Abstract:
Defects in building construction are considered to be one of the recurring problems in the construction
industry. It has adverse effects on project performance, building performance, and client or end-user satisfaction.
The lack of focus on defects leads to negative impacts on cost, duration and resources of projects. Defects may
generate controversies among parties involved, not only affecting ongoing construction but also during its
operation. Rework cost is another effect of defects, absorbs a significant share ranging from 0.5% to 3.7% of total
project costs. This research therefore investigates the most frequent defects and rework cost involved in rectifying
the defects in residential buildings in Sri Lanka. A questionnaire survey and subsequent interviews to be carried out
together with a detailed analysis of documents will be employed to address research focus. 47 housing projects
which exposed to defects were studied. Findings of the study indicates that defects such as bulging of columns,
beams and slabs, verticality issues of masonry walls, cracks in plastering and painting, defects in doors and
windows are more likely to occur in residential buildings in Sri Lanka. The mean total rework cost as a percentage
of the cumulative work done value was found to be 0.92%. For a mean total rework cost of 0.92%, the likelihood
that a project exceeds is 37%. Finally, the study proposes strategies such as proper documentation, proper
coordination of works and uplift the attitude towards reporting the defects of lower level staff would help
practitioners to minimise the defects in building construction in Sri Lanka.
