Risk management strategies for common residential construction defects: the case of Queensland, Australia

Figures & data

Table 1. Top 20 frequently occurring defects and construction trades surveyed in this research.

ID most recurrent defects name		Trade
D1	Roof drainage defects (rainwater plumbing)	Drainage
		Roof and wall cladding
		Plumbing and drainage
D2	Linings wall and ceilings - plasterboard installation and workmanship defects	Plastering drywall
		Plastering drywall restricted to suspended ceiling fixing
D3	Shower recess - membrane installation defects (waterproofing)	Waterproofing
		Wall and floor tiling
D4	Floor tiling - ceramic, terracotta, etc., installation and workmanship defects	Wall and floor tiling
D5	Timber door/window installation and workmanship defects	Joinery
		Carpentry
D6	Cupboard installation and workmanship defects	Cabinet making
		Joinery
		Carpentry
D7	Aluminum door/window installation and workmanship defects	Glass, glazing, and aluminum
D8	Painting - internal paint application and substrate preparation defects	Painting and decorating
D9	Decks - waterproofing membrane installation defects	Structural landscaping
		Waterproofing
D10	Concrete driveways and paths installation/workmanship defects	Concreting restricted to light concreting
		Concreting
		Builder
D11	Steel sheet flashing and capping defects (roof cover)	Shed carports and garages
		Non-structural metal fabrication
		Roof tiling
		Roof and wall cladding
		Structural metal fabrication and erection
		Structural landscaping
D12	Painting - external paint application and substrate preparation defects	Painting and decorating
D13	Stormwater drainage pipework installation and workmanship defects	Drainage
		Irrigation
		Swimming pool construction
		Shed carports and garages
		Waterproofing
		Plumbing and drainage
		Builder
D14	Linings wall external - cement render installation and workmanship	Plastering solid
		Painting and decorating
D15	Footings defects (foundations)	Concreting
D16	Guttering and eaves construction defects (rainwater plumbing)	Non-structural metal fabrication
		Shed carports and garages
		Roof and wall cladding
		Plumbing and drainage
		Builder
D17	Stairs and balustrade defects	Glass, glazing, and aluminum
		Joinery
		Structural metal fabrication and erection
		Structural landscaping
		Carpentry
D18	Wall tiling: ceramic, terracotta, etcetera, installation, and workmanship defects	Wall and floor tiling
D19	Wall cladding - fiber cement construction, flashings, and trims defects	Plastering solid
D20	Concrete floor slab defects	Shed carports and garages
		Concreting

Table 2. Taxonomy of potential defect management strategies provided by the survey respondents.

1	Implement quality controls systems
2	Collect/assess/share information about defects
3	Ensure accuracy of budget estimates
4	Establish an arm’s-length relationship with contractors
5	Improve installation and construction methods
6	Increase tradesmen liability for performed works
7	Use digital technologies
8	Use document control systems
9	Minimum price standard for builders
10	Promote a care of works attitude by tradesmen
11	Price in the extra costs of materials and technologies to prevent the occurrence of defects
12	Reinforce education and provide regular workmanship training
13	Reinforce knowledge of the fundamental principles of work applied to the trade
14	Stricter licensing – enforce qualified trade worker requirements
15	Require workers to follow a specific workflow process to rectify defects arising during construction
16	Account for tradesmen’s’ experience/good practices
17	Adequate onsite supervision
18	Amend regulations to upgrade the standard of construction materials
19	Better coordination between trades/sub-trades
20	Boost communication
21	Always carry out works according to manufacturer’s specifications/designers’ documentation
22	Comply with the regulatory standards of the trade
23	Establish adequate security of the construction site
24	Monitor the program of works
25	Focus on planning/scheduling of activities
26	Focus on resolving technical and constructability challenges and limitations
27	Give extra care to finishes/attention to detail
28	Improve the sequencing of jobs
29	Adequate post-construction maintenance
30	Efficient management of the site
31	Improve the specifications of materials
32	Incorporate machinery competency
33	Incorporate site coordination practices
34	Increase efficiency in the preparation of works
35	Revert the cost-over-quantity attitude in the industry
36	Stringent design drawings
37	Timely management of variations/design changes
38	Correct measurement of materials
39	Use of quality materials
40	Use of reliable suppliers
41	Verify the calculation accuracy of installation methods
42	Verify the fitness of the intended purpose of all construction requirements

Table 3. Descriptive statistics results – knowledge management usage by trade practitioners to manage residential construction defects.

	NR	Mean	Std. deviation
Learning experiences about defects should be communicated within the firm	414	4.31	0.597
Post-project review is a key to reducing rework	410	3.88	0.888
Knowledge about common defects is provided to workers	412	3.86	0.847
Evaluation of rework is discussed after jobs are completed	409	3.57	0.929
Information concerning rework in completed jobs is recorded in my company	405	3.55	0.871
Trades share their findings about recurrent defects across the industry	413	3.53	1.051
Trades should produce a defects register document for each construction project	413	3.41	1.100
Construction companies should register information about construction defects	411	3.33	1.017
Educational seminars and other forms of training are provided to workers to detect on-site construction defects	412	3.17	0.982
My company keeps a record of the number of defects found in projects	407	3.07	0.972
Recording construction defects is a time-consuming task that I prefer to avoid	412	2.84	1.117
Communication and information sharing about defects are not necessary, as the industry relies on an individual’s experience to solve defect-related problems	414	2.49	1.139

NR: number of responses.

Figure 1. Defect 1: concrete driveways and paths installation and workmanship defects.

Table 4. Recommended management strategies for concrete and paths defects.

1	Account for tradesmen’s experience/good practices
2	Amend regulations to upgrade the standard of construction materials
3	Better coordination between trades/sub-trades
4	Better pricing
5	Boost communication
6	Carry out works according to the manufacturer’s specifications/designer’s documentation
7	Collect/assess/share information about defects
8	Comply with the regulatory standards of the trade
9	Efficiency in management of the site
10	Ensure the accuracy of budget estimates
11	Focus on planning/scheduling of activities
12	Focus on resolving technical and constructability challenges and limitations
13	Give extra care to finishes/attention to detail
14	Implement document control systems
15	Implement Quality Controls Systems
16	Use digital technologies
17	Improve installation and construction methods
18	Improve the sequencing of jobs
19	Improve the specifications of materials
20	Increase efficiency in the preparation of works
21	Increase tradesmen liability over performed works
22	Manage expectations
23	Promote a care-of-works attitude amongst tradesmen
24	Provide adequate onsite supervision
25	Reinforce education and provide regular workmanship training
26	Reinforce knowledge of the fundamental principles of works applied to the trade
27	Stricter licensing – enforce trade qualified worker requirements
28	Stringent design drawings
29	Timely management of variations/design changes
30	Use quality materials
31	Use reliable suppliers
32	Verify the calculation accuracy of installation methods

Figure 2. Defect 3: storm water drainage pipework installation and workmanship defects.

Table 5. Categorization of management strategies for stormwater drainage pipework installation and workmanship defects.

1	Account for tradesmen experience/good practices
2	Adequate maintenance
3	Amend regulations to upgrade the standard of construction materials
4	Architects should be accountable for their design
5	Better coordination between trades/sub-trades
6	Boost communication
7	Carry out works according to the manufacturer’s specifications/designer’s documentation
8	Collect/assess/share information about defects
9	Comply with the regulatory standards of the trade
10	Efficiency in the management of the site
11	Establish adequate security of the construction site
12	Focus on planning/scheduling of activities
13	Focus on the resolution of technical and constructability challenges and limitations
14	Foment increase of the workforce
15	Give extra care to finishes/attention to detail
16	Implement document control systems
17	Implement quality control systems
18	Use digital technologies
19	Improve installation and construction methods
20	Improve the sequencing of jobs
21	Improve the specification of materials
22	Incorporate machinery competency
23	Increase efficiency in the preparation of works
24	Increase tradesmen liability for performed works
25	Local councils should be accountable for stormwater and not just for sewerage
26	Price in the extra costs of materials and technologies to prevent the occurrence of defects
27	Promote a care-of-work attitude amongst tradesmen
28	Provide adequate onsite supervision
29	Reinforce education and provide regular workmanship training
30	Reinforce knowledge of the fundamental principles of works applied to the trade
31	Revert the cost-over-quantity attitude in the industry
32	Stricter licensing – enforce qualified trade worker requirements
33	Stringent design drawings
34	Timely management of variations/design changes
35	Use the correct measurement of materials
36	Verify the calculation accuracy of installation methods
37	Verify the fitness for intended purpose of all construction requirements

Figure 3. Defect 1: cupboard installation and workmanship defects.

Table 6. Categorization of management strategies for cupboard installation and workmanship defects.

1	Amend the regulations to upgrade the standard of construction materials
2	Better coordination between trades/sub-trades
3	Customer understanding
4	Efficiency in the management of the site
5	Increase tradesmen liability for the performed works
6	Stricter licensing – enforce qualified trade worker requirements
7	Stringent design drawings
8	Timely management of variations/design changes
9	Use of quality materials
10	Verify the calculation accuracy of the installation methods
11	Boost communication
12	Implement quality control systems
13	Verify fitness for intended purpose of all the construction requirements
14	Give extra care to finishes/attention to detail
15	Promote a care-of-work attitude amongst tradesmen
16	Revert the cost-over-quantity attitude in the industry
17	Focus on the planning/scheduling of activities
18	Improve installation and construction methods
19	Account for tradesmen experience/good practices
20	Adequate onsite supervision
21	Reinforce education and provide regular workmanship training

Figure 4. Defect 1: external wall linings – cement render installation and workmanship.

Table 7. Categorization of management strategies for External wall linings – cement render installation and workmanship.

Carry out works according to manufacturer’s specifications/designer’s documentation

Improve sequencing of jobs

Increase tradesmen liability over performed works

Promote care of works attitude amongst tradesmen

Give extra care to finishes/attention to detail

Stricter licensing – enforce trade qualified worker requirement

Focus on the resolution of technical and constructability challenges and limitations

Implement quality control systems

Improve installation and construction methods

Reinforce education and provide regular workmanship training

Adequate onsite supervision

Focus on planning/scheduling of activities

Data availability statement

The data are available from the lead author on request.