Frequently Asked Questions

A little preparation goes a long way. Here is what we recommend:

Clear the space — empty all cupboards and drawers. Pack away dishes, pantry items, and appliances you will not need during the install.

Decide on appliance placement — know where your fridge, oven, hob, and dishwasher will go before we start. This affects plumbing, electrical points, and cabinet dimensions.

Arrange temporary cooking — installs take 3–5 days on-site. A two-plate gas burner, microwave, and a camping fridge will keep life going.

Secure pets and children — our team works with power tools, dust, and adhesives. We will keep the area clean, but it is not a play zone during installation.

We handle everything else — removal of old cabinets, plumbing disconnection, electrical prep, and final cleanup.

Both have their place depending on your budget, style, and where the cupboards are going.

Melamine — particleboard or MDF core with a laminated finish. Affordable, consistent colour, resistant to scratches and moisture. Most modern kitchens and built-in cupboards in South Africa use high-quality melamine. Available in hundreds of colours and wood-grain finishes. Typical lifespan: 15–20 years with proper care.

Solid wood — birch, oak, or pine-faced plywood. More expensive, can be sanded and refinished, offers natural grain variation. Best for feature pieces, bar counters, and traditional-style kitchens. Requires more care in the Lowveld climate — humidity can cause expansion and contraction.

Our recommendation: For most kitchens and cupboards in Nelspruit, high-quality melamine with solid birch plywood doors or drawer fronts offers the best balance of durability, appearance, and cost. We use full 18mm board, not the thinner 16mm used in budget flat-pack ranges.

We will discuss the best option for your specific project during the site visit.

It depends on the height and location of the deck.

Ground-level decks (less than 1m high) — generally do not require formal plans or municipal approval in Mbombela, provided they are not within a servitude or buffer zone. However, it is always best to confirm with your estate’s homeowners’ association if applicable.

Elevated decks (over 1m high) — require approved building plans and must comply with SANS 10400 regulations, including a balustrade of at least 1m height with no climbable horizontal rails.

Estate rules — many Lowveld estates (Nsorome, Copperhill, Stonehenge) have their own architectural guidelines. We will help you navigate these.

DAP handles the carpentry. For projects needing structural sign-off, we work with local engineers and architects in Nelspruit who know the municipal requirements.

Yes. Every project DAP completes comes with a workmanship warranty. We stand behind what we build.

Cabinetry and indoor joinery: covered for manufacturing defects — doors that warp, hinges that fail, joints that separate through no fault of the client.

Timber decking: covered for workmanship issues — loose boards, failing fixings, substructure problems. Normal weathering, colour change from sun exposure, and seasonal wood movement are natural and not defects.

Warranty does not cover damage from water leaks, physical impact, termite infestation after installation, or lack of maintenance (e.g., failing to re-oil a deck).

If something goes wrong, call us. We will make it right — no runaround, no excuses.

Yes, but with a realistic expectation. Matching an exact colour and grain from years ago is rarely perfect — wood ages, finishes yellow, and dye lots change.

What we can do: bring samples to site, compare against your existing cupboards or flooring, and tint or stain the new work to blend as closely as possible. For painted finishes (white, grey, coloured), we match the exact paint code.

Our advice: if you are adding to an old kitchen or cupboard set, consider refinishing the existing units at the same time. This ensures everything matches and gives the old cabinets a new lease on life — often more cost-effective than a full replacement.

Bring a sample door or photo to your consultation and we will advise on the best approach.

Standard terms for custom carpentry projects:

Deposit: 50% on order placement — covers materials and workshop time.

Balance: 50% on completion and final sign-off — you approve before you pay.

For larger projects (over R50,000), we can structure progress payments linked to milestones — e.g., 30% deposit, 40% on workshop completion, 30% on installation sign-off.

Payment by EFT or cash. No hidden fees — your quote is the price you pay unless you add scope.

Lowveld homeowners are moving toward clean, durable, low-maintenance designs that suit the practical needs of family life and the region’s climate.

Handleless kitchens — J-pull profiles or push-to-open mechanisms. Clean lines, easy to wipe down, no handles to snag. Very popular in new-build Nelspruit homes.

Matte finishes — matte lacquer and textured melamine in shades of warm grey, sage green, and navy. Gloss is on the way out — matte hides fingerprints and Lowveld dust better.

Two-tone cabinets — darker lower cabinets (charcoal, forest green) with lighter uppers (white, cream, light oak). Adds depth without overwhelming the space.

Quartz countertops — more popular than granite now in the Lowveld. Non-porous, no sealing required, consistent colour. Better for busy kitchens.

Open shelving accents — a small section of open shelving for plants, cookbooks, and display pieces. Used sparingly to break up solid cabinetry.

We can show you sample boards and recent project photos during your quote visit.

Absolutely. We frequently collaborate with architects, interior designers, and project managers across Mpumalanga.

We can work from your designer’s detailed drawings, produce shop drawings for approval, and build to exact specifications. We also offer design input on material selection, joinery detailing, and buildability — which often saves time and money.

For commercial projects — lodges, offices, retail — we are experienced in working within a broader professional team. We attend site meetings, coordinate with other trades, and deliver to the construction schedule.

If you have drawings ready, send them through. If you need design assistance, we can help with that too.

We do not quote from photos or WhatsApp descriptions alone. We always visit the site. Here is how it works:

Step 1: Contact us via WhatsApp or call. Tell us briefly what you need — kitchen, deck, cupboards, commercial fit-out.

Step 2: We schedule a site visit — usually within 2–3 working days. We bring a measuring tape, laser, and notebook. We take photos, note access constraints, and discuss your style, budget, and timeline.

Step 3: Within 3–5 working days, we send a detailed written quote with itemised costs, materials specified, and estimated completion date.

Step 4: You review. Ask questions. Adjust if needed. When happy, you accept and we order materials and book workshop time.

The site visit and quote are free. No obligation.

Timber decking can be installed year-round in the Lowveld, but each season has pros and cons.

Autumn (March–May) — ideal. Mild temperatures, low rainfall, and the timber gets a few months to settle before the summer heat. Our busiest season for decking installations.

Winter (June–August) — good. Dry conditions mean sealants and oils cure well. Cooler days are comfortable for the team. Slightly shorter daylight hours but no weather delays.

Spring (September–November) — moderate. Rain starts picking up, especially November. We work around weather windows. Good time to get on the schedule before the autumn rush.

Summer (December–February) — possible but challenging. Afternoon thunderstorms can disrupt installation. Oil and sealant curing takes longer in high humidity.

If you want a deck for summer entertaining, start the process in autumn or winter to avoid the rainy season delays.

Yes. You can see a portfolio of recent projects directly on our homepage — swipe through the project carousel to see kitchens, decks, and commercial fit-outs we have completed across the Lowveld.

We also share regular updates on social media, including before-and-after photos and works in progress — follow the links in the footer below.

If you want to see a specific type of project — a completed kitchen, a deck build, or a lodge bar counter — we can send relevant photos or arrange a visit to a recent project (with the owner’s permission).

We aim to get it right the first time, but we are human. If something is not to your satisfaction, tell us.

Our process includes a sign-off walkthrough when we finish. You inspect every detail — doors that do not close right, gaps you are not happy with, finishes that need adjustment. We fix it before we leave and before you pay the final balance.

If something comes up months later — a door that has shifted, a handle that has loosened, a deck board that has lifted — call us. We stand behind our work.

We have built our reputation in Nelspruit by treating every client fairly. If there is a problem, we sort it out. No lawyers, no drama.