A quiet cycle with three real reversals. 168 of 504 supplier lines were re-read from live pages on 23/10/2026 against the same listings on 28/09/2026, and 306 of 339 build-ups did not move by more than half a percent. What did move is worth reading: the roofing accessories that led last month's rises have fallen hard, structural pine has come off its September spike, and cement is being discounted at the counter while the producers call it a price war.
Rate update
Three things that moved the bill
- −0.9%
- Median move
- 7
- Rates up
- 26
- Rates down
- 306
- Unchanged
01 · Roofing
−31.4%
IBR closer strips fell at both merchants
The broad eave closure strip dropped from R18.88 to R12.95 at Cashbuild and from R51.02 to R35.00 at Builders — the same −31.4% at two merchants on different price points, which reads as a manufacturer change rather than merchant discounting. The Builders listing carries the Heunis Steel name. The build-up rate follows to R20.90 a metre (−25.5%), the largest single move in the library this cycle.
02 · Timber
−5.0%
Structural pine came off its September spike
S5 38×114 at York Timbers (Builders) went from R66.33 to R63.00 a metre, and 38×38 PAR from R13.17 to R12.00 (−8.9%). After the 20.0% jump issue 04 recorded, this is the first easing — not a return to August levels, but the shelf has stopped climbing. Formwork follows: battens at 300 centres −1.2%, sawn 38×114 members −1.3%.
03 · Cement
−4.7%
Cement is being discounted, and the producers say why
42.5N in 50kg bags dropped from R128 to R122 at Builders. PPC told the market on 28/09/2026 that an aggressive local fight for market share is destroying value on weak demand — a price war in its own words. The concrete build-ups carry only part of it: 25MPa is down 0.8% to R1 715.42 a cube and 30MPa 0.9% to R1 853.17, because cement is one input among sand, stone and cartage.
The movers
28/09 to 23/10
UpDown
| Material | Movement | Change | Previous rate | New rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hollow-core door no | +3.3% | R 643.71 | R 664.88 | |
| DPC m² | +2.9% | R 22.96 | R 23.62 | |
| Pressure gauge and stopcock no | +2.8% | R 593.51 | R 610.14 | |
| Double door set in partition no | +1.4% | R 3 130.47 | R 3 172.80 | |
| Rubble stone wall / lining m² | +1.2% | R 1 064.80 | R 1 078.10 | |
| Door set in partition no | +1.0% | R 2 123.46 | R 2 144.63 | |
| Movement joint m² | +0.6% | R 57.97 | R 58.34 | |
| Profiled foam closer m | −25.5% | R 28.06 | R 20.90 | |
| Prep bowl incl trap no | −6.6% | R 1 491.79 | R 1 393.97 | |
| Butterfly valve 50mm no | −3.5% | R 640.15 | R 617.87 | |
| Glass block wall m² | −3.3% | R 2 474.65 | R 2 392.19 | |
| Timber handrail / mopstick m | −2.0% | R 170.80 | R 167.38 | |
| Gypsum ceiling m² | −1.7% | R 244.22 | R 240.05 | |
| Bench no | −1.7% | R 2 596.86 | R 2 552.94 | |
| Bench and table combination no | −1.7% | R 5 193.73 | R 5 105.88 | |
−30%0%+30% |
New additions
Six lines moved off the May–June capture
Priced from a live page for the first time
- Aluminium cover strip, M-Trim 38mm at Builders. R45.00 a metre, carried since the 05–06/2026 capture until this cycle.
- Precast kerb at Builders and at Cembrick. R99.00 and R66.61 a metre. Two suppliers, both now dated 10/2026.
- PVC gully and steel door frame at BuildAfrica. R76.99 a gully and R505.99 for an 813×2032 frame.
- Shower mixer and rose set at Eleganz. R1 349.90 a set.
Read-across
At the counter
Supplier prices behind the moves
- Profiled foam closer strip at Cashbuild and Builders. R18.88 to R12.95 and R51.02 to R35.00 per metre, both −31.4%.
- Rubble stone, 19mm grey at Builders. R449 to R560 a cube, +24.7%. Delivered aggregate, and diesel went up R2.84 a litre on 07/10.
- Rhinoboard 6.4mm ceiling board at Builders. R57.87 to R48.38 a square metre, −16.4%. The gypsum ceiling rate follows to R240.05 (−1.7%).
- Hollow-core door, Deep Mould Caprice at Vanacht. R433.04 to R497.95, +15.0%. Last issue the same product fell 12.5% at Builders; the merchants are not moving together.
On the watch list
- Diesel at R31.95 a litre wholesale. The 07/10/2026 adjustment added R2.84 a litre to 0.05% diesel and R3.33 to 95 petrol. Cartage, plant and delivered aggregates in this library still carry pre-adjustment pump prices. Price bulk deliveries from a dated quotation this tender cycle.
- Steel is two markets now. Merchant sections eased — 50×50 hollow section −5.8%, hoop iron −6.6% — while fabricators report supply constraints after ArcelorMittal South Africa closed its Newcastle long-steel operations. Rebar and fabricated steel will not follow the merchant trend.
- Rand and the 19/11 MPC. R16.41 to the dollar on 21/10/2026, CPI at 4.5% for September. The repo rate is 7.25% and prime 10.75%. Another hike keeps residential work soft, which is part of what is holding these counter prices down.
- No CPAP index this month. Stats SA publishes P0151.1 for September on 29/10/2026. Until then the Haylett calculation has no new work-group index to run against, so live-contract escalation should use the August release.
The workbook
Where the numbers live
Download
The priced rate library
v3.3, saved 23/10/2026. 168 supplier lines re-read from live pages, 276 held at their 28/09 verified prices, 59 carried from the 05–06/2026 capture, 1 CUT term-contract rate. 190 materials, 504 supplier lines, 339 build-ups, plus a Settings sheet that drives profit, tier uplift, VAT and on-cost. All rates recalculated with 0 formula errors. Enter quantities in column D of any bill; rates, amounts and the Final summary follow.
setout-rate-library-2026-10.xlsxXLSX · 1.1 MB · 37 sheets
Method
How the rates are built
Like-for-like means the same product on the same supplier listing on 28/09/2026 and 23/10/2026. A price is accepted only when read from the supplier page itself and when it lands within 67%–150% of the previous price after pack conversion; anything outside that band is held for review, and 31 lines were held this cycle. 168 of 504 supplier lines were re-read; the rest carry their earlier prices unchanged. The change is applied to the material line of each build-up with quantities, BIBC labour, on-cost and plant unchanged, then 12.5% profit. Single-listing moves are signals, not indices. These are estimating benchmarks — verify against project quotations before any tender award or adjudication recommendation.
Sources: [1] Stats SA, P0141 Consumer Price Index, September 2026 (released 21/10/2026) — 4.5% annual, +0.4% monthly · [2] SARB MPC statement, 23/09/2026 — repo rate +25bp to 7.25%, prime 10.75%; next meeting 19/11/2026 · [3] DMRE media statement, 05/10/2026 — fuel adjustment effective 07/10/2026: diesel 0.05% +284.38 c/l, petrol 95 +333.00 c/l · [4] SARB selected exchange rates, 21/10/2026 — R16.4092 per US dollar · [5] News24, 28/09/2026 — PPC on an 'aggressive' cement price war amid weak demand · [6] SAISC via Engineering News — fabricating members affected by structural steel shortages after the Newcastle long-steel closure · [7] Stats SA, P0151.1 Construction Materials Price Indices — September 2026 release scheduled 29/10/2026
By Setout. General guidance, not project-specific advice.
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