This third edition of Understanding Housing Defects provides a coherent and comprehensive introduction to the causes, investigation and diagnosis of defects in housing.

Each of the 18 chapters covers a specific building element and includes a brief introduction setting out construction principles and the evolution of current practice. Each chapter then goes on to look at the identification, cause and diagnosis of common (and sometimes not so common) defects.

The text has been revised and extended with new sections on boundary walls, chimneys and basements. The existing Services chapter has been replaced with three new, more substantial chapters on Heating & Plumbing, Electrical Installations and Drainage.

* This new edition, extensively revised, and containing over 1,000 new colour graphics and photographs makes it ideal for both students and practitioners

* Explains the nature and cause of hundreds of defects found in new and old housing

* Includes a summary of construction practice and common site errors