Question 1

How much does it cost to plaster a wall in Johannesburg?

Accepted Answer

Plastering labour in Johannesburg and Pretoria costs R55 per square metre through BouCrew. A standard 6m x 2.4m wall is 14.4m², which works out to R792 in labour. A minimum project fee of R1,000 applies to smaller jobs. That rate covers labour only — you buy the plaster sand, cement and bonding liquid directly from your retailer at zero markup.

Question 2

What does a bricklayer charge per brick in Gauteng?

Accepted Answer

BouCrew charges R1.50 per brick laid for standard stock brick, whether single or double skin, and R3.00 per brick for maxi brick. A single-skin wall uses roughly 55 bricks per square metre, so a 6m x 2.4m wall costs about R1,188 in labour. Pricing per brick rather than per day fixes your budget upfront and means the cost doesn't drift if the job runs long.

Question 3

How much does tiling cost per square metre in South Africa?

Accepted Answer

Tiling labour costs R110 per square metre in Johannesburg and Pretoria, including grouting. A 4m x 3m room is 12m², or R1,320 in labour. Substrate preparation such as screeding is quoted separately at R60 per square metre. The minimum project fee is R1,500. Tiles, adhesive and grout are bought directly by you at retail price.

Question 4

What is a labour-only renovation contract?

Accepted Answer

A labour-only contract means the contractor supplies skilled workmanship and you buy the materials yourself. Traditional turnkey contractors bundle both and add a 15–40% markup to material costs, which is usually invisible on the quote. Under a labour-only arrangement you pay retail for materials and pay a transparent, published rate for the work.

Question 5

Do I have to buy my own materials with BouCrew?

Accepted Answer

Yes. BouCrew supplies labour only and never sells, supplies or marks up materials. We give you a material list after your free site measure, and you buy directly from whichever retailer or wholesaler you prefer. This is the core of the model — it removes the hidden margin that sits inside most renovation quotes.

Question 6

How much can I save by buying my own building materials?

Accepted Answer

Contractor material markups in South Africa typically run between 15% and 40%. On a project with R50,000 of materials, that is R7,500 to R20,000 you keep by buying direct. The saving is largest on high-volume items like bricks, cement, sand and tiles, where the markup is applied across a big quantity.

Question 7

How long does a free site measure take?

Accepted Answer

A site measure usually takes 30 to 60 minutes for a standard residential project. We take exact measurements, confirm the scope and issue a firm labour price. There is no charge and no obligation. We aim to respond to estimator enquiries within one hour during business hours, Monday to Friday, 07:00 to 17:00.

Question 8

Which areas of Gauteng does BouCrew cover?

Accepted Answer

BouCrew operates across Johannesburg and Pretoria, including Sandton, Randburg, Roodepoort, Midrand, Centurion, Benoni, Boksburg and Kempton Park. If you are outside these areas, send us your location through the estimator and we will confirm whether we can reach you.

Question 9

How accurate is the online estimate compared to my final price?

Accepted Answer

The online estimator gives an indicative labour cost based on the measurements you enter. Your final price is confirmed after a free on-site measure, where we verify dimensions and check for conditions the estimator cannot see — uneven substrates, access restrictions or existing damage. The estimate is a budgeting tool, not a binding quote.

Question 10

Does BouCrew offer project management?

Accepted Answer

Yes, as an optional add-on. If you would prefer not to coordinate tradespeople and timelines yourself, a BouCrew project manager can run the schedule for you. This is quoted separately during your free site measure and is not included in the labour rates shown on the estimator.

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Renovation labour costs in Gauteng — your questions answered