What General Construction & DIY Materials covers
This section covers construction and DIY materials, tools and equipment that do not belong to a single trade: glass and glazing, acrylic sheet such as Perspex, compressors, spirit levels, squares and general site equipment.
It is the catch-all of the construction library, and it is genuinely useful as one. A lot of practical questions do not sort neatly into “paint” or “timber” — someone wants to know what a spirit level actually tells them, whether Perspex will do instead of glass, or what a compressor is for beyond inflating tyres.
Two topics account for much of the interest. Glazing — what glass is used for in windows, what types exist, and where safety glass is required. This matters more than people expect, because South African building regulations require safety glazing in specific positions: doors, low-level panels, and areas around baths and showers where a fall could send someone through the glass. Ordinary annealed glass in those positions is both non-compliant and genuinely dangerous, since it breaks into large sharp pieces rather than blunt fragments.
Perspex — acrylic sheet, used as a lighter, shatter-resistant alternative to glass. It has real advantages and real limitations, chiefly that it scratches easily and is not suitable everywhere glass is.
Browse individual used-for guides
- A 1031 Exchange Be used for
- A Compressor used for
- A Psychrometric Chart used for
- A Spirit Level used for
- A Square used for
- Aluminium used for
- Apparatus used for
- Atex Certification used for
- Equipments used for
- Glass used for
- Modern Materials used for
- Perspex used for
- Pva used for
- PVC used for
- Silicon used for
- Tinted Windows used for
- Trucks used for
- Types Of Glass used for
- What Type Of Glass used for
- What Type Of Soil used for
Most searched questions in this topic
- Glass used for
- Perspex used for
- Apparatus used for
- A 1031 Exchange Be used for
- A Compressor used for
- A Spirit Level used for
- A Square used for
- Aluminium used for
How the guides in this section differ
Material or tool. Some guides cover things you build with, others cover things you build using. Both belong here because both get searched the same way.
Glass type. Annealed, toughened, laminated and wired glass behave completely differently when broken, and the regulations distinguish them by position.
Glass or acrylic. Acrylic is lighter, easier to cut and far more impact-resistant, but scratches readily, expands more with temperature and is not a substitute where fire performance or scratch resistance matters.
Measuring or fixing. A spirit level and a square answer different questions — level and plumb versus square and true — and a great deal of poor work comes from checking one and assuming the other.
| Item | What it is for | Worth knowing |
|---|---|---|
| Annealed glass | General glazing where safety glass is not required | Breaks into large sharp shards |
| Toughened glass | Doors, low panels, bathrooms | Breaks into small blunt pieces; cannot be cut after toughening |
| Laminated glass | Security, overhead, safety positions | Holds together when broken |
| Acrylic (Perspex) | Light, impact-resistant panels, signage | Scratches easily; not a glass substitute everywhere |
| Spirit level | Level and plumb | Check it against itself by reversing it |
| Square | Right angles, true corners | Level does not imply square |
| Compressor | Powering air tools, inflating, spraying | Match the air delivery to the tool |
Related topics and alternatives
- Explore Paints, Primers, Coatings & Waterproofing
- Explore Timber, Boards & Woodworking Materials
- Explore Structural & Masonry Materials
Safety, accuracy and next-step checks
These guides are informational. Where a manufacturer’s specification or the building regulations apply, they take precedence.
Points worth carrying:
- Safety glazing is a regulatory requirement in defined positions. Doors, side panels, low-level glazing and areas around baths and showers require safety glass in South Africa. Replacing a broken pane with ordinary glass in one of those positions is both unlawful and dangerous.
- Never cut toughened glass. It cannot be cut or drilled after toughening — it shatters. Order it to size.
- Wear cut-resistant gloves and eye protection when handling glass, and carry sheets vertically on edge with a second person for anything large.
- Compressed air is more dangerous than it looks. Never direct it at skin or anyone else; it can force air into tissue and the bloodstream. Drain the receiver regularly, and check hoses and fittings.
- Match tools to the compressor. Air tools state an air requirement; an undersized compressor makes them work poorly and can damage both.
- Check a spirit level for accuracy. Place it, note the bubble, then turn it end for end. If the reading differs, the level is out.
- Cutting acrylic and composites produces fine dust and fumes, particularly when cut fast or with the wrong blade. Ventilate and use eye protection.
- Dispose of broken glass safely — wrapped and labelled, not loose in a bin bag where it will injure someone.
Frequently asked questions
Where is safety glass required? In and beside doors, in low-level glazing, and around baths and showers, among other positions. The regulations set this out by location and height, and a glazier can advise for your specific case.
Can Perspex replace glass? Sometimes. It is lighter and far more impact-resistant, which suits some applications well. It scratches easily and is unsuitable where fire performance or scratch resistance matters.
Why is my spirit level giving different readings? Either the surface is genuinely uneven or the level is out. Reverse it end for end on the same spot to check.
What is a compressor used for? Powering air tools such as nail guns and spray equipment, and inflating. The important specification is the volume of air it delivers, not just the pressure.
Can I cut toughened glass to fit? No. It must be made to size before toughening. Attempting to cut or drill it will shatter the pane.