Common building defects in new terrace houses

Abstract

Building defects are a common issue associated with housing provision in Malaysia. Theoretically, new houses should be free of defects. To verify the quality of constructed housing, buildings should therefore be inspected starting from the early phases of construction up until the handing over stage. This study reveals the common building defects detected in new houses through visual inspections of 72 new terrace houses. The observed data are then analyzed using the Condition Survey Protocol system, which consists of two main assessments: condition and priority. The defects are identified and classified according to defect type, and overall results indicate that most of the common building defects in new houses are categorized as cosmetic. These defects are mainly caused by poor workmanship. To mitigate this problem, developers must ensure that the appointed builders/contractors are qualified and thorough building inspection is performed before the house being accepted.