Build it

In a town like Mtubatuba, the hardware store serves as an unofficial building advice centre. Contractors stopping by to grab materials often end up asking questions about how to fix a leaking roof or what's the right damp-proof membrane for a rising-moisture problem. Local builders rely on stores to stock the items they run out of mid-project, and homeowners depend on helpful staff to point them toward solutions when they're doing repairs themselves. Build it functions as part of the local building ecosystem—a place where transactions happen, but also where practical knowledge circulates. The store's standing in the community depends on whether staff actually know the materials they're selling and whether people trust them to point them in the right direction.