A framework for guiding walling materials selection for urban residential housing delivery in Ghana
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Date
2021-06-22
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Abstract
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
Description
A thesis submitted to the Department of Construction Technology and Management, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Award Degree of Master of Philosophy in Building Technology.
Keywords
guiding walling materials, urban residential housing delivery, Ghana