Workmanship In Construction Of Small And Medium Hospitality Enterprises In Nairobi Central Business District
Abstract
Building construction is a complex activity and requires trained manpower at the design stage,
approval process, supervision and construction stage. The design of a building commences with
a site survey which shows beacons and dimensions of the plot. Poor quality of workmanship
makes it difficult for workers to perceive and apply the concepts of quality control and limits of
tolerance for building production. This results in poor construction, which may finally lead to
building collapse (Ogunsemi, 2002). The objectives of the study was to identify the challenges
facing the construction and finishing, to establish causes of poor workmanship in construction
and finishing, and to determine strategies of improving construction and finishing of hotels and
restaurants in Nairobi. The study considered the total quality management, and competence
theories. The population of the study was the registered Small and Medium hotels and
restaurants in Nairobi CBD. Primary data was collected using interviews. The data collected
related to the challenges facing the construction and finishing of hotels and restaurants in
Nairobi, causes and strategies that can be applied to improve construction of hotels and
restaurants. Data was analyzed using qualitative analysis. The study concluded that the
challenges facing the hotels are mainly internal staining, mold growth and fungal, cracks on
building walls, decayed and break-up mortar joints, loose tiles in the restaurants, leaking in the
restaurant, and peeling paint, dampness, and finally roof deterioration. The study also concluded
that the causes of poor workmanship include poor weather condition, unsuitable construction
equipment, poor project management and unclear role of subcontractor. The study recommended
that the following strategies can be used to improve construction and finishing workmanship;
having regular checks on the structures, use of quality construction materials, having competent
construction supervisors, renovation on regular basis, and adequate initial capital for set up,
qualified workmanship, engaging honest and experienced contractors, using correct materials,
and monitoring the implementing policies by government.
Publisher
University of Nairobi
Rights
Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 United StatesUsage Rights
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/3.0/us/Collections
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