Frequently asked questions

We have been working in Cape Town since 1993. CBM is a family business, now run by Andrew Russell, and we have spent more than 30 years on roofs, walls, and decks across the city. Most of our work still comes from repeat clients and referrals.

Yes, both. We work on single homes, sectional title complexes, and body corporate buildings, as well as commercial and industrial properties. The same in-house team handles the job, whether it is one balcony or a full block of flats.

Yes. We carry public liability insurance and can provide proof of cover on request before any work starts. If you are a trustee or managing agent who needs documentation for your records, just ask and we will send it through.

We work across Cape Town and the Cape Peninsula. That includes the Atlantic Seaboard suburbs like Camps Bay, Sea Point, and Bantry Bay, the Southern Suburbs like Rondebosch and Constantia, Hout Bay, and the Northern Suburbs. If you are nearby and not sure, give us a call and we will tell you straight.

A properly installed system lasts roughly 10 to 15 years. The exact lifespan depends on the product, the surface, and how exposed it is to sun, wind, and driving rain. We tell you the expected life of the specific system we quote before any work starts, so you can plan around it.

There is no single best system, it depends on the surface. Flat roofs and decks usually take a torch-on bitumen membrane, pitched and fibre-cement roofs suit an acrylic system, and walls or below-ground areas need a cementitious or membrane approach. We match the system to the surface and how exposed it is, rather than using the same product everywhere.

Yes, and it is a common call. Waterproofing usually fails early because the wrong system was used or the surface was not prepared properly. We find why the old system failed first, then put right the cause rather than coating over the problem again.

In most cases, yes. We work around the people in the building and keep disruption down. Where a torch-on system or a strong-smelling product is being used, we let you know in advance if a particular area needs to be clear for a short while.

Rising damp usually shows as a tide mark along the bottom of a wall, with salt deposits, peeling paint, and a musty smell. It happens when moisture from the ground travels up through the wall. Treating it means breaking that moisture path, so we inspect the wall first to confirm it is rising damp and not another cause.

Paint covers damp, it does not fix it. The moisture carries on building up behind the new paint and pushes through again, which is why it blisters, bubbles, and peels. The lasting fix is to deal with where the water is coming from first, then put the finishes back.

No, and the difference matters. Condensation forms when warm, moist air meets a cold surface, often on windows, in corners, and on poorly ventilated walls. It is solved with better ventilation, insulation, and heating, not waterproofing. We work out which one you have before suggesting any treatment.

Often it can be repaired. Where the structure is sound and only the waterproofing has failed, a repair or recoat is usually the sensible route. When a roof has gone too far to patch, we will say so and price a replacement. Either way you get an honest read on the actual condition.

Watch for stains on ceilings, a musty smell in the roof space, cracked or slipped tiles, and rust around gutter brackets. Age matters too, most roofs are worth checking every few years. Catching a small problem early is far cheaper than dealing with water that has already got into the structure.

A single home usually takes a few days to just over a week, depending on size and how much preparation the walls need. A block of flats or a complex depends on the area and access, and we give you a realistic timeline in the quote rather than a guess. Good preparation takes time, and it is what makes the finish last.

The drier, milder months are easiest, but we paint year round and plan around the weather. We will not paint onto a wall that is still damp or when rain is coming in, because the finish will not hold. If timing matters for your project, we will work it into the schedule.

Yes, regularly. We provide detailed, itemised quotes that trustees and managing agents can take to a meeting, with the scope and materials set out clearly. Larger jobs can be phased across budget cycles, and we keep you updated as the work moves along.

It depends on the area, the system, the preparation needed, and access to the work. Rather than guess, we come out, look at the actual job, and give you an itemised written quote. The site visit and the quote are free.

We aim to get out within two to three working days of your enquiry. When water is actively coming in and causing damage, we do our best to get there the same or next day. The quickest way to reach us is a call or a WhatsApp.

Yes, always. Every quote is written and itemised, covering the scope of work, the materials, and the timeline, so you know exactly what you are paying for. We would not expect you to go ahead on a verbal price for building work.

It depends on the size of the job. Smaller jobs often run without one, while larger contracts may need a materials deposit. Whatever applies is set out clearly in your quote before you commit, with nothing added later.