---
title: "Preventive maintenance in roads and buildings"
subject: "Construction Management"
chapter: 9
key: "semester_8/construction_management:preventive-importance-roads-buildings"
source: https://www.bctengineer.com/q/semester_8/construction_management/preventive-importance-roads-buildings
site: BCT Engineering
---

# Preventive maintenance in roads and buildings

Construction Management · Chapter 9: Project Maintenance

- Asked in: 2067 Mangsir (old course), 8 marks
- Video: [Protecting our Pavements: PREVENTIVE Maintenance](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=doh71RDT0dI) — The Crittenden Automotive Library
- Answer checked by Claude Opus 5.5 (high effort) on 2026-10-14
- Page: https://www.bctengineer.com/q/semester_8/construction_management/preventive-importance-roads-buildings
- Whole chapter: https://www.bctengineer.com/md/semester_8/construction_management/chapter-9

## Question

Explain the importance of preventive maintenance in roads and buildings and also mention various types of maintenance.

## Short answer

Preventive maintenance is planned treatment while the asset is still good. In roads, it seals cracks, cleans drains, and resurfaces to prevent potholes and washouts; in buildings, repainting, waterproofing, and servicing systems prevent moisture damage, fire, and structural decay. Types include routine, preventive, corrective, emergency, predictive, and rehabilitation.

## Answer

**Preventive maintenance** is planned inspection and treatment carried out while an asset is still in good condition, to prevent faults and slow deterioration. It is important because it reduces cost and keeps the asset safe and serviceable.

#### Importance in roads
- Sealing cracks and fog or surface treatment keep water out of the pavement and avoid potholes and base failure.
- Cleaning and repairing side drains, culverts and cross drainage before monsoon prevents washouts and slope failures.
- Timely resurfacing costs much less than reconstruction.
- It gives a smooth, safe ride, which lowers vehicle operating cost and accident risk.
- Roadside slope care, bioengineering, and shoulder repair protect the road in hill areas of Nepal.

#### Importance in buildings
- Repainting and waterproofing protect walls and roofs from moisture and corrosion.
- Servicing electrical, plumbing and drainage systems prevents fire, leakage and service failure.
- Early repair of cracks and spalling protects the reinforcement and structure.
- It keeps the building safe, and keeps its value and appearance.
- It reduces emergency repair cost and interruptions in use.

#### Types of maintenance
1. Routine maintenance (regular small jobs).
2. Preventive / periodic maintenance (planned at intervals).
3. Corrective or breakdown maintenance (after failure).
4. Emergency maintenance (immediate repair after disaster).
5. Predictive / condition-based maintenance.
6. Rehabilitation / major repair.

## Check yourself

The answer's key points as multiple-choice questions, with the correct option and why.

1. Why seal cracks in a pavement?
   A. To keep water out and avoid potholes and base failure
   B. To make the road narrower
   C. To increase traffic
   D. To change the gradient
   Answer: A. Sealing keeps water out of the pavement, avoiding potholes and base failure. (Key point: Roads - cracks)

2. Why clean drains and culverts before monsoon?
   A. To reduce traffic
   B. To prevent washouts and slope failures
   C. To lower paint cost
   D. To widen the road
   Answer: B. Clear drainage prevents washouts and slope failures in monsoon. (Key point: Drains before monsoon)

3. How does repainting and waterproofing help a building?
   A. Increases floor area
   B. Reduces the number of storeys
   C. Protects walls and roofs from moisture and corrosion
   D. Replaces structural design
   Answer: C. They protect walls and roofs from moisture and corrosion. (Key point: Buildings)

4. Preventive maintenance is done while the asset is:
   A. Failed
   B. In good condition
   C. Demolished
   D. Under design
   Answer: B. It is planned treatment while the asset is still in good condition. (Key point: Definition)

## Related in Construction Management

- [Preventive maintenance is better than corrective](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_8%2Fconstruction_management%3Apreventive-better-than-corrective) — Construction Management, chapter 9, asked 4×
- [Preventive, corrective and breakdown maintenance](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_8%2Fconstruction_management%3Apreventive-vs-corrective-define) — Construction Management, chapter 9, asked 3×
- [Types of maintenance and why needed](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_8%2Fconstruction_management%3Amaintenance-types-importance) — Construction Management, chapter 9, asked 8×

## Related in other subjects

- [Maintenance of bituminous roads](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_7%2Ftransportation_engineering_ii%3Abituminous-pavement-maintenance) — Transportation Engineering II, chapter 4
- [Types of maintenance and their comparison](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_6%2Findustrial_engineering_and_management%3Atypes-of-plant-maintenance) — Industrial Engineering and Management, chapter 7