“Lacks Context”: Mzansi Is Unsatisfied With a Construction Engineer’s Estimates of Building a Home

• A construction engineer broke down the estimated cost of building a house in South Africa
• The detailed breakdown covered everything from earthworks and foundations to electrical connections and external finishes, using proper construction measurement units
• South Africans questioned the estimates, asking for missing details like house size, number of bedrooms, and whether consultation fees were included in the pricing

A construction engineer has given South Africans a reality check about building costs after sharing a detailed breakdown of what it takes to construct a home from scratch. The video that attracted attention from people considering their own building projects was posted on 6 September 2025 with the caption:

"Let us estimate how much it would cost to build a house 🏡👷🏽🔨."

Construction engineer @langelihle.conco, who holds a BSc in Construction Studies and works as an NHBRC-registered home builder, walked viewers through a professional Bill of Quantities (BOQ) breakdown. She explained that proper cost calculations require descriptions, units of measurement, quantities, rates, and final calculations for each construction item, rather than just guessing numbers.

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Her breakdown started with earthworks and foundations at R19,189, followed by ground floor construction at R44,562. The superstructure, including brickwork, plaster, and columns, came to R211,020, while roof construction with trusses and tiles totalled R75,504.

Doors, windows, and glazing for aluminium fittings cost R52,188, and internal finishes, including tiles, paint, and kitchen cupboards, reached R115,500. Plumbing for hot and cold water systems totalled R37,426, electrical connections came to R26,150, and external work, including driveways and landscaping, cost R48,763. The complete project total reached R624,034.

South Africans question building cost breakdown

Viewers had many questions about the estimates and missing information:

@Maikano asked:

"How much will it cost to build a 150-bachelor-unit student accommodation?"

@molebogengn_moyo wondered:

"Hi. I may have missed it, but how much is your consultation?"

@Nolisa_MaZwide pointed out:

"Girl, the information you just shared lacks context; the total cost of a house and number of bedrooms and the square meters of the house are not shared for us to synthesise the information"

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@Mzibit questioned:

"What are the specs of this house, and what is the total floor area ?"

@HocusPocus asked:

"Please tell me if it's wise to borrow the 'building loan' after I've done my home building quotation?? Thank you 🌸."

@Kgadi_Ya_Di_Tlou requested:

"Please help with a double garage calculation."

@mihir wondered:

"Do you add a markup on all these calculations to make a profit?"

Understanding building loans for construction projects

According to experts at Nedbank, a building loan helps people build a new home on empty land or renovate an existing property. The bank uses the property as security and pays the builder in stages, usually 25% at a time, after each part of the project is finished and approved.

To qualify, you’ll need things like a signed contract with the builder, approved building plans from the municipality, building quotes, and the land’s sales agreement. Builders must also have special insurance to cover damage or injuries during construction, which helps protect the homeowner from unexpected costs.

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View the TikTok clip below:

Other stories about home construction in SA

• Briefly News recently reported on South Africans confused about construction costs for a four-bedroom house, but the real shock was discovering what additional expenses weren't included in the original quote.
• A woman who built her own house with her bare hands became a viral sensation, though what impressed people most was learning exactly which construction tasks she completed entirely by herself.
• A single mother's Limpopo mansion tour inspired South Africa after she built it for her four children, but the most surprising detail was discovering how she managed to afford such an impressive home.

Source: Briefly News