MAKERERE UNIVERSITY

COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING, DESIGN, ART AND TECHNOLOGY

SCHOOL OF BUILT ENVIRONMENT

DEPARTMENT OF CONSTRUCTION ECONOMICS AND MANAGEMENT

COURSE UNIT: MAINTENANCE MANAGEMENT.

LECTURER: MR AINOMUGISHA SHAFIK

GROUP FIVE

NAME REG.NO STUDENT NO.

NAGGINDA PHIONAH 20/U/2399/PS 2000702399
CLAIRE
JJUMBA MUSTAFAH 20/U/O676 2000700676
KYOYAGALA LYNATE 20/U/2370/PS 2000702370
KYAKOONYE MUHAMMAD 20/U/2373/PS 2000702373
ATUHE SHIBAH 20/U/O688 2000700688
AINEMBABAZI FAUZIAR 20/U/2368/PS 2000702368
KASULA JONATHAN 20/U/2383/PS 2000702383
Table of Contents
BUILDING DEFECTS....................................................................................................... 3
1.1 CATEGORIES OF BUILDING DEFECTS ............................................................... 3
1.2 SOURCES OF BUILDING DEFECTS, THEIR DIAGNOSIS, SYMPTOMS AND
DETERIORATION MECHANISMS .................................................................................... 3
1.3 STRUCTURAL PROBLEMS .................................................................................... 6
1.4 MOISTURE PROBLEMS .......................................................................................... 6
1.5 FOUNDATION DEFECTS ........................................................................................ 7
1.6 CONCRETE DEFECTS ............................................................................................. 8
1.7 PAINTING DEFECTS. ............................................................................................. 10
1.8 MASONRY AND WOOD DEFECTS IN BUILDINGS .......................................... 11
1.9 ROOF DEFECTS ...................................................................................................... 15
1.10 THE DEFECTS ......................................................................................................... 16
1.11 PLUMBING DEFECTS ............................................................................................ 16
REMEDIES FOR THE DEFECTS .................................................................................. 17
INSPECTION AND SURVEYS OF BUILDING DEFECTS ......................................... 18
CONCLUSION ................................................................................................................ 21
REFERENCES ................................................................................................................. 22
 BUILDING DEFECTS
Under the building control act of 2013, an emphasis is put onto decent and safe building
structures. Defects in buildings occur for a vast range of reasons including; natural
deterioration, defective design, and material selection.

Difference between a defect and deterioration in building construction

A building defect refers to a building flaw or design mistake that reduces the value of the
building, and causes a dangerous condition (Jaspal, 2022). In practice, some of the defects are
caused by the contractor (patent defects), others are caused by designers (latent defects), yet
others are caused due to normal wear and tear and lack of maintenance.

Deterioration on the other hand is a natural process which may be unavoidable although
minimised by care in design and selection of materials. A defect can lead to deterioration if its
occurrence is severe.

1.1 CATEGORIES OF BUILDING DEFECTS

1. Structural defect

Refers to a divergence from the planned structural element of a building. The common
structural problems include weak foundation, cracked walls and ceilings, uneven floors among
others.

2. Non-structural defect

Refers to defects which happen to the non-structural elements of the buildings. For example,
the floor finishes, doors, windows and rainwater downpipes goods. The defects are mostly
caused by chemicals and bio- logical substances, significant temperature differences,
condensation process and small cracks.

1.2 SOURCES OF BUILDING DEFECTS, THEIR DIAGNOSIS, SYMPTOMS

AND DETERIORATION MECHANISMS
BUILDING DIAGNOSIS
This involves a process in which relevant experts investigate the existing condition of a
building, carry out the necessary tests, evaluate the data collected, make recommendations
professionally, and predict the future performance of the building.
Circumstances under which diagnosis check is required
1. Persistent Defects
The presence of defects such as cracks and deformations are common
in most buildings.
2. Ageing Structure
When a building ages, it may develop visually hidden defects such as decreasing concrete
strength and corrosion of steel reinforcement. It is advisable that old buildings be checked
periodically to determine the presence and effects of these hidden defects.

3. Change of Use or Rehabilitation

an assessment is to examine the suitability of the new usage and also reveal the extent of
rehabilitation work required for the new usage of the building.

4. Sale of Property
Whenever there is any resale of a building, a diagnostic assessment could be carried out to
know the condition of the building.

5. Budgeting Maintenance Costs

it will help to permit accurate budgeting of annual repairs and maintenance costs required as
well as longer-term expenditure to upkeep the building.

6. Post-crisis Assessment
fire or overloading can cause damage to structural members of the building which calls for a
check before any reinstatement work is done.

7. Satisfying Statutory Requirements

The main objective of such compulsory inspections is to ensure that buildings are structurally
sound and safe to be occupied or used. It is usual practice for commercial and industrial
buildings to be subjected to more regular inspections than residential ones.

Approach to diagnostic assessment

This is done on structural defects where an expert in diagnostic testing is necessary to carry
out tests on the members as part of the diagnostic programme then after a proper report
should be drawn up for the owner.
Principles of Diagnosis
The whole process is never a simple straightforward one. By its nature, the process is
iterative; the more unusual or complex the cause, the more will be the need to go back and
repeat some or all of the stages previously completed.
Some points worth noting include the following
• A list of the potential causes of a defect would be useful as a reference point to return
to when unexplained symptoms are found
• Diagnosis must be done step-by-step in a methodical manner.
• In reality, defects are often caused by a combination of factors and seldom by a single
factor.
 • Sometimes the cost involved in determining all the possible causes of a defect may
not be justified for various reasons.

Client's Instructions
Immediately after agreement is reached, the surveyor or other investigator should follow this
up by confirming in writing all relevant and important aspects such as:
• Purpose of survey, that is, whether a structural survey, valuation, redevelopment feasibility
or any other survey is required.
• Agreed date of commencement of survey and expected date of completion.
• Statement of surveyor's intentions covering a range of relevant matters which include extent
of inspection of building; extent of opening up of structure; any limitation of liability by
surveyor; enquiries to be made to statutory authorities; and basis of calculation of
professional fees and other reimbursements.
PROCESS OF INVESTIGATION
1. Preliminaries

documentation survey during which existing information on the building structure and the
maintenance records may be obtained from design and as-built drawings, specifications,
adjacent buildings, suppliers' records, contractors' test records during construction, records of
defects and repairs, past and present usage of the building,
2. Visual inspections

This is mainly relaying on human sensory perceptions such as sight hearing touch and smell.
It is where most of the tools are used.
testing and monitoring
these tests include:
• Chemical and physical analysis of materials.
• Non-destructive and semi-destructive methods
• Destructive tests
3. Exploratory works

This includes the techniques of removing obstructions to facilitate a closer inspection of

hidden parts. These include excavation works to reveal the depth, size and condition of
foundations to expose structural parts. In every case, damage will be caused and high costs
may be incurred. They should generally be regarded as last resorts in elucidating causes and
only employed where everything else has failed.
1.3 STRUCTURAL PROBLEMS
Structural failures
Structural failures are not themselves defects but result into defects that may eventually lead
to the collapse of a structure and they occur when a material is stressed over its strength limit.
Imposition of heavy loads on to a building in excess of the capacity of the structural
components causes overstressing to the building and hence resulting into structural failures.
Collapse is the ultimate result but overstressing is also evident at earlier stages through the
development of fractures in a building (Barry, 2001). The causes of structural failure include
design errors, construction errors, material defects and landslides.
The major defect that occurs due to structural failure is the development of major cracks in
the wall sections of the building.
Structural movement
This also results into fractures and cracks in the building. Although a building is designed to
be either inflexible or rigid, a considerable amount of movement should actually occur but
sometimes it results into building defects.
The defects are not usually too serious if movement affects the entire structure uniformly but
problems come in if the movement occurs differently between parts of the structure in a
building as a result of sometimes temperature differences, moisture content or the parts being
made up of different materials which respond differently.
Apart from temperature changes and moisture content, Settlement is also a key cause of
movement damages in buildings. It is not usually terrible if it continues uniformly over the
entire supported area of the building.
Major cracks in a building
The major sources of cracks in a building are BOTH building failure and structural
movement. Structural cracks deserve immediate and a detailed investigation should be
carried out in order to find out the primary cause of the crack (Chin-man, 2002). Cracks can
be diagnosed through visual inspections. Graphic and photographic images can also be made
of critical members for further analysis of the crack.
Symptoms of cracks in a building
Cracks can penetrate through the finishes into the concrete, bricks and blocks.
Continuous cracks across the width of the wall.
Diagonal cracks at the corners of the window or the door.
1.4 MOISTURE PROBLEMS
According to George (1998), moisture is one of the principal sources of deterioration and it
has a higher impact on the properties of the materials.
Dampness in building structures is the defect that occurs as a result of too much moisture
content in some parts of the building. The level of water content representing an unacceptable
dampness is very difficult to define and therefore it is also usual to consider the extent of
saturation of a material.
Although fungal decay in wood components is certainly the most serious consequence of
excessive moisture contents, other building materials such as plaster and mortar also
deteriorate. High moisture content in plaster, mortar and bricks is a clear indicator of
excessive dampness.
The high moisture content in timber accommodates fungi and insects that destroy the grain
arrangement and hence reduction in the strength.
Dampness in buildings occurs as a result of:
• Failure or absence of a damp proof course. However, the presence of a damp proof
course does not necessarily mean that rising damp is totally cut off but it has a greater
resistance towards it.
• Direct penetration of rainwater down an open flue
• Damage or absence of projecting features such as sills, designed to throw water away
from the wall surfaces.
• Condensation; this is an issue that occurs when the level of humidity inside a building
is very high and it is as a result of warm air colliding with cold air.
Diagnosis to dampness
Dampness can be distinguished from condensation by the pattern and positioning of staining.
Gutters and down pipes must be checked of any defect that may be resulting into leakages
causing dampness in building sections.
Electrical resistance meters can be used to measure accurately within limited ranges, the
moisture contents of timber, plaster, sand and concrete (George,1993). According to Barry
(2001), this technique is too cumbersome for use in routine maintenance and therefore it can
be considered realistic only where a special investigation I being made.
George, (1993) again states that a carbide moisture tester also allows accurate determination
of moisture content in dust samples collected from walling materials.
Symptoms of dampness
• Appearance of mould on walls, floors and ceilings
• Water droplets on walls
• Discolored patches on walls or plaster
• Excessive condensation on windows happening not only in cold weather
• Rotting woodwork such as skirting boards
1.5 FOUNDATION DEFECTS
Foundations must be designed to support the loads from a structure, taking proper
account of ground conditions.
The following are the sources of foundation defects:
1. Settlement and subsidence
These usually occurs on loose ground such as sand or shingle or on readily compressed
ground with a high organic and moisture content, such as peat.
Structural and diagonal structures.
Worst settlement problems are associated with sites in which the load bearing capacity of the
ground varies.
In extreme cases, diagonal fractures may be identified as resulting from
the settlement of a distinct part of the structure.
2. Tree root damage

This results most obviously from the penetration of tree roots into masonry and beneath
foundations, and rupturing due to progressive root growth.

1.6 CONCRETE DEFECTS

1. Construction deficiency

This refers to lack during the construction of the concrete structures. This brings about
defects in concrete such as honey combing, rock pockets, bug holes and sand streaks.

Honey combing in concrete.

This is caused during construction when improper vibration occurs. This results into the
separation of the coarse aggregates and the fine aggregates from the cement paste.

This brings about a weakness in the structure of concrete set up since some part of the
structure is not defined.

2. Structural deficiency

Errors in design or improper use of the structure bring about structural deficiencies of the
concrete structures. A defect of structural cracking arises from this source.

Structural cracking.

This is caused by both dead and live load stresses, which can lead to eventual failure of the
structure. Flexure structural cracks are vertical and begin in areas of maximum tension
whereas the structural cracks are diagonal.

3. Corrosion of reinforcement

This occurs in areas where there is insufficient cover, areas of poor compaction or large
amounts of chloride present, rusting may occur. This results into stresses which cause
cracking or spalling of the overlying concrete.
Spalling.

This is the development of the fragments usually in the shape of the flakes due to the
corrosion of steel and due to freeze thaw effect. It occurs as the delaminated area completely
separates from a member.

Delamination.

It is the separating of concrete layers at or near the outermost layer of reinforcing steel. It is
caused by the expansion of corroding reinforcing steel and can lead to severe cracking.

4. Chemical attack

This occurs when aggressive liquids of damp chemicals are in contact with concrete.
Softening of the surface may result for example acidic attack. Alternatively, the concrete may
crack and spall due to sulphate attack.

Efflorescence.

This is a result of hydrolysis of cement paste components in concrete. It is indicated by the

presence of white deposits on the concrete usually on the underside of overpasses.

5. Internal action

These are reactions that can occur between cement and substances present in the aggregates,
resulting in expansive forces with subsequent swelling and pop outs.

Swelling.
 This is visible through development of irregularities (swellings) on the concrete structure.
This evidences the expansion of the internal components of the concrete.

Pop-outs.

Are the rough conical depressions in the concrete surface caused by the expansion of the
deleterious aggregate particles near the surface. These are the result of alkali silica reactions
taking place in concrete.

1.7 PAINTING DEFECTS.

DEFECT APPEARANCE CAUSES

Bleeding Painting on dirty surfaces

Discoloration of paint film

Grinning It is caused by overthinning of the paint,

Ability of a paint to see the low pigment content
surface underneath the coat.

Cracking Use of poor-quality finish.

Mapping of applied paint.

Wrinkling Exposed surface of the finish dries

Wrinkles are formed on the quicker than the underlying coat.
exposed paint surface

Blistering Contamination under the paint due to

Formation of bubbles. moisture absorption or condensation by
sudden change in temperature.
Chalking Weathering of finish due to excessive
White-ish powder on paint exposure to moisture and UV rays.
when touched

Efflorescence Salts from the structure beig carried to

Salt formation on the surface. the surface by water and deposited on
drying.

Flaking/peeling It occurs due to adhesion failure

Detachment of paint film between the wood surface and the
from the surface. finishing. It is caused by moisture,
dimensional changes and aging of the
wood.
Blooming/ Blushing. Paint exposed to condensation or
Uneven distribution of the moisture during curing especially at low
paint. temperature.

Adhesion failure Surface contamination or condensation,

An interfacial bond failure incompatibility between coating systems
between the adhesive and the or exceeding the overcoating time.
adherend.

1.8 MASONRY AND WOOD DEFECTS IN BUILDINGS

Masonry
Masonry consists of individual units such as bricks, concrete blocks, stones bound together
with mortar. Some of the defects in masonry, their sources, symptoms and remedies are
explained below.
Efflorescence.
This is a deposit of salts formed on the face of concrete or brick work and appears as a loose
white powder or crystals appearing on the exposed surfaces of the masonry.
It is formed when water penetrates into masonry, and transports the salts from the interior to
the exterior. The water then evaporates and leaves the salts to crystallizes on the surface. The
salts may come from the walling units since some like bricks contain soluble salts or from
water if it contains dissolved salts.
External efflorescence might be unsightly but its not a problem since it is washed away by the
rain. On the other hand, internal efflorescence can be troublesome especially on plastered and
decorated walls and in severe cases the plaster might be pushed off the walls. (Yuen, 1993)
Figure 1: efflorescence in clay bricks and concrete blocks
Frost attack
This normally happens to masonry that is subjected to severe exposure to elements and
regularly gets wet from the rain. The rain water is absorbed into the porous masonry, freezes,
expands and exerts pressure on the internal structure causing disintegration.
Masonry in this position should adequately be protected from frost during construction, or
masonry with smaller pores should be opted for as compared to that with large pores.
Frosting can cause spalling of the face of the masonry and disintegration of mortar. It may also
cause masonry to detach from the mortar.
Where there is danger of frost, stronger mortar mixes should be used.

Figure 2: frost effect on clay brick masonry

Lichen, mould and other growths
These organisms may not be destructive but cause staining on the masonry surfaces. Growth
of climbing plants on walls can cause damage to walls as their roots penetrate into the cracks
of motor joints.

Figure 3: mould, lichen and moss

Stains
This can come about when the ferrous sulphates from the rick react with the lime in the mortar
to form a brownish hydroxide and carbonate iron.
Corrosion of embedded ferrous materials
The iron and still embedded in the brick or block work my corrode and bring about opening of
the joints or cracking and rusting stains.

Figure 4: corrosion due to rusted ferrous material

Drying shrinkage and expansion on wetting
This is the contracting of hardened concrete due to loss of capillary moisture to the
environment. The contraction results into formation of cracks with in concrete.
Clay bricks may also expand when first wetted causing expansion hence leading to cracking in
the brick work. Both defects occur in the early life of a building and are unlikely to progress.

Figure 5: cracks on plastered wall due to drying shrinkage

Wood
Fungus infections
These start as spores of fungus landing on timber, if the timber is wet these spores germinate
and feed on the organic matter in the wood causing decay. This fungus can be referred to as
dry or wet rots.
This causes wood to decompose resulting into softening, loss of strength and weight.
(Richardson, 2001)
Dry rot occurs in structural timber fixed in warm damp poorly ventilated areas in a building,
where the fungi feeds upon the cell walls of the and gradually breaks them down, decayed
timber becomes friable and falls to dust since its dry, and in addition to loss in strength and
weight the timber gets a musty smell.
Figure 6: dry rot in timber
Wet rots occur in timber that is excessively wet whether it is located on the inside or outside
of a building. The most come wet rot fungus is coniophora puteana and appears as a very dark
brown vein like pattern. The decay in the attacked timber takes place internally and there is
usually no sign except for the dark coloration and the longitudinal cracking of the timber
surface making the timber brittle.

Figure 7:wet rot in timber

Insect infestation
Due to the favourable organic nature of timber, Insects(beetles) use it to continue their life
cycle of hatching growing and emerging. The insects lay their eggs in the timber cracks, these
hatch into larva that bore in and feed on into the wood, when in adult stage they bore out. This
process reduces the cross-sectional area and strength of the timber.
This can be controlled by treating wood with preservative before use, this treatment could be
treated at least once each year. Severally infested structural timber should be replaced. (Watt,
2007)
Termite attack
Termites can be classified into dry wood termites and subterranean/soil termites.
Dry wood termites stay entirely with in timber and do not need contact with the ground
therefore they continue to bore and feed on the timber like the wood beetles, while the
subterranean termites need to maintain their contact with the ground.

Figure 8: termite infestation in wood

1.9 ROOF DEFECTS
For all of their advantages, tile roofs aren’t infallible. They share some common problems
regardless of what material the tile is made of (clay or concrete).

Sources of roof defects

Sagging Roof Slopes
Slight settlement in roofs is not usually a problem. A certain amount of ‘dipping’ is fairly
common particularly where the rafters have settled next to end gables or party walls. More
serious sagging may be due to original lightweight Victorian slate roofs having been re-clad
with heavier modern concrete tiles without first strengthening the roof timbers. It may also be
due to ‘roof spread’ where rafters have pushed the wall outwards and sunk in the middle.

Roof leaks and moisture

Roof defects like leaks can only be visual at certain times of the year. For example, your roof
may only leak in the winter and not show in the summer when it is dry! Leaks are a serious
problem and can be identified by checking for moisture and damp in the loft. When moisture
gets under the layers of the roof, this can cause mould and rot, which will lead to more
extensive problems in the future if left un-repaired.

Poorly installed, torn, or weathered flashing

If the flashing has been improperly installed, it can cause open seams, damaged tiles and
other issues. Flashing can also become damaged over time.
Symptoms of the roof defects
1.10 THE DEFECTS
Cracks
Tiles can crack after an impact from a tree branch, hail, or even a careless footfall. Older tiles
made of concrete or clay can also crack from age. Any cracked tiles should be immediately
replaced, as they can damage parts of your roof while leaving the exposed parts vulnerable to
the elements.

2. Chips
Chips can occur during the installation process or if a tile received an impact. As a rule of
thumb, tiles with chips that are 3 inches or larger should be replaced.
3. Slipping
Tiles can slip if they are water-damaged, weren’t sufficiently fastened to the roof, or if their
adhesive started to fail. This is due to high winds and storms..

4. White Stains
White stains on roof tiles, also known as efflorescence or lime bloom, are build-ups of
calcium carbonate that spontaneously emerge after water exposure. They usually wash away
after 6-12 months but indicate that a tile is old and needs to be replaced.

1.11 PLUMBING DEFECTS

Clogged drains
Clogged drains are more common in commercial properties because of the larger volumes of
wastes passing through the drains unlike in domestic structures. Commercial kitchens and
toilets are faced with more using them who are often careless compared to people in homes
hence damaging the systems.
Damaged pipes
The larger the property the more piping needed. These pipes move very long distances
through the ground and therefore can be damaged by natural growth beneath the ground.
pipes are therefore prone to cracking, splitting, and bursting.
Sewage odours
Drainage problems are not always due to damages. sometimes certain conditions cause nasty
sewage smells that actually has effect on business like chasing our customers and irritating
workers. Dry pipes and clogging are leading cause of sewage odour.

REMEDIES FOR THE DEFECTS

Timber
All timber used in construction should sound and well-seasoned with a moisture content not
more than 20 per cent. timber must be kept dry while in use in order to avoid dampness.
adequate circulation of fresh air around all timber in order to prevent growth of dry rot.
(Seeley, 1976)
Wall defects
A wall which is not more than 25mm out of plumb or bulges not more than 12mm in a storey
height would not usually need to be repaired. these remedies would apply;
Inserting tie rods through the building in the thickness of a floor, or at roof level, anchoring
the wall to another member of the building that is okay.
Building a buttress to thrust against the unstable wall and carried to a firm base.
demolishing walls that have bulged and building a new strong and firm wall with right sand
and mortar ratios. (Seeley, 1976)
Dampness
This can be fixed by providing larger drainage pipes or fixing leaking pipes.
using of chemical or physical DPC in some cases to prevent further spreading of moisture
content.
Cracks
Cracks can be repaired by either open-up and repair using mortar or using specially designed
chemicals. (Chin-man, 2002)
wide cracks (1.5 to 3.5mm wide) can be repaired varyingly. with weak mortar joints, are
raked out deeply on both sides of the wall and filled with pointed cement. while for strong
mortar, the part is cut out and rebonding of bricks is done using the 1:1:6, cement: lime: sand
and mortar.
Honey combing
When casting concrete for beams and columns, the formwork is constantly tapped or using a
vibrator with a thin needle to fill up all the spaces in the formwork hence minimizing honey
combing.
Stains
Use clean water to wet brickwork thoroughly.
Hydrochloric acid can be used to carefully brush off the stains.
Wash with clean water again after dissolving the stains.
After removal of stains, flashing is done to ensure percolations and stains. (Seeley,1976)

INSPECTION AND SURVEYS OF BUILDING DEFECTS

Inspections and surveys are done to determine defects and get solutions to them. A structural
survey is a routine assessment of the condition of the building which is intended to detect any
defects or deterioration requiring attention. For the residential buildings, surveys are done by
owners for prospective purchases or when the owner suspects a problem. At the end of the
survey, a survey report is produced and for legality, the surveys are licenced by the building
inspector. The inspector is employed by either a city, township or county and is usually certified
in one or more disciplines qualifying them to make professional judgement about whether a
building meet building code requirement.

Steps followed during the survey.

i) Preliminary site visit by the surveyor to ascertain the nature and extent of the survey to
be carried out on the building.
ii) Background research undertaken as part of the survey to know how the building was
constructed, the nature of soils, use the building to aid in the survey.
iii) Detailed on-site survey which involves observation, and judgment based on knowledge
from training, and experience. Competence to perform the required services, precision
to purpose, and the extent of the survey are crucial. Explicit instruction, briefing and
documentation are in this respect.

Personal safety and comfort are also an important consideration as hazards can arise when
inspecting or surveying a building.
Preparation of a detailed report.

The report is done to collect the findings obtained from the preliminary site visit. This report
comprises of the first section (completed by the building owner), and the second section
(detailed on-site survey with diagnoses and laboratory tests carried out completed by the
inspector).

After formulating a detailed report, evaluation is done basing on the extent of the defect, the
need of the building, and the expectations of the client such as low cost, high cost to complex
repair. For certain complex buildings, it is necessary to gather a team of experts to inspect,
assess, and report individual parts under a project leader.
A CASE STUDY OF THE URA TOWER

Uganda Revenue Authority registered and documented defects on its new building just three
days after its commissioning on January 19th 2019. In the letter written by the URA
Commissioner of Corporate Services who headed the project, the 22nd floor building had two
precarious design defects at the 12m gap and the atrium that required review.

The defects were evidenced through the flooding as significant amounts of water entered the
building through the atrium on floor two on the upper ground level due to the heavy rain
received on January 4th,19th and 20th 2019.

URA also rejected the main door of the tower three days after commissioning and thus ordered
its removal. The Bi-polar door also installed on the upper entrance door lacked the splendour
and impressiveness required and thus the need for its replacement. All these had to be addressed
by the contractor in a period of five days.

URA stated that the problems were to be addressed at that time where the more robust solution
was to protect the louvers from storms as the building remains energy and environmentally
friendly.

CONCLUSION
Building defects are building flaws or design faulty or side effects from natural disasters that
impact the building structure leading to reduction of a building’s life span. The defect may not
cause aesthetic issues but can danger the safety of users, the worst may cause the building
collapse or fire. Thus, it is vital to engage professional consultants to conduct Building defect
surveys in order to find the root causes and possible solutions to the defects.
 REFERENCES
Barry, A. (2001). Defects and Deterioration in Buildings. (2nd ed.). Taylor & Francis E-library:
Spon press.

LEUNG Chin-man. (2002). Building maintenance Guidebook. (1st ed.).

Lee How, S & George, C.S. (1993). Building maintenance technology. (1st ed.). Associated
companies in New York Dublin: The Macmillan Press Ltd.

Seeley, H. (1976). Building maintenance. (2nd ed.). Associated companies in New York Dublin:
The Macmillan Press Ltd.