The role of defects and rework in the drive for sustainable construction

James Sommerville, Nigel Craig

    Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contribution

    Abstract

    Various reports have identified the need for a consistent reduction in the level of construction defects. The reality of course is that little has been done to improve the industry's record with regard to the origins and causes of defects, nor their eradication. The research aimed to determine the role actors in a range of defects and the impact of the defects on sustainable construction. Detailed analysis of defects found within the house building sector shows a continuing trend towards acceptance of the inevitability of defects. Analyses of some 200,000 defects in 3696 new homes shows that whilst there are a number of prime origins, the actual cause of the defects on site can be attributed to a single entity - the humans. Discussion is given to the impact of the defects and the need for management of the causal agent. These initiatives are then contextualized within the drive for sustainable construction. The figures and analyses from this research represent the most accurate statistics on snagging in the UK. What is clear from the research is the failure to grasp a significant opportunity to improve sustainability performance and at the same time bring about a significant increase in customer satisfaction.

    Original languageEnglish
    Title of host publicationCME 2007 Conference - Construction Management and Economics: Past, Present and Future
    EditorsWill Hughes
    PublisherRoutledge Taylor & Francis Group
    Pages899-908
    Number of pages10
    ISBN (Print)9780415460590
    Publication statusPublished - 2007
    Event25th Inaugural Construction Management and Economics: 'Past, Present and Future' Conference - University of Reading, Reading, United Kingdom
    Duration: 16 Jul 200718 Jul 2007

    Publication series

    NameCME 2007 Conference - Construction Management and Economics: 'Past, Present and Future'

    Conference

    Conference25th Inaugural Construction Management and Economics: 'Past, Present and Future' Conference
    Abbreviated titleCME 2007
    Country/TerritoryUnited Kingdom
    CityReading
    Period16/07/0718/07/07

    Keywords

    • Building defects
    • Customer satisfaction
    • New homes
    • Snagging
    • Sustainability

    ASJC Scopus subject areas

    • Building and Construction
    • Architecture

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