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Evaluation and development of an organized home maintenance system

The purpose of this study was to evaluate what forms of maintenance programs for the home are currently available on the market, and to develop a structured, organized framework for an easy-to-use system. From an inventory of what was available at national bookstore chains and from public libraries, it was evident that there was a void in information about scheduled maintenance accessible to the public. Therefore this paper addressed this issue. This thesis first investigated the history of upkeep and maintenance and its published materials and then assessed how best to fill the void in the area of continuous home care.This area was of interest because haphazard and random describe an owner's usual approach to maintenance around the home. Quality maintenance should not be hasty nor superficial. Rather, it should be an in-depth, consciously organized effort of preserving the building fabric. Treating a repair as a quick fix-it job is comparative to applying a band-aid to a cut which requires further medical treatment. This type of care is inadequate because it has not solved the problem which still exists. Therefore, maintenance should have the characteristic of being a conscious, in-depth effort. Quality maintenance should also be an organized effort, thereby avoiding the possibility of being hit-or-miss or lackadaisical.Simply, maintenance is the process of upkeep, of cleaning and monitoring the interior and exterior of a structure. Detecting an arising problem within the fabric, swiftly dealing with it, solving the situation and avoiding further deterioration is preventive maintenance. In other words upkeep is two-fold: 1) inspecting and repairing damage from general wear and tear (maintenance) and 2) preparing the house and its support systems for future use (preventive measures). Whether new construction or an older home, any aged structure can benefit from simple scheduled maintenance.In terms of conservation technology, a preventive maintenance program can significantly contribute to the preservation of historic and nonhistoric structures. Maintenance is a direct intervention process; it involves a one-on-one relationship and an ongoing interaction between owner and building. The goal in implementing a maintenance program is preservation: the sustaining and prolonging of the life and integrety of a special building--the home.Ball State UniversityMuncie, IN 47306

Identiferoai:union.ndltd.org:BSU/oai:cardinalscholar.bsu.edu:handle/183340
Date03 June 2011
CreatorsBecher, Susan
ContributorsHermansen, David R.
Source SetsBall State University
Detected LanguageEnglish
Formatii, 84 leaves ; 28 cm.
SourceVirtual Press

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