SR387 Prioritising quality: Literature review of common residential housing defects (December 2017)

The aim of this project is to determine the barriers to achieving quality housing in New Zealand. 369 sources of literature were identified through keyword searching of databases and hand searching of relevant New Zealand industry websites. Final data presentation is based on inductive thematic analysis, resulting in four themes describing 159 relevant sources:

• Housing quality issues – categorised in the report by Building Code clause.
• Life cycle quality issues – documenting barriers to quality within each stage of a building’s life.
• Quality perception, satisfaction and end use – describing issues reported in relation to the consumer or end user.
• Improving the building process – grouping together different types of quality-raising measures.

The sources provide useful data on a wide range of complex multidimensional issues and relevant remedial measures. These can be used to inform further research aiming to raise residential building quality in New Zealand. Overall, it was found that quality issues are generally not the result of inadequate Building Code clauses or developed best practices. Rather, they are determined by the ability and willingness of industry professionals to communicate, achieve requirements and manage errors. It was also found that defects and rework are widely deemed as unavoidable, and the achievement of quality is greatly affected by subjective factors.

This and the extremely varied nature of construction projects has provoked many sources to suggest the need for continuous evaluation and development rather than one-off solutions. This needs to take place within project teams, companies and the industry as a whole.