THE IMPACT OF POOR MAINTENANCE CULTURE ON THE FULL UTILIZATION OF PRIVATE RESIDENTIAL BUILDING IN NASARAWA TOWN

THE IMPACT OF POOR MAINTENANCE CULTURE ON THE FULL UTILIZATION OF PRIVATE RESIDENTIAL BUILDING IN NASARAWA TOWN

ABSTRACT

Building maintenance is a subject that has to be considered seriously if building is to live up to its expected life span a questionnaire was designed and distributed to the occupant both respectively from their responses, a serenity index method was used to rock the importance of each factor, which make it possible to cross-compare the relative importance of the variable factor by different respondent based on the analysis, it was found that the major cause of maintenance problem were past construction preventive maintenance management design resolution lack of founds, response time to maintain and usage since these factor are of post of human nature, the introduction of the culture of post construction preventive maintenance should be encouraged Keywords: maintenance, construction, impact, property, design.

CHAPTER ONE

1.0     INTRODUCTION

1.1     BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY

Maintenance culture is an attitude which  is seen sadly lacking in Nigerian, whether in the home, office, school, or factory Mbamahi (2003) added that poor maintenance culture has become a widely recognised problem in Nigeria. Maintenance culture in Nigeria is the lowest around the world especially in our principal town aid cities. In the rural areas, the story is different and pleasant to hear. The traditional practice of communal clearing of community owned places such as market; playground is in almost every village. In private homes it is customary to refurbish building interiors with mixtures of cow dung or natural red clay. The end result is attractive and totally indigenous. 

According to Wahab (1995) the nation accords low priority to property management. Faworaja (1996) in Mbamali (2003) asserted that we have no maintenance policy and therefore no such culture exists. Neglect of maintenance has accumulated consequences in rapid increase in the deterioration of the fabric and finishes of a building accompanied by a harmful effect on the contents occupants (Seeley, 1987). Inadequate maintenance culture is a peculiar feature of almost every building in Nigeria. According to Rotimi and Mtallib (1995) is partly due to poor maintenance culture on one hand and partly due to the absence of an appropriate benchmark. Gurji (1990) asserted that lack of proper maintenance culture bring the life of a building lost before reclining the total obsolescence state. The declining maintenance culture in Nigeria and its effect on building has become a major problem to both the public and private sectors. This study examines the trend of maintenance culture and its effect on construction, and quality of materials, design and facilities as well as services used during constructing the building. A great portion of a nation’s wealth is evident in the total value of its buildings. It is also an important factor in the production of the building to be preserved. A poorly maintained building in a decaying environment depresses the quality of live and contributes in some measures to anti social behaviour which threatens the socio-political environment it finds itself in. This research is necessitated to look at the existing knowledge about continuous negligence on maintenance and its impact on construction as being suffered by residential buildings.

 1.2     STATEMENT OF PROBLEMS

According to Stephen (2002) building services rarely perform as well as desired. The causes emanate from deficiencies in design, construction, commissioning, tenancy work and maintenance; many researchers have also observe that the generators of maintenance problems could be looked at under three main divisions.

1. Courses initiated during the design stage
2. Courses initiated during the construction stage
3. Courses initiated during the usage stage or the users carefree attitudes (bad maintenance culture).

He further said that all these could be planned for during the design stage. Maintenance problems though do manifest during the use of the building, their cause might be during the design state. These made Dekker (2002), Kelly (2002); Kachashkin (2002) to assert that “thinking on the maintenance should start in the design phase”. According  to Speight (2000). It is at the design stage that the maintenance burden can be positively influenced for better or for worse. Where the designer fails to make adequate consideration for minimizing maintenance problems.

It is in view of these noticeable obstacles that promoted this study so as to unveil the constrains and proffer possible and useful recommendation to how maintenance problem can be solved.

1.3     AIMS AND OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY

The aim of this research is to discover the impact of poor maintenance culture on the full utilization of private residential building in Nasarawa town.

In other to achieve the above stated aim the following objectives shall be pursue:

1. To examine the impact of poor maintenance culture in study area.
2. To examine the effectiveness and efficiency of private building maintenance in the study area.
3. To examine the problems associated with poor maintenance culture in the study area.
4. To examine the pattern and types of residential property development in the study area.
5. To proffer possible solution to the stated problem.

1.4     RESEARCH QUESTIONS

1. What are the effect of poor maintenance culture?
2. What are the impact of poor maintenance culture
3. What are the problems associated with poor maintenance culture?
4. What are the types and patterns of residential property in Nasarawa town?
5. What are the solutions to the poor maintenance culture on residential building in Nasarawa town?

    1.5     HYPOTHESIS

H0: There is no significance relationship between poor maintenance culture and private residential building.

H1: There is significant relationship between poor maintenance culture and private residential building.

 1.6     SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY

This study is essential in the sense that it would not only contribute to the theory and knowledge but will also contribute to an effective maintenance on private residential property in Nigeria. This is because the study will attempt to find out the impact of poor maintenance culture on private residential property in Nasarawa town.

This research work would be of great significance and relevance as a source of information which will guide the private property developers, student of estate management, building technology, property managers as well as the government and its relevant agencies dealing with poor maintenance culture on residential property. it will also serve as a reference materials for researchers alike.

1.7     SCOPE AND LIMITATIONS

This project work covers entirely the poor maintenance culture as in regard to private residential buildings. With requisite effect it has on private resident in Nasarawa town.

From the conception design, construction and post construction, the various problems being faced by property developers owners, users as regards to maintenance of private buildings. Much emphasis is placed on the aspect of maintenance work such as social and economic as well as scope management and its application on the scope of this project.

The limitation can be seen base on the effort that has been put to exhaust the scope are mentioned but time and cost constraint and some residents are so adamant in answering the question relative to the magnitude of maintenance problems are the major form of limitations for the total achievement of the project objective.

1.8     DEFINITION OF OPERATIONAL TERMS

The definition of maintenance as in regard to building or residential building can be seen as ingeneric term to which include the planning maintenance, repairs and reimbursement and provision of replacement of the structure. The good of maintenance is to sustain the life of major asset whether building or infrastructure.

The British standard (BS 583) (1974) define maintenance as the combination of all technical and associated administrative actions intended to retain an interim or restore it to, a state in which it can perform its required function. The requirement for maintenance must not be less than those necessary to meet the relevant requirement and “maintained” is defined in factions act  1961 as “Maintained in an efficient state, inefficient working order, and in good repairs”.

Chartered institute of building (C.I.O.B) UK (1982) went forward to use this definition on maintenance works undertaken to keep, restore or improve every facility that is every part of the building. Its services and surrounding to agreed standards determined by the balance between need and available resources.

Obiegbu M. E. (1998) also defined maintenance as a programmed transformation of a building fabric and services, reflecting changes on pattern of the use and the technology.

1.9     HISTORICAL BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY AREA

Nasarawa Local Government area of Nasarawa state was established in 1976 during the military regime under the leadership of general Mohammed Administration, the local government have thirteen 13 wards and it consist of six department which is responsible for carried out the activities personal social primary health care agriculture and natural resources. The state derived its name from the local government Nasarawa. The local head quarter is between latitude 7.8 degree east by Karu.

The also shared boundary with Benue state, Toto Local government area and federal capital territory, the local government have a population 187220 by the 2006 census through contest in the law court it has multi ethnic Afo, Agatu, Gwandara etc.