We’ve all heard about construction nightmares – whether it be the architect who fails to submit plans to Council, to builders absconding with deposits and shoddy / dangerous workmanship.  The irony is that it costs more to put right mistakes than it does to build / design properly in the first place.  So how do you go about finding reliable & knowledgeable Contractors ?  Obviously word of mouth recommendations are the best.
The first step is to make sure that your Architect / Designer is registered with SACAP – the South African Council for the Architectural Profession.  It is a legal requirement for anyone practicing Architecture to be registered with this body.  You can get a list of registered Architects / Designers at www.sacapsa.com.  Your Architect will probably also be able to advise you on contractors etc.
You could also try are the representative bodies / institutions, a list is below – it’s not comprehensive by any means – please let me know if you have any more to add.
NHBRC – National Home Builders Regulatory Council – www.nhbrc.co.za.
The website has a list of registered Builders and Engineers.
Architects / Designers
GIFA – Gauteng Institute for Architecture – www.gifa.org.za
SAIA – South African Institute of Architects – www.saia.org.za
SAIAT – South African Institute of Architectural Technologists - www.saiat.org.za
PIA – Pretoria Institute for Architecture - www.saia.org.za
CIA – Cape Institute for Architecture - www.saia.org.za
Architectural Design Association – ADA – www.ada.co.za
Builders
Master Builders South Africa – www.mbsa.org.za
Building Industry Federation of South Africa – BIFSA – www.bifsa.co.za
Chartered Institute of Building – CIOB – www.ciob.co.za
Institute for Timber Construction South Africa – www.itc-sa.org
Timber Frame Builders Association – www.tfba.co.za
National Pool & Spa Institute of South Africa – NSPI – www.nspi.co.za



Engineers

Southern African Institution of Civil Engineers – SAICE –www.civils.org.za
SA Reinforced Concrete Engineers Association – SARCEA – sarcea@iafrica.com
Institute of Municipal Engineering of Southern Africa – IMESA –www.imesa.co.za
Consulting Engineers South Africa – CESA – www.cesa.co.za
Engineering Council of South Africa – ECSA – www.ecsa.co.za
South African Institute of Electrical Engineers SAICE –www.saice.org.za


Plumbers – Institute of Plumbing South Africa – IOPSA –www.iopsa.co.za


Water & Waste Management

Water Institute of South Africa – WISA – www.wisa.org.za
Institute of Waste Management Southern Africa - www.iwmsa.co.za


Electricians – Electrical Contractors Association of Southern Africa –www.ecasa.co.za


Quantity Surveyors - Association of South African Quantity Surveyors – www.asaqs.co.za


Town Planners – South African Association of Consulting Professional Planners – www.saacpp.org.za


Project Managers

South African Council for Project & Construction Management Professions -www.sacpcmp.co.za
Association of Construction Project Managers – ACPM –acpm@icon.co.za
Project Management Institute of South Africa – PMISA – www.pmisa.org.za


Interior Designers

South African Institute of the Interior Design Professions – www.iddprofessions.com
SA Guild of Interior Design – www.sagid.co.za


Landscape Architects / Designers

The South African Council for Landscape Architecture Professionals – www.saclap.co.za
South African Landscapers Institute – www.sali.co.za
Landscape Irrigation Association of South Africa – www.liasa.co.za


Kitchens - Kitchen Specialists Association – KSA – www.ksa.co.za


Also :

Institute for Professional Handymen – IPH – www.iph.co.za
South African Council for Professional & Technical Surveyors – www.plato.org.za
Waterprofing Federation of SA – www.waterproofingfederation.co.za
Property Valuers – Council for the Property Valuers Profession –www.sacpvp.co.za
SA Federation of Civil Engineering Contractors SAFCEC – www.safcec.org.za
South African Glass & Glazing Association SAGGA –saga@aaamsa.com
SA Refridgeration & Air conditioning Contractors Association – SARACCA –
email - saracca@icon.co.za
SA Institute of Refridgeration & Air Conditioning – SAIRAC – www.sairac.co.za
Aluminium Federation of Southern Africa – AFSA – www.afsa.org.za
Association of Architectural Aluminium Manufacturers of SA –aaamsa@iafrica.com
Brick Paving Institute – www.bpisa.co.za
Cement & Concrete Institute – www.cnci.org.za
Claybrick Association – www.claybrick.org.za
Concrete Manufacturers Association – www.cma.org.za
Concrete Society of Southern Africa – www.concretesociety.co.za


Websites such as www.specifile.co.za, www.designmind.co.za, www.hotelstuff.co.za, and www.greenstuff.co.za are also useful sites for finding suppliers / contractors.o a valuable source of information when finding suppliers etc. etc