Abstract

Deterioration of buildings has been a recurring menace over the years. Architects, having designed buildings; with all detailed specifications and thereafter analyzed structurally by qualified Structural Engineers are required to stand for years with little or no apparent depreciation of values in functions, purpose and aesthetics. The arbitrary acts of concerned stakeholders in the building industry to checkmate this kind of perpetual use or application of inferior building materials is emerging even to the highest level. This paper therefore examined various effects of these inferior materials on the building deterioration. Various causes of such deteriorations and the appropriate remedies were highlighted. A theoretical research approach through review of some relevant literatures was employed. It was revealed that highcost, low supply, ignorance, hastiness and so on were traced to the views of building owners/occupants and the resultant effects which include foundation weakening, cracking of walls, roof leakage, wracking of doors and windows were highlighted. It was concluded that appropriate measures be put into practice. This study recommends that a long-lasting existence of buildings can be achieved through appropriate measures both in quantity and quality control.