Browsing by Author "Ansah, Samuel Kwame"

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    A framework for guiding walling materials selection for urban residential housing delivery in Ghana
    (2021-06-22) Ansah, Samuel Kwame;
    This research discussed the factors that affect the selection of walling materials and developed a framework to guide the selection of such materials for urban residential housing delivery in Ghana. The study adopted a multiple research approach involving Delphi survey and questionnaire survey. Relevant factors that affect the choice of walling materials in general were discovered through literature search. This was followed up by the use of Delphi survey to determine the factors which are relevant in the Ghanaian construction industry. The Delphi study led to the confirmation of 46 factors as relevant to selection of walling materials for housing projects in Ghana. Further investigations with regard to the factors were conducted in the questionnaire survey. A sample size of 152 building construction professionals including Architects, Quantity Surveyors, and Structural Engineers were used for the questionnaire survey. These professionals were selected randomly. The data gathered were analysed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences. Out of the 46 factors identified by the study, the top ten most influential factors includes strength, initial cost, appearance, durability, owner’s/user’s choice, resistance to decay, maintainability, labour availability, water resistance and maintenance cost.Finally, the results help to develop a framework to guide the selection of appropriate walling materials for urban residential housing delivery in Ghana. This framework will enable building professionals and stakeholders in general to effectively and accurately evaluate the trade-offs between cost, technical, environmental, socio-cultural, sensorial, performance and some general factors during the material evaluation and selection processes. In order to ensure faster construction solutions, foster new economic development and promote better quality of building structures, decision makers should consider all the essential factors established in this study when deciding on walling materials for urban residential housing delivery in Ghana