9 Best Books on Building Services and Maintenance

“Building Repair and Maintenance Management” Book Review: The book is written according to the requirements of civil engineering students, the engineers working at the construction site as well as it will also be helpful for the teachers. The book is majorly segregated into three parts: the first part explains the basic principles for maintenance; second part explains the materials and techniques used for repair and maintenance; and the third explains the remedies for various types of building defects. The topics covered include the principles and importance of building repair and maintenance, causes of deterioration, investigation of defects, maintenance problems and their root causes, materials used for repairing, preventive measures, common techniques for repairing, repair of existing damp proofing systems in roof and wet areas, RCC elements, foundations, basements, repair of water supply and sanitation systems in buildings and at last the common strengthening techniques.

“Practical Handbook on BUILDING MAINTENANCE – Civil Works (Including Horticulture)” Book Review: The in-depth content provided in the book will be useful for all the civil engineering undergraduates, students of architecture and economic design. The book will serve as a ready reference for management of daily tasks and finding technical solutions for all the maintenance problems in buildings. The complete book is presented in question & answer form so that the students get the right solution for a particular maintenance problem. There are numerous tables, drawings, figures and other illustrations given in the book for better understanding of the text. This particular volume contains all maintenance problems along with their solutions, civil works and newly added topic of Horticulture.

“Maintenance and Repairs of Buildings” Book Review: The book primarily focuses on the needs of all the civil engineering undergraduates. At the end of each chapter there are various questions for the practice of students. In addition to those, questions from recent examinations of the Institution of Surveyors and Inter Arch are also included. There are various topics covered in the book which include principles of building repair and maintenance, quality assurance, agencies causing deterioration, investigation of defects, root causes of problems, special precautions, common techniques of building repair, repairing of roofs, maintenance of RCC elements, repair of finishes, repair of building joints, repair of water supply and sewage in buildings.

“A House Builder’s Handbook Building Materials, Construction And Maintenance: Essential Technical Information for Laymen undertaking House Construction and for the general use of Students” Book Review: The book is basically designed for civil engineering undergraduates and diploma students. But the book will also be helpful for postgraduate students of construction management who may not have any prior background in civil engineering.It serves as a reference to all those who undertake house construction, along with architectural and structural design, choosing the appropriate set of materials, methods of construction and for maintenance purpose. There are various topics covered such as municipal requirements, engineering design, types of soils and their foundations and materials like cement, steel, timber, ceramic products. Also further topics include maintenance activities like damp-proofing and water-proofing, painting, plumbing, electrical connections, earthquake resistance, concrete repair chemicals, corrosion inhibition in steel, repair of leakages, anti-termite treatment, harvesting of rooftop rainwater and financial topics like bar chart, cost estimating.

“100 Contractor House Plans Construction Blueprints – Spec Homes, Cabins, Condos, 4 Plexs and Custom Homes” Book Review: This book titled 100 Contractor House Plans Construction Blueprints contains various plans of houses in a single book. All the styles of homes are in this book including specifications of home plans, cabins plans, condos, 4 Plexs, custom homes and small starter homes. This book serves as a record of all home plans for Specialized Design Systems. Exact 100 House plan Specification sheets and renderings of homes that have been designed and drawn exclusively in the book. In the book various developed full house plans are explained which are construction ready. It serves as a great source for all the contractors who want to save their money on any plans ranging from high class customized homes to the smaller ones.

“Manual of Tropical Housing and Building” Book Review: The book titled Manual of Tropical Housing and Building is specially designed for all the students in Architecture, environmental design, climate control and housing students. The book will also be helpful for working professionals, investors and developers as a guide. It talks about the theory related to climatic changes and their designs respectively and also how students can use their theoretical knowledge for finding solutions to real life problems. They will learn how to analyse the effect of climatic change on the residents and more importantly on living and working patterns. The topics covered in the book include the given and desirable conditions, principles of thermal design and methods of control, light and noise control, applications and the design aid.

“Building Services Engineering” Book Review: This book will be helpful for all the students of civil, building services engineering as well as a reference book to those who are about to start their work. The book goes through latest energy practices, greenhouse gas emission and safety methods. The topics covered include heating, changes in climate, basic amenities like air conditioning, transportation, water, electricity, drainage and room acoustics. Concepts of global warming, carbon trading and zero carbon buildings are also covered along with examples of the use of photovoltaic solar panels, chilled beams, ground source heat pumps, under-floor air distribution, energy auditing, labyrinths and wind turbines. Along with the introduction part and the theory, complete practical applications and case studies developed from post-occupancy reports are provided in the form of numerous illustrations. There is also a reference site for the book which offers more than 1,000 questions, lecturers in the form of ppt, and an instructors’ manual.

“Building Services” Book Review: The in-depth content provided in the book will be useful for industry personnel, technicians, architects, surveyors, planners, estate managers and construction site managers. For all undergraduate students of civil, building crafts and diplomas the book will serve as a ready reference. Building services are the key component in a building structure which provides movement, communication, facilities and other comfort.The book covers a wide range of topics related to building services including information on: air-conditioning system, pumps/blowers, fans, electric power supply, elevators, protection against fire, lighting, acoustics and plumbing.