Establishing Factors Influencing Building Maintenance Practices: Ghanaian Perspective

Abstract

The study was to establish factors influencing the decision to carry out building maintenance practices. The paper reviews the existing literature on building maintenance, types of maintenance, causes of maintenance, stages of maintenance and specific factors influencing the decision to carry out maintenance. The study utilized a structured questionnaire, which was administered on the residents of the private house owners called Landlords and Landladies in the study area.  Data analysis indicated that, common factors and agent which are fundamental to deterioration of building components included ageing stock of building, obsolescence of building, environmental or climate issues, moisture, selection of materials, and design maintainability. Misuse of building after completion, faulty designs, and unavailability of skilled labour to undertake maintenance operations and poor financial support for maintenance work were also identified as the major factors inducing the decision to carry out maintenance work. Replacement and conditioned-based types of maintenance were also established as often undertaken. The paper  in  conclusion  makes recommendations  for  consideration of maintenance during the early phase of construction and must be  done with the highest quality in term of professionals and materials and components, hence, the need  for  engaging professionals from design to construction stage at least and create public  awareness  on  the  danger  of  lack  of maintenance and the advantages of good maintenance practices.

Keywords: Maintenance Practices, Agent of Deterioration, Private, Landlords and Landladies