ABSTRACT
This
research work assessed maintenance of residential buildings using selected
buildings in Uromi, as case study. The objectives of this research were; to
highlight the factors affecting maintenance in residential buildings, to
highlight the defects arising from improper maintenance of residential
buildings and also to proffer solutions to the defects arising as a result of
lack of maintenance. Various literatures were set-out to review the objectives
in extensive forms to proffer deeper understanding. The research data were
collected through questionnaires administered to the users of residential
buildings in the study area and case study taken by carrying out a field survey
of the level of maintenance of the buildings. The data collected were subjected
to descriptive statistical tool. From the findings it was found that the
factors affecting maintenance included; lack of preventive maintenance, faulty
workmanship during construction/maintenance, design deficiency affecting
building resolution and use of substandard materials and building components
which were ranked as the most significant factors. While the indentified
defects arising from lack of maintenance included broken ceilings, broken
doors/windows and faulty electrical appliances and were characterized under
extremely bad state, very bad state, bad state and fair state of disrepairs.
From the study, it was also observed that the major factors affecting
maintenance in the buildings are; age of the building, general lack of
maintenance culture and lack of preventive maintenance. Finally, it concluded
that maintenance can contribute adequately to the health of the nation’s stock
buildings and thereby increase employment opportunities in the country and the
overall beauty of the study area in particular if the following recommendations
are heeded to; proper execution of maintenance activities on buildings,
frequent/preventive maintenance by the client and quality/durable materials for
carrying out building works.
CHAPTER ONE
1.0
Introduction:
1.0
Background of
Study
Well-maintained and cherished buildings enhance the health of
their occupants, their neighbours, and the community at large. Anyone lucky
enough to live or work in a historic building will already appreciate the
artistry and craftsmanship of handmade building materials, generous living
spaces, and the sense of continuity with the past that these buildings provide. (Kunya 2012). Keeping
and repairing existing buildings reduces waste generation, conserves the energy
embodied in the original building materials and construction, and so is in the
wider interests of sustainability. Buildings that are properly cared for look
well, enhance their neighbor-hoods, and retain their economic value. (Adenuga, 1999).
Most
public and private buildings in Nigeria are faced with maintenance challenges
resulting in deteriorations and ultimate defects of various degrees. While the
1984 version of BS 3811 defined maintenance as the combination of all technical
and associated administrative actions intended to retain an item in or restore
it to a state in which it can be perform its required function, BS 3811 (1974)
defined building maintenance as work done to keep a building in, or restore it
to its initial state, or to a currently acceptable standard. To retain implies
that defects are prevented from developing by carrying out work in anticipation
of failure. To restore means that minor defects had already occurred before
they are corrected. In order for an item or facility to continue to perform its
required function, some degrees of improvement are needed over the life span of
the building as standards of comfort and amenity arise where there are
statutory requirements for maintenance. The acceptable standard must not be
less than that necessary to meet them and the acceptable standard must sustain
the utility and value of the facility.
Maintenance
has to perform effectively in buildings due to buildings cannot remain zero
defects throughout their life-spans. The need for maintenance will be
intensified, especially aged buildings because of the need to replace or repair
more components which have reached their useful lifespan. It is therefore that
maintenance is considered as an essential activity where it can provide support
to the buildings lifestyle and maintains the value of asset of the country. In
general, the main objective of building maintenance is to retain a building in
its original stage, as far as possible to serve its function wisely to an
appropriate condition.
(Al-Zubaidi, 1997.)
Maintenance can also be defined as an activity that starts from building
handover to demolition. (Syce, 2006). The task of the maintenance includes
servicing, inspection, replacement, renovation and overhaul. In another school
of taught, maintenance is defined as an activity to preserve, repair and care
for the school buildings fabric and services in order to ensure building
perform its intended functions throughout its lifespan after completion to
current standard. A good maintenance management practice can increase the
satisfaction level of the user; this can be explained as higher occupant
satisfaction relies on the quality of maintenance management practice provided
by the maintenance department. Therefore, to achieve the high quality standard
of the building maintenance management, the good maintenance management
required meets as close as possible to the user’s satisfaction. (Pintelon, 1999)
There is no such thing as a maintenance-free building. All
building materials decay to different extents due to sunlight, rain and wind.
Whether historic or not, all buildings need regular maintenance. However, this
guide is mainly concerned with traditionally-built buildings - those built of
the materials and methods that were generally used before concrete and cement
came into widespread use from the middle of the twentieth century onwards.
Regular maintenance and correct repair will extend the life of any building.
There are very real economic benefits too. Checking the health of the building
on a regular and systematic basis and attending to minor defects as they arise
will save money in the long run. By doing this you can avoid the need for major
repair works, which are not only damaging to the architectural or heritage
value of the building, but can also be expensive and disruptive. It should be
remembered too, that the Planning and Development Act 2000 places a
responsibility on owners and occupiers of protected structures to prevent their
property from becoming endangered.
Good maintenance and repair practices will keep the building
from falling into decay and are part of the day-to-day responsibility of all
owners and occupiers of protected structures. Buildings in disrepair or
unsanitary conditions, unauthorized building works and dilapidated signboards
are potential hazards to the public. The responsibilities for maintaining and
managing buildings in safe and sanitary conditions rest with the owners.
1.2
Statement of
Research Problem
As important as the need to renovate or reform a
building to its original state which is the main concept of maintenance,
several problems have always been militating against this course. According to
Derek Miles (1986), there are three main problems in maintenance which are:
1. Inadequate financing. (High cost of maintenance).
2. Ineffective practices by managers and employees in
ensuring smooth management. (Bad management).
3. Poor selection of materials in specific areas of construction.
(Poor building design).
4. Neglect through delegated maintenance causes e.g.
tenancy agreement.
1.3
Aim and
Objectives of the Study
The aim of this project is to assess maintenance
practices in residential buildings at Uromi with the view to achieving the
following objectives:
i.
To highlight the
factors affecting maintenance in residential buildings.
ii.
To highlight the
effects arising from lack of maintenance of residential buildings.
iii.
To identify
possible defects arising from lack of maintenance.
iv.
To proffer
solutions to defects arising from lack of maintenance of buildings.
1.4
Scope of the
Study
This project write-up focuses on residential
buildings in Uromi town. The main area of focus is the documentation of residential
buildings in Uromi with special interest on the selected case studies.
1.5
Study Area
No
community exists without culture and history. Therefore, having focused
attention on Uromi, with regards to the project topic, it would be proper to
have an insight into its environmental constituents.
Uromi is located in Esan North-East Local Government
Area of Edo State. The town is located on the Edo Central Senatorial District
and lies between latitude 6½0N and 70N of the equator and
longitude 60E and 6½0E of the Greenwich meridian. Esan
North-East is bounded on the east by Esan South-East, on the west by Esan
Central, on the north by Estako West and East Local Government Area Ufuah
(1998).
Uromi is located at the top of Esan dissected
plateau with some isolated hills, with the highest point at Ivue village, which
reaches the height of about 400m above sea level. The Climate and Weather
conditions of Uromi are the same as that experienced in other parts of the
equatorial rainforest region in Nigeria Ufuah (1998).
1.6
Research
Limitations and Constraints
A number of serious problems were encountered at
different stages of preparing this project work, particularly in getting
building owners and occupants of the selected case studies to give accurate
information of their building maintenance activities, which constitute the
major part of the primary source of data collection. The other aspect of data
collection i.e. the secondary data was also difficult due to lack of relevant
materials on the subject matter in the library.
1.7
Significance of
Study
A
research of this nature is invaluable and could be utilized to achieve certain
academic objectives. It is hoped that the findings will enlighten students,
researchers and building owners on the importance of building maintenance.
It is also hoped that
the general result that will be obtained from this study will be educative and
broaden the awareness on the benefits associated with proper maintenance. Also
the results can be utilized by the government in formulating building maintenance
policies and their implementation; it will serve as a base for the proper and
adequate allocation of resources for building maintenance.
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Item Type: Project Material | Attribute: 65 pages | Chapters: 1-5
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