Adequate Maintenance as a Precursor to Building Longevity: A Case Study of Owo, Ondo State, Nigeria

Abstract

Shelter as vital as it is to man necessitates the strong urge of man in providing shelter for himself and his family. The first issues to be noted and appreciated in Buildings are the aesthetic, functionality, building materials used and the possible structural stability of the building. Little was attached to the building durability and the expectance lifespan at the inception and in the time past. Hence, the current trends in human development have helped in the development of quality building materials and good workmanship. A well-structured questionnaire was randomly distributed to 200 residential building built over ten years at Owo in Ondo State to ascertain the factors responsible for non-durability of buildings as against the expectant lifespan. The study showed that despite various efforts in achieving effective housing for man, lack of adequate maintenance is shortening its longevity thereby leaving the building ineffective as high percentage of the abandoned and dilapidated buildings in the study area were primarily as a result of inadequate maintenance.