Can Walls Be Demolished in Precast Panel Houses?

It is not recommended to directly demolish walls in precast panel houses, especially load-bearing walls, as this may lead to structural safety issues.

Risk Analysis

The central walls of rural self-built houses are mostly load-bearing walls, with precast panels directly placed on them to form a horizontal support system. If a load-bearing wall is removed, the precast panels will lose their support points, potentially causing floor slab fractures, house tilting, or even collapse. Additionally, precast panels in houses over 30 years old may have aging issues such as steel bar corrosion and concrete carbonation, significantly reducing their load-bearing capacity and further increasing the risks associated with demolition.

Prerequisites for Renovation

If wall renovation is indeed necessary, the following preparations must be completed:

1. Professional Appraisal: Commission a qualified institution to inspect the nature of the walls (e.g., whether they are load-bearing, concrete strength, etc.), with costs ranging from approximately 500 to 1500 yuan. The appraisal report serves as the legal basis for subsequent renovations.
2. Load Transfer: Install steel or concrete beams on the roof to transfer the load originally borne by the wall to the new structure. The cost of steel beams is approximately 200 to 400 yuan per meter, and the cross-sectional dimensions need to be calculated based on the span.
3. Structural Connection: The new and old structures must be reliably connected using chemical anchors, with each anchoring point needing to bear a load of at least 1 ton to ensure overall stability. The anchors must penetrate the precast panels to the beams below, requiring high construction precision.

Alternative Renovation Solutions

If the walls cannot be demolished after appraisal, the following safe solutions can be adopted:

1. Half-Wall Partition: Retain the lower part of the wall at a height of 1 to 1.2 meters, and install glass or wooden partitions after removing the upper part, maintaining both spatial transparency and structural integrity.
2. Arched Doorway: Create an arched doorway with a span not exceeding 1.8 meters in the wall, dispersing stress through the curved structure and reducing the impact on overall stability. Reinforce the doorway perimeter with reinforced concrete.
3. Lightweight Partition Walls: Use gypsum boards (approximately 80 to 120 yuan per square meter) or light steel keel partition walls to redivide the space, avoiding additional loads on the original structure. These partition walls are lightweight and have a short construction period.

Note: Any renovation must be reported to the local housing and construction department in advance, and the construction process must be carried out by a professional team. Unauthorized wall demolition is strictly prohibited.