| dc.description.abstract | Building roofs have many shapes depending on the
individual choice of the owner or the designer. Among
the many roof shapes available is a flat shape,
though not completely flat. To achieve the flat
shape a designer has several different decking materials
to choose from among which concrete slab and timber
boarding have been commonly used. The deck provides
a continuous support for the water-proof material
to be laid on. Among the commonest waterproof materials
used are bituminous roofing felt and mastic asphalt.
However, wherever there are flat roofs water leakage
problems abound almost consistently. This has been
the case in many flat roofed public buildings. Among
the troubled organizations has been the Ministry
of Works, Housing and Physical Planning in the Rift
Valley Province. The complaints have occurred despite
frequent repairs to these roofs, both by departmental
and contractor labour.
The research . was focused on Nakuru and Eldoret
towns in the Rift Valley Province to try and understand
the flat roof maintenance phenomenon. Several approaches
were taken in the study. Firstly, building maintenance
records kept by several public institutions were
heavily relied upon. Secondly, interviews were carried
out with the maintenance staff and any other people
connected with maintenance of buildings in the different
organizations. Thirdly questionnaires were sent
out to maintenance officials in other districts
of the province. Finally, the flat roofed buildings
were visited in the area of study so as to learn
their maintenance condition and possibly any past
remedial actions taken to rectify defects.
,The study has come up with several findings
in connection with flat roof construction and flat
roof maintenance. It has been shown by statistical
tests that flat roofs are not all that expensive
in comparison to pitched roofs. Further an attempt
has been made to explain why flat roofs have caused
so many leakage problems resulting in hue and cry
over maintenance cost. Among the major findings
is that the knowledge of flat roofs maintenance
and construction is too general and not technical
in the leas t. Knowledge was found to be minimal
vis - a- vis materials, at times , specification for
construction and repair and mainly maintenance of
the whole roof covering element. As a result
malpractices have abounded in maintenance and repair
of defects in flat roofs. Another finding was in
connection with the design of flat roofs. It has
been shown that certain aspects of flat roof design
have contributed to early failures of flat roofs in
several instances. The significance of these findings
lies in the fact that they play a major part in the
maintenance and repair of flat roofs. Unless they
are rectified the flat roofs are doomed.
In concluding the research, Romp recommendations
have been put forward mainly to help reduce expenditure
on flat roof maintenance. It has been recolTJI11ended
~hat the knowledge of flat roofs should be increased
in all districts. It has also been recommended that
certain design details of flat roofs should be improved
to meet the existing knowledge of roof maintenance.
Without adopting' serious steps towards flat roofs
they will continue to haunt the maintenance teams,
and owners of the many flat roofs in existence | en |
