Evaluating rework cost – A study of selected building projects in Niger State, Nigeria

Abstract

Rework represents a new terminology in construction dictionary and it becomes essential when an element of building works fails to meet customer’s requirement or when the completed work does not conform to the contract documentation. Reworks contribute to time and cost overruns in project. Thus, to enhance efficient project delivery processes the research work evaluated rework cost on elemental basis in some selected building projects in Niger State. Archival cost data were sourced using a structure research schedule which was self administered on projects identified to have experienced rework amongst the selected projects and these were analysed using simple percentile to show at a glance contribution of each of the building elements to rework. The study revealed Finishes (19.09%) have higher contribution to rework costs than any other elements of building for the projects considered and rework costs on average for the elements 4.49%. Hence, there is need for consensus on a workable mechanism to bring together the client and the contractor to minimize change orders and introduction of additional works during construction phase as this would lead to a reduction in the occurrence of reworks as revealed by the research.