GROUP 3

BUILDING DEFECTS REPORT

ANUJA JOSHI
BAGMITA ACHARJYA
KHADIJA AQUEEL
SHREYA JAISWAL
SRIKANTA YASASWINI ‘
TANIYA THAKRE
WHAT IS BUILDING DEFECT?
A defect is a building flaw or design mistake that reduces the value of the building, and
causes a dangerous condition. A construction defect can arise due to many factors, such as
poor workmanship or the use of inferior materials. Building defects do not appear to have
been minimized despite recent advancements in building technology. Some common defects
caused by agents such as atmospheric pollution, poor workmanship or the use of inferior
materials and climatic conditions are more frequent. Defective building construction not only
contributes to the final cost of the product but also to the cost of maintenance, which can be
substantial. Defective construction includes activities such as compaction not done to
specifications leading to ground subsidence and eventual early deterioration of foundations.
This may lead to the complete failure of a structure.

REASONS FOR BUILDING DEFECT

1.The inappropriate use of a component or material.
2.The use of material adjacent to or in combination with another that adversely affects it.
3.A lack of knowledge by the designer regarding the potential deterioration of a material.
4.The building being subjected to forces or agents not considered in the design.
5.Inaccurate information from manufacturers.
6.Poor manufacturing qualities.
7.Poor workmanship.

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8.The failure to carry out necessary routine maintenance at the appropriate time.

TYPES OF BUILDING DEFECTS

1. cracks on building surfaces, structural members.
Reasons: In buildings two types of cracks may be seen:
-non structural cracks.
-structural cracks.

Non structural cracks:-

The cracks which are formed due to temperature variation, water penetration are termed
as non structural cracks.
E.g.:-when there is a use of composite material in building construction and there is
remarkable difference in their physical properties (property of expansion and
contraction), then due to temperature variation both the materials will expand and
contract leading to cracks on the building surface.
Materials like wood, steel when used together.
Wood swells when it comes in contact with water and shrinks when dried, this nature of
wood may lead to cracks.

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Structural cracks:-
The cracks which are formed due to overloading of any structural members are called
structural cracks.
E.g.:-consider a wall over which a beam is running. When the beam is unable to take the
load above it, it exerts pressure on the wall below. Due to pressure exerted on the wall, it
will try to move but due to no availability of space the cracks will be introduced in the
wall.

SOLUTION: If hairline cracks are seen then we should use method of guniting or short
secreet to avoid further cracks.
-guniting
-grouting
These are the two methods by which we can fill the cracks.

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Guniting:-
In this a wet mixture of cement and sand is taken and under pressure this mixture is
forced into the cracks through pressure vessels. After sometime this mixture will get
hardened, living no space for cracks.

Grouting:-
In this method, cement and sand are taken in dry form and under pressure they are filled
in gaps or cracks. After filling the cracks water is sprayed over the surface, to harden the
mixture.
2.dam Damping of surfaces, seepage of water, water penetration:-

REASONS: There are various means by which the water may get inside the house or
building. Those various places are:-
-from walls.
-from soil.
-from roofs.
The water may rise due to capillary action through the soil below flooring, through walls.If
the roofing system is not properly worked out it may cause leakage of roof. In roofs again,
there are different reasons why the leakage may occur:-
1. Wrong covering material.(improper joinery)
2. No proper drainage is provided.
3. Slopes are not given properly.
4. Proper water proofing is not done.
ping of surfaces, water penetration in building.

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SOLUTION: To avoid seepage/dampness:-
To avoid water seepage following corrections should be made in a building or precautions
should be taken at the time of construction.
1) Parapet walls:-
-The terraces should be provided with a water proofing layer.
-The parapet walls should have coping placed or damp proof course.
-The slope of the terrace should be so maintained that it easily drains off the water the rain
water pipes.
2) Seepage at ground level:-
-This can be controlled by providing impermeable materials near the buildings which does
not allow water to penetrate inside the structure. There should be proper drainage areas
provided sloping away from the building surface so that the water is not allowed to enter the
building by capillary action.
-Now a day’s plinth protection i.e. concreting is done along the periphery of the building
surfaces which do not allow the water to seep inside the structures.
-Cavity walls are provided and it is proved to be effective if properly ventilated.
3) Seepage from toilets:-
Water seepage from toilets can be checked by proper workmanship during installations of
toilet pan. But in case of leakage, the simple technique is to provide an outlet pipe in the
sunken area below the pan to remove the water instead of it seeping into the wall.

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3.deflection of structural members due to over loading.
REASONS: When the structural members are over loaded, they bend or sag.
Due to sagging or bending these members will not be able to take the load properly, and it
will cause a structural failure.
SOLUTIONS: To avoid deflection of structural members jacketing is done to them.
E.g. if a beam is sagging it is lifted up, strengthend again with reinforcement and fixed in
position so that it can take the load properly.
Sometimes at the time of earthquake the soil tends to liquify.due to liqufication of the soil,
the structural system may fail. So to stabilize the soil compaction grouting is done
(compression grouting)
-in this case a mixture of cement, and, water other materials is taken which is forced inside
the earth surface with the help of machine.
-when this mixture enters inside the soil it gets hardened and stabilizes the soil.
-the mixture of cement concrete spreads inside the soil like roots of trees and holds it tightly
and keeps it stabilized.
4.deflection of non structural members.
5.decolourization of building surfaces.
REASONS: This may happen because of over exposure to sun, use of improper paints etc.
6.staining on the walls of building.
REASONS: Water seepage, reaction in material, salt deposition on surface (efflorescence),
etc.

Causes of the construction defect

A construction defect can be known as a component in the building are built by the contractor
or design by professionals not according to the specification, plan, not comply with the

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construction code that established by the authority( Calvin ” Cal” E. Beyer, 2011).
Construction defects can be also defined as that will make the project dangerous, unsafe,
causes the user of the building to be injured or dead (Michael S. Poles, GC, CM, RCI,
DABFET, ACFE, 1995). It can be occurs during the construction process and cause the
project costly rework, project not complete in time and affect the overall performance of the
building.

Construction defect can be classified as 2 types, which are ‘Patent Defects’ and ‘Latent
Defects’. Patent Defects can be detected by the normal inspection or testing and apparent to
naked eye, for example roof leak or a foundation crack. However, Latent Defects are hidden
and cannot discoverable by normal examination or testing which will appear itself after a
period of time (Anon 1, 2007).

According to the researcher from the University of Florida, construction defects can be
various types and influenced by many factors in the construction industry. The common types
and the causes of the construction defect can be included (Calvin “Cal” E. Beyer, 2011):

 Improper design Poor workmanship that leads to poor finishing quality

 Improper means or methods of installation
 Improper or poor quality of the materials
 Defective material or poor material performance
 Missing or inadequate protection from weather or environmental condition in the
construction site.
 Soil subsidence, movement and settlement

Base on the few studies of researcher, the effects of the construction defect can increase the
overall construction cost and the final quantity of the project (Zietsman, R., 2004) and a
survey conducted by the Building Research Establishment in the United Kingdom, it found
that 35% of the defects were arise from faulty construction(Assaf, Al-Hammad, Al-Shihah,
1995). It can be due to the reason of bad workmanship, inadequate supervision and
substitution of poor material, components or fixings.

Beside those common type and the causes of the construction defect has stated above, the 35
most frequent defects was identified by the Building Research Establishment. The causes of
defects that were identified which is (Assaf, Al-Hammad, Al-Shihah, 1995):

 Lack of inspection
 Making use of inexperienced, unqualified inspectors
 Avoiding and ignoring inspection completely
 Non implementation of corrective actions during the construction process
 Inaccurate measurement
 Making use of defective or damaged formwork
 Excavations to close to an existing building and exposing the foundations
 Non-conformance with waterproofing specifications
 Inability to read and understand/interpret drawings

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  Insufficient concrete cover
 Improper construction of cold joints
 Loss in adhesion between materials
 Stripping formwork too early
 Unacceptable soil compaction procedures
 Inadequate curing procedures
 Lack of communication
 Non-compliance with specifications
 Inability to read and understand/interpret drawings
 Insufficient site supervision
 Lack of communication between the owner, architect/engineer, project manager
 Employing unqualified supervisors
 Speedy completion of certain activities specifically where equipment is on hire
 Unqualified labor force
 Multinational construction experience
 Defects resulting from the wrong selection of materials
 Using materials unsuitable for the climatic conditions
 Using cheap materials
 Making use of expired materials
 Inadequate storage facilities
 Misuse of equipment
 Equipment not performing to specification
 Lack of the proper equipment
 Cross referencing and detailed referencing on drawings lacking
 Conflicting details on drawings
 Details of sections on drawings lacking
 According to Marianne (2005), these 35 defects listed above can be grouped in to 4
categories which are:
 Design deficiencies
 Material deficiencies
 Construction deficiencies
 Subsurface/geotechnical problem

1.2.2 Method to minimizing the construction defect

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In construction industry, there is varying of the methods to minimizing or reduce the
construction defects. According to Alice M. Noble-Allgire (2008), improving quality control
can be known as a method to minimize the construction defects occurs. A quality control
programs can be set up by the builder and use to reduce the construction defects. Besides that,
structuring their contract with certain of the rules that can ensures that the parties take
responsibilities on the defects that created under his works.

Construction defects can be also minimizing by the improved oversight, for example builder
can improve their building inspection practices in all the way. Other than that, if there is
insufficient for improve the quality control, it also can through licensing, certification, and
education requirement to improved the quality control. For example, a contractor which
intended to select, the contractor must be register with the Construction Industry
Development Board know as CIDB. With the registration, that can ensure the quality of
contractor and the works.

1.2.3 Effect of the construction defect

Construction defect can decrease and affect the value of the buildings. According to
Atkinson, (1999), defects are developments in construction that reduces the project`s value
instead of adding to it.

Other than reduces the project value, where the construction defect apparent, It also can cause
the project totally delay which mean not complete with in the period state in the contract.

Cost overrun can be known as one of the effect when the construction defects happen in the
construction site. Construction defect will also affect society at large due to possible danger
posed and result in direct and indirect cost in repairs, abnormally high maintenance dispute
and possible loss of building.

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