ABSTRACT
The UK and Romanian residential development sector of the construction industry is reviewed by reference to construction form, technology and the problems associated with building on clay soils. The paper develops the idea that whilst it is important to have high quality materials and components, it is equally important that their use in a building is properly supervised, both at the design stage and during construction. The paper explores two different control procedures and reports on evidence emerging from an international research project looking at the nature of foundation failure. The paper concludes by stating that only with proper control procedures will more durable buildings be produced.
