Causes of defects in the South African housing construction industry: perceptions of built-environment stakeholders

Buys, FanieLe Roux, Martyn2016-07-202016-07-202013Buys, F., & Le Roux, M. (2013). Causes of defects in the South African housing construction industry: Perceptions of built-environment stakeholders. Acta Structilia, 20(2), 78-99.1023-0564 (print)2415-0487 (online)http://hdl.handle.net/11660/3524English: This article emanates from research investigating the biggest cause that leads to defects in houses; the most common type of defect, and why projects fail in project-management terms (due to defects). Results of quantitative research among architects, consulting engineers and building contractors within the construction industry in the Western and Eastern Cape provinces of South Africa, as well as a literature review, form the basis of this study. Architects, consulting engineers, and general building contractors are randomly selected and surveyed using an online questionnaire. The study reveals that inadequate artisan skills are the biggest cause leading to defects in houses, and that cracks are the most frequent type of defect occurring. Projects fail in project management terms because of defects as the construction time of the projects is prolonged. The study also reveals that construction-related causes of defects dominate over design-related causes. The results should be of value to both construction industry professionals and their clients.Afrikaans: Die artikel spruit voort uit ‘n navorsingsprojek om te bepaal wat die grootste oorsaak van defekte in woonhuise is; watter defek die meeste voorkom, en waarom projekte misluk in terme van projekbestuur (as gevolg van defekte). Resultate van ‘n kwantitatiewe ondersoek tussen argitekte, raadgewende ingenieurs en boukontrakteurs asook ‘n literatuurstudie vorm die grondslag van die studie. Argitekte, raadgewende ingenieurs en boukontrakteurs is ewekantsig geselekteer en ondervra deur middel van ‘n Internet-aanlynvraelys. Die ondersoek wys daarop dat onvoldoende ambagsvaardighede die grootste oorsaak van defekte in woonhuise is en dat krake die meeste voorkom. In terme van projekbestuur lei projekte daaronder deurdat defekte die kontrakperiode verleng. Die studie toon ook aan dat konstruksieverwante defekte meer dominant is as ontwerpverwante defekte. Die studie behoort insiggewend te wees vir beide konstruksie professionele persone sowel as kliënte.enDefectsReworkQuality managementCauses of defects in the South African housing construction industry: perceptions of built-environment stakeholdersArticleUniversity of the Free State