BUILDING DEFECTS

SUNDAY CALEB BONNET

20CB028013

BUILDING DEFECTS
Building Defects are imperfections or physical deformation that keeps a building structure from
its esteem which can hinder the value or utility of the structure. They can be categorized into
two, which are:
1. STRUCTURAL DEFECTS
2. SERVICE DEFCTS
STRUCTURAL DEFECTS
Structural defects are defined as a fault or deviation from the intended structural performance of
a building element.

DEFECTS SYMPTOMS CAUSES REMEDIES

1. CRACKS IN  Deep cracks  Elastic  Drilling and

WALLS
along the Deformation plugging
walls  Thermal  Stitching
 Crack lines Movement  Sealing of
on the concrete to
Chemical
surface of the fill cracks
Reactions
walls
between the
materials used
for concrete
2. UNEVEN  Sloping floors  Improper  Trained experts
FLOORS Irregular movement construction of the
to carry out the
on the floors floor
 Improper settling floor renovation
of the foundation
 Application of
 Cracked floor
chemicals to kill
joints termites (on
Termites (for wooden wooden floors)
floors)
3. SPALLING OF  Water stains or  Water Damage  Patching of the
CONCRETE
rust are visible  Placement of spalled areas
on the surface excess loads on with a color
 Large chunks the walls matching
of concrete
Use of inadequate compound
break away
concrete materials
from the  Resurface the
surface
concrete with
an overlay
Replace the entire slab

4. DEFECTIVE STRUCTURES IN  Spalling of  Mostly  Proper

 BUILDING STRUCTURES concrete exposure to maintenance of
AND SUPERSTRUCTURS moisture and pipe fixtures
 Water chemicals
seeping  Avoidance of
that
through chemical
ultimately
the floors exposure to
destroys the
and walls building parts
bond
between the
materials

SERVICE DEFECTS
Service defects refer to the faults that occur in building services such as water supply, fire
services, electricity supply, HVAC services and more; that can affect how a building looks or
functions without compromising the integrity of the structure.
DEFECT SYMPTOMS CAUSES REMEDIES
1. Water/Plumbing  Faulty water  Faulty pipes  Regular checking
Services supply (rusts and of pipe fixtures
leakages)
 Unclean water,  Replacement of
dirt  Defective water damaged
tanks and pumps plumbing
 Noisy water fixtures
pumping  Breakage of
supply pipes  Chlorination and
Sedimentation of
water before
being supplied
into the building
2. HVAC Services  Noisy air  Improper  Regular checks
conditioning maintenance of for supply of
systems ventilation refrigerant to the
systems air supply system
 Poor air quality
 Lack of  Proper
 Extremely hot or refrigerant in the maintenance of
extremely cold air conditioning ventilation
temperatures systems systems
  Faulty motor
parts
3. Electricity  Frequent  Failure of circuit  Replacement of
Supply blackouts and breakers and damaged
low electric electric fixtures electrical fixtures
currents
 Overloading  Avoidance of
 Heating of overloading
 Uneven
electric wires and
parts distribution of
loads throughout
 Constant electric the phases
shocks and
sparks

4. Defective  Blemishes  Excess moisture  Repainting of

building finishes and leakages peeled areas
(painting, tiling)  Uneven paint
finishes  Accidents  Use of quality
finishing
 Cracks and chips  Poor finishing materials for
in tiles and maintenance buildings
 Peeling of paint  Replacement of
and slight cracks chipped and
on walls cracked tiles