Causes of rework on building construction projects in Nigeria

Abstract

Construction projects all over the world involve many challenges, particularly for large public projects. The emerging complex nature of construction activities has brought with it characteristic features, such as, cost increases, delay in the delivery of project, to which rework (carrying out an activity more than one time) has a high contributing factor, stemming from imperfection. This study identified the sources of rework on construction projects in Nigeria from three perspectives: the client, contractor, and consultant. The study was concentrated on the South West part of Nigeria. The quantitative research method was adopted. Random sampling technique was employed in the selection of sample size. A total of one hundred and twenty (120) questionnaires were analysed using inferential statistics. The following are the findings of this study: the contributions of the client leading to rework are in the form of poor communication, inadequate construction planning and poor management practices. From the consultant, they are: lack of understanding and correct interpretation of customer requirements, constraints in carrying out activities and inexperience of personnel and on the part of the contractor they are: wrongly laying of forming course, poor quality concrete, and poor plastering. Based on the conclusions reached, the following recommendations were drawn. They are: the development of a standard information gathering format relative to clients 'by designers and clients' writing down their intentions before visiting designers; formal technical training should be given to foremen on permanent appointments with organisations, attention should be given for adequate supervision, and construction methods should be analysed before selection and their use.