Questions answered

Shades of Blue Lifestyles is a Level 1 B-BBEE contributor with 135% procurement recognition. The company is 100% black-owned and 100% black woman-owned. Spend with us counts at 135% towards your preferential procurement score, and towards black women-owned supplier targets.

Head office and the workshop are on the corner of East Geduld Road and Cowles Street, East Geduld, Springs, in the City of Ekurhuleni. We also have branches in Nigel (Alra Park), Alberton (Brackenhurst), Springs (Endicott) and Durban (Newlands).

All of Ekurhuleni — Springs, Nigel, Brakpan, Benoni, Boksburg, Germiston, Alberton, Kempton Park and Edenvale — plus Johannesburg, Midrand, Pretoria and Centurion, Heidelberg and the Vaal. Our Durban branch covers KwaZulu-Natal.

Yes. We inspect the site, photograph what needs doing and send a written, itemised quote at no charge.

Yes. Download our supplier pack for the company registration, B-BBEE details and references, or ask the sales desk for the documents your vendor-registration form requires (tax clearance PIN, bank confirmation letter, COID letter of good standing and a current B-BBEE affidavit).

Shades of Blue Lifestyles (Pty) Ltd was registered with the CIPC on 8 October 2013 (registration 2013/185990/07) and has traded since then.

Never. Shades of Blue does not charge anyone a fee to register, to be interviewed or to be placed. If someone asks you for money in our name, it is a scam — please report it to us.

It depends on the trade, the hours, the shift pattern and how long the placement runs. We quote a rate per person per hour or per month that already includes our payroll, UIF and COID costs, so there are no extras later. Tell us the role and we will send a written quote.

Shades of Blue is the employer of record. The worker is on our payroll and our COID cover; you direct the work on site. This is how a temporary employment service works under the Labour Relations Act.

Yes. We place staff across Ekurhuleni, Johannesburg, Tshwane and the Vaal, and have branches in Nigel, Alberton and Durban.

Yes. Shades of Blue is a Level 1 contributor with 135% procurement recognition, and 100% black woman-owned, which also counts towards the black women-owned supplier targets in preferential procurement. A current affidavit is available on request.

It depends on the trade and the location. Tell us your start date and we will say honestly whether it can be met.

Yes. Where a role requires a trade test, a red-seal certificate or a specific ticket, we confirm the document before the candidate is presented.

Yes. An independent chairperson reduces the risk of a procedurally unfair dismissal finding at the CCMA.

No. HR and IR support is available to any business, whether or not it uses our labour.

Tell us your current setup. We quote payroll administration around what you need, and work alongside your accountant for SARS submissions where they already handle them.

Yes. Send engineer's or architect's drawings and we quote from them. If you have none, we measure on site and prepare a working sketch for your approval before cutting steel.

We fabricate for galvanising and arrange hot-dip galvanising through a galvanising plant when it is specified. Otherwise steel is primed and painted to your colour.

Both. Our own team installs what we fabricate, including core-drilling and bolting handrail posts to concrete.

We focus on light and medium structures — shelters, frames, stands, platforms and mezzanines. For heavy structural steel we will tell you upfront if the job should go to a larger shop.

For load-bearing structures such as mezzanines and platforms, an engineer's design is required, and we can arrange one. Simple frames and shelters can be built from our own measured drawings.

Outdoor and wet areas are best galvanised; indoor rails can be primed and painted to your colour. We quote either.

Yes. We plan installation around your shifts and barricade the work area so production continues.

No. We inspect the site, photograph the problems and send a written quote at no charge.

For private and smaller jobs we ask for a 50% deposit on acceptance and the balance on completion and sign-off. For corporate and government clients we work to your purchase-order and payment terms.

Yes. We repair damage covered by building and home-owners insurance and supply the quotes and photographs your insurer asks for.

Usually, yes. Walls need cracks repaired, damp treated and surfaces prepared before painting, and that is where DIY jobs fail. A professional finish is done once, correctly, without you losing weekends or buying tools.

The biggest cost is labour, and most labour is preparation. You save most by clearing the area and agreeing a scope that avoids unnecessary prep.

Yes. Our quote includes paint at our trade price. If you prefer a particular brand or have stock, tell us and we will quote labour only.

Thicker interlocking concrete pavers on a properly compacted, designed sub-base. We specify the thickness once we know the vehicles and turning areas.

Yes. Re-levelling sunken areas, replacing broken pavers, weed and joint treatment, and resealing are available once-off or on a maintenance package.

Yes. We photograph the damage, write up the cause and supply the itemised quote your insurer needs.

Sometimes, if the existing tiles are sound and level and the height change is acceptable at doors. We check on site and tell you which option lasts.

Yes. We do insurance repair work and provide the quotes and photographs insurers ask for.

Phone us anyway. If it is not something we do well, we will tell you.

Yes, with the right stud spacing and board. We add insulation for sound privacy and reinforce where shelves or screens will be mounted.

No fixed minimum. Small orders are combined with a delivery run where possible, so very small orders may carry a delivery charge — the quote shows it.

Yes. Many maintenance and site consumables are the same every month. We can quote a standing list and deliver on a schedule.

Yes. Steel can be supplied cut to your lengths, which saves handling and waste on site.

Yes. A standing list can be quoted and delivered on a fixed schedule.

Yes, on request. Send the items, sizes and standards required and we will quote.