Before we look at the specific issues that may present themselves within a building in need of maintenance and repair works, it’s important to understand all of the factors at play that could have contributed to having caused the problem in the first place. Correctly diagnosing why the problem has occurred is the most important step in carrying out a successful repair, as it allows us to formulate an effective strategy in overcoming the obstacle at hand. Here we shall look at a broad range of factors that contribute to the degradation of a structure, as well as some larger issues that can cause other smaller problems to occur.