How Not To Lose R100,000 On Commercial Glazing
I got a call from a property owner in Centurion last year. He owned a small retail centre with four shops. A hair salon. A coffee shop. A pharmacy. A clothing store.
He was worried. The shopfronts looked old. The aluminium windows were faded. The glass doors did not slide properly. Tenants were complaining. He was losing tenants. He was losing money.
He asked me to take a look.
I walked the property with him. Faded frames. Scratched glass. Doors that stuck. A shopfront that looked 20 years old.
He asked me for a quote. He wanted to spend as little as possible. Maybe R50,000.
I told him, “You cannot do this for R50,000. And if you try to do it cheaply, you will end up spending more.”
He did not believe me. He went with a cheaper contractor. Six months later, he called me again.
The glass was scratched. The aluminium frames were dented. The doors did not close properly. One window had a crack. Tenants were angrier than before.
He paid R50,000. He wasted R50,000. And he still had to pay me to fix it.
That is the thing about commercial glazing. When you do it cheaply, you do it twice. The second time costs more.
I sat down with him. I showed him what went wrong. And what he should have done instead.
The First Mistake
He did not check if the contractor was registered. In South Africa, commercial glazing contractors should be registered with the South African Glass and Glazing Association (SAGGA) . That means they follow industry standards. They use the right materials. They know the regulations.
The contractor he hired was not registered. He did not know the standards. That is why the work failed.
When you hire a glazing contractor, ask if they are registered with SAGGA. If they are not, do not hire them.
The Second Mistake
He went for the cheapest materials. Cheap aluminium frames are thin. They bend easily. Cheap glass is not safety glass. It scratches and cracks.
He saved R10,000 on materials. He lost R50,000 on the whole project.
A good contractor uses quality materials. Thicker aluminium frames. Toughened or laminated glass. Commercial-grade hardware. It costs more upfront. It lasts longer.
The Third Mistake
He did not have a clear contract. He agreed on a price, but nothing was written down. There was no guarantee. When the work failed, he could not claim anything.
A proper contract should list everything. The materials. The scope of work. The timeline. The payment schedule. The guarantee. If it is not in writing, it does not exist.
What He Should Have Done
I told him this. It would have saved him so much money.
First, hire a contractor who is registered with SAGGA. That is your first check. If they are not registered, move on.
Second, choose quality materials. Not the cheapest. Not the most expensive. The right materials for the job.
Third, get a contract. A clear written contract with everything listed.
Fourth, pay in stages. Not all upfront. Pay as the work is completed.
The Result
He eventually did it right. He called me. We did it properly. New aluminium shopfronts. Toughened glass. Sliding doors that worked smoothly.
It cost him R100,000. It looked professional. Tenants were happy. His retail centre looked like a retail centre should.
He told me afterwards, “I should have called you first. I would have saved R50,000.”
I told him, “That is the cost of doing it wrong. You pay twice.”
What You Can Learn
If you own a commercial property in Pretoria, Centurion, or Midrand, and you need glazing work, do not make the same mistakes.
Hire a registered contractor. Choose quality materials. Get a written contract. Pay in stages.
It costs more upfront. It costs less in the long run.
One More Thing
Every project is different. Some shopfronts are simple. Some are complex. Some require special glass. Some need custom frames.
A good contractor will walk your property, look at your needs, and give you a clear quote. They will explain what they are doing and why.
Do not accept vague quotes. Do not accept verbal agreements. Get everything in writing.
Want to talk about your commercial glazing project?
Call me. I will walk your property, look at your needs, and give you a fair quote.
No cheap shortcuts. No cutting corners. Just good work.
Clayton Mahlangu : 0768913667 / 0120558667
www.morapediconstruction.co.za