offence that can lead to a fine or imprisonment. The municipality advises against buying any equipment before you have written approval, does not allow panels on asbestos or thatch roofs, and requires a bi-directional meter, installed at the owner's cost, for systems that export power.

If your roof is asbestos or thatch, that may mean replacing the roof or using a ground-mounted array. Discuss it with your solar power installer, and check the solar power cost guide before you commit.

Before you hire

Ask each contractor what they would do differently because of Limpopo's heat and storms, and who will handle any municipal approval. You can request up to three quotes free through Home Improvement Hub, which has over 200 registered providers nationally.