Saint-Gobain products help transform Flipping Johannesburg renovator’s dream home

Baron, known for his successful career buying,  renovating and selling homes at a profit, has made a name for himself in the local real estate scene. His popular YouTube channel, Flipping Johannesburg, boasts more than 110 000 followers, and showcases his renovation expertise.

Worldwide leader in light and sustainable construction , Saint-Gobain designs, manufactures and distributes its integrated solutions for the renovation of public and private buildings, making the world a better home.

Baron advises homeowners and renovators to invest wisely in the right materials, stressing that the cheapest option is not always the best. "Don’t just pick the cheapest product; make sure it is the right product," he says. 
 

Baron used Isover Aerolite® Soft Touch, a high-performance glass wool thermal and acoustic ceiling insulation, in the ceiling of his six-bedroom home, ensuring both comfort and safety.

While Baron appreciates the product’s thermal and acoustic properties, he emphasises its non-combustibility as the most crucial feature. "Safety is a priority," he explains, noting that Isover Aerolite® Soft Touch’s resistance to fire was a key factor in his decision.

Baron continues by addressing a common issue faced by many homeowners: inadequate insulation. "I’m sure you’ve heard people say, ‘This house is so hot in summer or very cold in winter,’ but most of the time it’s not the house itself – it’s because people don’t have proper ceiling insulation. That’s why we chose Isover Aerolite® Soft Touch,” he says.

In addition to its effectiveness, Baron highlights the product's ease of installation and the fact that it’s locally manufactured in South Africa. "It comes in compressed rolls, which makes it easy to carry and install through a ceiling trapdoor," he adds, emphasising both the convenience and the support for local industry.

The extensive renovation, dubbed Project V, has been prominently featured across Baron’s social media platforms, providing followers with insight into each step of the transformation. 

Among the many products used was Gyproc QuickCornice™, a lightweight, easy-to-install moulded polystyrene cornice designed to neatly finish the junction between walls and ceilings. “It’s the finishing touch the house needed,” says Baron.

One of the key advantages of Gyproc QuickCornice™, according to Baron, is its flexibility. "It’s great because it can follow the natural contours of your walls and ceilings, and as we know, in older homes, the walls are never perfectly straight," he explains, pointing out how adaptable the product is for renovation projects, particularly in older buildings.

Baron goes on to describe the installation process in detail, beginning with precise measurements. "You have to carefully mark where the cornice should go, using chalk to ensure it sits level on the wall," he says. 

Proper installation also requires precise 45° mitre cuts at the corners, which allow for a tight, clean fit. To secure the cornices in place, Baron used Gyproc QuickCornice™ Adhesive, a reliable and easy-to-use bonding solution.

Another renovation project in Weltevreden Park, Roodepoort, also featured Saint-Gobain products in its transformation. The house, part of Project C, had been abandoned for a decade and required a complete overhaul, including a roof refit and waterproofing. 

For this, Baron selected abe® hydroproof, an economical, water-based acrylic waterproofing designed to work with abe® membrane, a high-strength polyester stitch-bond reinforcing material.

Before applying a.b.e® hydroproof, Baron’s team meticulously prepped the roof by replacing broken tiles and thoroughly cleaning the surface to remove dust and debris. This crucial step ensured the a.b.e® hydroproof, which is brushed-applied onto surfaces, could adhere properly for maximum durability. 

After securing the membrane in place, a second coat of a.b.e® hydroproof was applied. “Hydroproof is high-strength and won’t shrink or perish. It's an all-in-one system,” says Baron. To complete the roof's waterproofing, the ridges were sealed, protecting the joints.

To provide extra waterproofing for the roof above the kitchen scullery and an old section of roofing over the garage, Baron used abe® super laykold®, a rubberised bitumen emulsion. “It’s an extra precaution to make sure everything stays watertight,” Baron says. 

a.b.e® super laykold®, which is applied together with a.b.e® membrane, offers a liquid rubberised bitumen waterproofing solution for immersed water conditions, that’s even safe for koi ponds and other garden water features.

Inside the house, Baron relied on more abe® products to address structural issues. For wall cracks, reinforcing bars were inserted, and abe® epidermix® 372, a two-part epoxy adhesive, was applied to fortify the reinforcement. "It’s a general-purpose adhesive, filler and grout epoxy system that’s easy to mix and creates a very strong bond, ensuring a good repair,” Baron explains.

Careful preparation was essential before tiling began on Project C’s patio area. The team chipped away crumbling concrete and thoroughly cleaned the surface to remove dust, ensuring optimal bonding. They then levelled the patio with screed and applied Weber-Tylon Plaskey, a cement-based primer designed for both interior and exterior surfaces, finishing the job with Weber-Tylon Key-It primer.

When mixed, these products form a strong, waterproof slurry, essential for wet areas like bathroom showers. “You might be thinking, ‘Is this necessary?’ but using the slurry can increase adhesion by up to 80%,” says Baron, stressing the importance of proper surface preparation.

Once the slurry dried, the team proceeded with the tiling, using Weber-Tylon® WB16 Ceramic & Porcelain tile adhesive, which is ideal for both interior and exterior projects. For bathroom areas, instead of mixing the adhesive with water, Baron’s team used Weber-Tylon® Bond-It, a latex-based liquid additive specifically formulated to enhance Weber’s cement-based tile adhesives and grouts.

Grouting was finished with Weber-Tylon all-purpose grout, available in a range of colours from white to charcoal, depending on the aesthetic desired. Once again, Bond-It was used to waterproof these high-moisture areas, ensuring durability.

In the garden, the transformation continued as Baron applied white Weber Marbelite, a cement-based marble plaster, to the pool. This product is designed for use on gunite or hand-packed concrete pool shells, adding both durability and elegance to the outdoor space.

For Steve Baron and his wife, Maria, Project V – still in progress – is much more than another house flip. It’s the transformation of a 1960s-built, outdated home into a modern living space for themselves. 

Their dedication to quality workmanship and the use of high-quality products, such as those from Saint-Gobain, has set their projects apart. Some of the homes Baron has renovated have sold at record speed – Project O sold in just one day – a testament to his meticulous approach and the superior materials used in each renovation, all in line with Saint-Gobain’s mission to "make the world a better home."