Builders in Bantry Bay for Steep Sites and Sea-Facing Homes
Bantry Bay is a small suburb on the lower slopes of Lion’s Head, between Sea Point and Clifton, looking straight out over a rocky stretch of the Atlantic coast. It was originally called Botany Bay, after a garden of medicinal plants once grown here. Victoria Road runs along the contour through the middle of the suburb, and from it the properties step steeply down towards the rocks, with more homes and apartment blocks climbing the slope above along roads such as Kloof Road. The housing is mostly apartments, many of them sea-facing, with a smaller number of large freestanding houses built into the hillside.
On a site this steep, how materials get in and rubble gets out can affect the price as much as the work itself, so we always look at access before we quote. Around The House Building Services handles renovations, waterproofing, roofing, plastering and painting here; our services page lists the rest.
What Our Builders in Bantry Bay Do
In Bantry Bay the work usually falls into these groups:
- Apartment renovations: kitchens, bathrooms, new flooring and full unit makeovers. See our kitchen renovations and bathroom renovations pages.
- Waterproofing: balconies, terraces, flat roofs, parapets and planters, the places where water gets into the structure below. More on our waterproofing page.
- Coastal repairs: crack repair, re-plastering, treating corroded steel and repainting sea-facing walls.
- Decks and outdoor areas: timber decks, terrace finishes and retaining walls on sloping sites.
Steep Sites and Access: How Bantry Bay Builders Plan a Job
The slope is the first thing that shapes any building job in Bantry Bay. Many properties sit well below or above the road, reached by long flights of stairs, a lift or a narrow driveway. There is little space for a skip, and street parking along Victoria Road is limited. Before we price, we work out how materials get in and how rubble comes out: whether a delivery truck can stop safely, whether everything has to be carried by hand, and whether we need a material hoist or need to book the building’s goods lift.
This planning matters for cost and time. Carrying cement, tiles and rubble up or down a hundred steps adds labour days, and we would rather put that in the quote honestly than surprise you later. We also agree with you, and with the body corporate where relevant, where materials can be stored and how neighbours’ access is kept clear. Retaining walls and terraces on these slopes can involve structural loads, and where they do we bring in a structural engineer to design them before we build.
Salt Air and Waterproofing: Bantry Bay Builders on Coastal Repairs
Bantry Bay is known for being sheltered from the summer south-easter, which is one reason people love living here. It is still a few metres from the Atlantic, and the sea air does steady damage. Steel balustrades and window frames rust, fixings corrode, paint breaks down on sea-facing walls and small cracks in plaster let salty moisture into the wall. Winter fronts drive rain hard against the buildings and expose any weak point in the waterproofing.
In Bantry Bay buildings, leaks most often come from balconies and terraces that sit over a room or another unit, from flat roofs, and from the junctions between walls, windows and slabs. We strip back failed layers, fix the falls so water drains away, detail the edges and outlets properly and then apply a torch-on or liquid membrane suited to the surface. Our guide to waterproofing costs explains the options and what moves the price.
Apartment and Body Corporate Renovations in Bantry Bay
Because most of Bantry Bay is apartments, much of our work here is inside sectional title buildings. Before we start, the trustees or managing agent need to approve the work. We confirm the permitted working hours, protect lifts, lobbies and stairwells, and plan noisy work such as tile removal for the times allowed. Remember that balconies, external walls, windows and the roof are often common property, so waterproofing or façade work may need to be done or approved by the body corporate rather than by you alone.
The Sea Point, Fresnaye and Bantry Bay Ratepayers and Residents Association also comments on building applications in the area, so larger projects should expect neighbours to take an interest. Any structural change or extension needs approved building plans from the City of Cape Town. We work with your architect or draughtsman, who prepares and submits them. Our article on building plans approval explains what needs plans.
Bantry Bay Builders: Common Questions
Can builders work on steep properties in Bantry Bay?
Yes, but access has to be planned before the work is priced. We assess stairs, parking, skip space and whether materials must be carried by hand, and we include this in the quote.
Do you renovate apartments in Bantry Bay?
Yes. We renovate apartment kitchens, bathrooms and full units, working within the body corporate rules and protecting lifts, lobbies and stairwells.
Can Bantry Bay builders fix a balcony leaking into the flat below?
Usually the waterproofing under the tiles has failed, the falls send water the wrong way, or the edges and outlets were poorly detailed. Re-grouting rarely fixes it. The balcony usually has to be opened up and properly waterproofed.
How long does a renovation take in Bantry Bay?
A bathroom typically takes a few weeks, and a full apartment longer. Restricted working hours and difficult access can add time, so we build these into the programme from the start.
What should I send Bantry Bay builders before a site visit?
Photos of the problem, the building’s conduct rules if it is a sectional title unit, and a note on how the property is reached from Victoria Road or Kloof Road. Send them through the quote page or call 021 784 2663.
Builders Near Bantry Bay: Other Areas We Cover
Along the same stretch of coast we also work in Sea Point and Green Point to the north, and Clifton and Camps Bay to the south. Other suburbs are listed on our areas we serve page.