This document outlines quality standards and issues to check for in building construction. It discusses ensuring quality of basic materials like bricks, blocks, sand, metal and timber. It provides guidance on rejecting poor quality materials and workmanship issues like missing corner reinforcements, unpainted roof timbers, and improperly placed roof tiles. The goal is for masons and beneficiaries to understand why quality is important and for builders to aim for the best quality construction that will endure.

1. ACHIEVING QUALITY
STANDARDS
A LEARNING & SHARING
EXERCISE
INTERIM REVIEW WORKSHOP

2. QUALITY OF BASIC MATERIALS
• Foundation Stone – Size, hardness
• Bricks and blocks – Size and strength
• Sand – Free of excessive clay and impurities
• Metal – Consistency of size
• Timber – Quality and sizing
• Roof tiles – Consistency of quality
How can quality of the above materials be
assured?

3. REJECT POOR QUALITY, USE GOOD
QUALITY BRICKS

4. REJECT POOR QUALITY BLOCKS

5. SAND WITH EXCESSIVE CLAY/IMPURITIES; NOT TO
BE USED FOR MASONRY AND CONCRETE WORK

6. CHECK ON-SITE FOR SAND QUALITY

7. REJECT POOR QUALITY ROOFING TIMBER

8. REJECT POOR QUALITY TILES

9. REJECT MISMATCHED TILE BRANDS, AND
NOTICABLE COLOUR DIFFERENCES

10. CHECK FOUNDATION TO FINISHES
• Foundation
• Plinth beam
• Compacted earth fill
• Superstructure
• Roof
• Doors and windows
• Wall and floor renderings
• Wall finishes

11. FOUNDATION PROBLEMS

12. FOUNDATIONS – PROBLEM/SOLUTION

13. FOUNDATION PROBLEMS

14. PLINTH BEAM PROBLEMS

15. PLINTH BEAM PROBLEMS

16. SAFE SOIL – NO PLINTH BEAM NEEDED

17. COMPACTED EARTH FILL PROBLEM

18. COMPACTED EARTH FILL SOLUTION

19. WALLS TO BE KEYED AT JUNCTIONS

20. QUALITY SUPERSTRUCTURE MASONRY

21. NOTE SERIOUS ERROR IN CASTING LINTEL

22. CORNER REINFORCEMENTS MISSING

23. CORNER REINFORCEMENTS MISSING

24. REINFORCEMENT AT CORNERS VITAL
• Clearly explain to
masons and
beneficiaries why
vertical
reinforcements
must be used at key
corners of the
building
• Always check that
this is done

25. LINTEL & CORNER REINFORCEMENTS

26. LINTEL CASTING - LOCAL PRACTICE; OK
WITH PRECAUTIONS

27. CANTILEVERED SIDE EAVES FOR ROOF:
GOOD PRACTICE

28. CANTILEVERED SIDE EAVES FOR ROOF:
GOOD PRACTICE

29. WHAT SHOULD BE DONE, WHAT AVOIDED?

30. PAINT ROOF TIMBERS BEFORE PLACEMENT

31. NOTE ROOF TIMBERS UNPAINTED BEFORE
PLACEMENT, & RECTIFY PROMPTLY

32. NOTE ROOF TIMBERS UNPAINTED BEFORE
PLACEMENT, AND RECTIFY PROMPTLY

33. CHECK QUALITY OF DOOR & WINDOW
FRAMES

34. PLACEMENT OF DOORS & WINDOWS: GOOD
PRACTICE

35. NOTE REINFORCEMENTS NOT BENT OVER
WALL PLATE; RECTIFY PROMPTLY

36. FAULTY ROOF SUPPORT TIMBER FRAMING

37. MISSING: ADEQUATE PAD
SUPPORT FOR ROOF TIMBERS

38. WHAT SHOULD BE AVOIDED?

39. RIDGE PLATE NOT IDEALLY PLACED!

40. IMPROPER PLACEMENT OF ROOF TILES

41. NOTE ERRORS IN ROOFING ELEMENTS &
RECTIFY PROMPTLY

42. SINGLE END BATTEN ON EDGE UNSTABLE &
IMPROPER; FIX DOUBLE BATTENS

43. BARGE BOARD IMPROPERLY PLACED;
BATTEN ENDS EXPOSED

44. INSUFFICIENT CONCRETE BANDS @ ROOF

45. INSUFFICIENT CONCRETE BANDS @ ROOF

46. CHECK IMPROPER FIXING OF DOOR/WINDOW
FRAMES & HINGES; RECTIFY PROMPTLY

47. CHECK ON QUALITY OF PLASTER
RENDERING

48. HOW ROOF & CHIMNEY STACK LEAK RELATED
PROBLEMS CAN BE RESOLVED

49. STRIVE TO IMPROVE DESIGN DETAILS

50. ACHIEVING QUALITY
STANDARDS
ALWAYS AIM FOR THE BEST
QUALITY IN CONSTRUCTION;
LEAVE A LEGACY THAT
ENDURES!

51. THANK YOU
Vasant Pullenayegem
Housing Consultant