COMMON DEFECTS

IN CONSTRUCTION
A. CONCRETE PAVEMENT (RIGID)
 RECOMMENDATION/
DEFECTS CAUSES
CORRECTIVE MEASURES
1. Transverse 1. Delayed cutting of 1. Sawing of joints when the concrete has
weakened plane sufficiently hardened, usually within 24
Cracks joints hrs.
2. Shallow cutting of 2. Sawing shall be made at the required
weakened plane depth of 3 inches.
joints
3. Failure of unstable 3. Clean the cracks of all loose matter and
foundations a. For shallow cracks, apply asphalt
sealant
b. For deep cracks, apply concrete
epoxy
4. Overload 4. For through cracks, removal and
replacement of the affected block
5. Repeated bending 5. If the crack is caused by pumping, the void
of pumping slabs beneath the pavement must be filled
6. Interruption of 6. Place construction joints
pouring of more than
30 minutes.
 RECOMMENDATION/
DEFECTS CAUSES
CORRECTIVE MEASURES
2. Longitudinal 1. More finer materials 1. The gradation of sub-based and base
on sub-base and base should strictly be followed
Cracks causing settlement 2. Check the adequacy of compaction
2. Insufficient prior to pouring of concrete mix
compaction of sub- 3. Use correct design mix
base and base 4. Curing pf concrete pavement should be
3. Incorrect design mix made at 14 days
4. Lateral shrinkage 5. Removal and replacement of the
associated with affected area
excessive width
5. Inadequate curing
especially during the
first 7-days
6. PCCP opened
before 14 days as the
concrete has to
develop its strength
7. Longitudinal joint too
shallow
 RECOMMENDATION/
DEFECTS CAUSES
CORRECTIVE MEASURES
3. Temperature 1. Pouring of 1. Avoid pouring of concrete during high
concrete at high temperature and strong wind to prevent
Cracks temperature or sudden evaporation of water
strong winds 2. Apply appropriate asphalt sealant
2. Weakened plane
joints are narrow
and not cut on time.

4. Corner 1. Insufficient slab 1. Application of pressurized concrete

thickness epoxy
Cracks
2. Loss of subgrade
or sub-base
support
 RECOMMENDATION/
DEFECTS CAUSES
CORRECTIVE MEASURES
5. Scaling 1. Overworking of the 1.Proper methods of placing, consolidating
surface during and finishing concrete in pavement
construction construction
2. Poor quality 2. Removal and replacement of the section
aggregates and with major scaling
cement 3. Minor scaling should be monitored for 6
3. Sprinkling of water mos., and if further deterioration
in the surface occurs, the affected area should be
during finishing removed or replaced.
work
4. Over sanded mix
5. Too wet mix or high
water-cement
ratio
 RECOMMENDATION/
DEFECTS CAUSES
CORRECTIVE MEASURES
6. Improper 1. Proper brooming 1.Brooming shall be ,made when the water
is not strictly sheen has practically disappeared.
brooming observed during 2. The broom shall be drawn from the center
operation to the edge of the pavement with adjacent
strokes slightly overlapping and operation
shall be executed such that the corrugations
produced in the surface shall be uniform in
appearance and not more than 1.5 mm in
depth
7. Delayed 1. No concrete saw 1. Sawing of joint should be done when the
available at site concrete has sufficiently hardened, usually 4
cutting of to 24 hrs.
depth of 2. Depth of sawing should be one third of the
weakened thickness of pavement
plane joint
 RECOMMENDATION/
DEFECTS CAUSES
CORRECTIVE MEASURES
8. Improper 1. The application of 1. Application of appropriate asphalt sealant
appropriate asphalt should be made immediately after the sawing
application/ sealant is neglected of weakened plane joint
non-provision or not properly
of asphalt applied, when the
completed pavement
sealant is already opened to
traffic

9. Inadequate 1. No compaction 1. Conduct Field Density Test to check the

Equipment adequacy of compaction of at least 100%
compaction
available at site 2. Follow proper construction procedures.
of 2. Improper
shouldering construction
materials method
 RECOMMENDATION/
DEFECTS CAUSES
CORRECTIVE MEASURES
10. Non- 1. Shouldering 1. Materials for shoulder should be
materials are often immediately placed after the completion of
incorporation/ neglected, when the pavement
Lack of the completed
concrete pavement
shouldering is opened to traffic
materials

11. Inadequate 1. Compaction of 1. Conduct Field density Test to check the

materials is not adequacy of compaction of at least 100%
compaction of performed at the per layer of the in-placed materials
the prepared required
sub-base or thickness/layer
base materials
B. ASPHALT PAVEMENT (FLEXIBLE)
 RECOMMENDATION/
DEFECTS CAUSES
CORRECTIVE MEASURES
1. Asphalt 1. Improper 1. Repeated application of hot sand, slag or
application of seal rock severing to bold up the excess asphalt
bleeding coat 2. Heavy over-asphalted surfaces should
2. Too rich a mix be removed and replaced
and/ or too heavy a
prime or tack coat

2. Non 1. Failure to check 1. Check the thickness of the completed

the thickness of the pavement if it conforms to the requirement
conformance to completed
thickness pavement
requirements
3. Inadequate 1. Non- 1. Conduct Field Density Test to check
performance of adequacy of compaction
compaction of Field Density Test
shouldering
materials
 RECOMMENDATION/
DEFECTS CAUSES
CORRECTIVE MEASURES
4. Ravelling 1. Lack of compaction 1. Check the adequacy of compaction
2. Too little asphalt in through Field Density Test
mix 2. Surface treatment such as seal coating
3. Dirty or 3. Thin overlaying of Item 310, SBST,
disintegrated DBST
aggregate
4. Construction of a
thin lift during cold
weather
5. Alligator 1. Excessive 1. In case of saturated bases or sub-grade,
deflection of surface remove the wet material and install needed
Cracking over unstable sub- drainage
grade or lower 2. Temporary repair can be made by
courses of the applying aggregate seal coat to the
pavement affected area
2. Repeated loads 3. In case of cracking from overloading a
that exceed the load- properly designed overlay will correct the
carrying capacity of condition
the pavement
 RECOMMENDATION/
DEFECTS CAUSES
CORRECTIVE MEASURES
6.Rutting 1. Consolidation or 1. Level the pavement by filling the
lateral movements channels with hot plant-mixed asphalt
under traffic in one material
or more or the 2. Follow with a thin asphalt plat mix
underlying courses overlay
2. Displacement in
the asphalt surface
layer itself

7. Pothole 1. Too little asphalt 1. Temporary repair through filling it with a

in the mix ready-mixed asphalt patching material
2. Too thin asphalt 2. Permanent repair through filling it with
surface new base and the surface material
3. Failure of the
base
4. Poor drainage
C. UNPAVED ROAD
(GRAVEL ROAD)
 RECOMMENDATION/
DEFECTS CAUSES
CORRECTIVE MEASURES
1. Non 1. Failure to check 1. Conduct test pitting to check thickness
thickness of the in- requirements
conformance to placed sub-base
thickness and base materials
requirements
2.Inadequate 1. Non performance 1. Conduct Field Density test to check
of Field Density adequacy of compaction
compaction of Test
the sub-
base/base
materials
3. Undefined 1. Improper 1. PE should require the Contractor on the
construction proper construction procedure and
side ditches/ not procedure or the check the slope when side ditches are
conforming to PE often neglected completed
the slope to follow the slope
requirements as
requirement indicated in the
approved plans
 RECOMMENDATION/
DEFECTS CAUSES
CORRECTIVE MEASURES
4. Oversized 1. The materials 1. Require the Materials Engineer/In-
used were not Charge to check regularly the gradation of
materials properly screened aggregates
to the required
aggregate sizes
D. FLOOD CONTROL/ DRAINAGE
 RECOMMENDATION/
DEFECTS CAUSES
CORRECTIVE MEASURES
1. Improper 1. No/insufficient 1. Provide sufficient mortar flushing in the
mortar flushing, collaring of pipes
collaring of usually in the inside
pipes joints

2. Incorrect 1. The Project 1. The PE should always see to it that the

Engineer often correct construction procedures are strictly
laying of stones misguided on the followed
for stone correct construction 2. Remove and redo the required scope of
masonry procedure, as he work
sometimes
interchanges stone
masonry to grouted
riprap
3. Insufficient 1. The PE often 1. Application of grout should be
neglected to check provided in all interstices of the stone
grout for stone the interstices of
masonry the stone if grout is
sufficiently applied
 RECOMMENDATION/
DEFECTS CAUSES
CORRECTIVE MEASURES
4. Cracks on 1. Poorly constructed 1. See to it that foundation is properly
foundation constructed
stone masonry
2. The concrete mix 2. Follow strictly the approved Design Mix
and in is too wet or lack of 3. Check the extent of crack and if
concrete cement deteriorated, remove and replace the
revetment affected section
4. Apply concrete epoxy, if the extent of
crack could not affect the integrity of the
structure

5. Use of 1. Provision of PVC 1. Provision of PVC as weepholes should

weepholes is not be mandatory whether it is/not specified in
bamboo or included in the the POW
banana stalks approved POW 2. The PE should always see to it that
as weepholes 2. The PE often appropriate weepholes are provided in the
neglected the structure as required
provision of
weepholes
 RECOMMENDATION/
DEFECTS CAUSES
CORRECTIVE MEASURES
6. Clogged 1. The invert/ inlet 1. Follow strictly the plans and
of the drainage specifications
drainage system not strictly 2. De-clog/clean the drainage system to
system followed ensure free flowing of water
2. Debris such as
gravel, sand and
other materials
E. SCHOOL BUILDING
 RECOMMENDATION/
DEFECTS CAUSES
CORRECTIVE MEASURES
1. Honeycombs 1. Improper 1. Thorough consolidation of concrete
consolidation of components during mixing
on beams, concrete 2. Install forms properly and remove forms
columns and 2. Improper when the concrete has attained the
other concrete installation and minimum percentage of design strength at
structure removal of forms minimum time

2. Cracking on 1. Poor 1. Finishing/plastering should be done

finishing/plastering properly
walls
2. Poor mortar mix 2. Mortar to be applied should be of proper
3. Plastering during mixture
hot weather 3. Plastering should be done when the
temperature is low, to avoid rapid
evaporation of water in the mortar mix
 RECOMMENDATION/
DEFECTS CAUSES
CORRECTIVE MEASURES
3. Defective/ 1. Use of defective/ 1. Remove and replace if already installed
substandard lumber 2. Check delivery of materials and reject if
sub standard materials for the delivered materials are either defective
lumber windows, doors, and substandard
materials for window jambs and 3. Use only good lumber and correct
partitions dimension
windows, doors,
window jambs,
door jambs and
partitions
4. Improper 1. Installation of 1. Remove the G.I. flushing and re-install
roofing materials as called for in the approved plans, to
flushing of not properly done ensure that it will not adversely affect the
galvanized iron roofing structures
materials
particularly in
roof
 RECOMMENDATION/
DEFECTS CAUSES
CORRECTIVE MEASURES
5. Non- 1. The Project 1. The provision of ramp should be
Engineer often mandatory in the construction of school
provision of neglected the buildings as called for in the Accessibility
ramp provision of ramp Law
F. BRIDGE
 RECOMMENDATION/
DEFECTS CAUSES
CORRECTIVE MEASURES
1. Cracks in 1. Poor concrete 1. Monitor the extent of crack and if
mix or too wet mix deterioration occurs, remove ad replace the
concrete said concrete structure
2. Not following the
structure approved design 2. If crack could not affect the integrity of
mix the structure, apply concrete epoxy
properly

2. Honeycombs 1. Improper 1. Thorough consolidation of concrete

consolidation of components during placing
in concrete concrete 2. Install forms properly and remove forms
structure 2. Improper when the concrete has attained the
installation and minimum percentage of design strength at
removal of forms minimum time
3.Minor scaling 1. Over working of 1. When placing a fresh concrete, the mix
the surface during should be thoroughly consolidated
on slab construction 2. Use only good quality aggregate and
approach 2. Poor quality cement
aggregates and 3. Follow strictly approved design mix
cement
3. Over-sanded mix
 RECOMMENDATION/
DEFECTS CAUSES
CORRECTIVE MEASURES
4. Incorrect 1. Negligence of 1. Follow strictly plans and specifications
the Project
installation of Engineer. He does
bars not follow the
approved plan

5. Rebars not 1. Negligence of 1. Follow strictly the bar bending diagram

the Project indicated in the approved plans.
properly hooked Engineer. He does
not follow the
approved plan

6. Use of rusty 1. The 1. Brush off rusty re-bars and apply lead
Project/Materials oxide paint, prior to incorporation into the
reinforced steel Engineer often work
bars neglected the use
of weather tight
storage facility