Concrete Prefabricated Slab and Cast-in-Place House

There are significant differences between concrete prefabricated slabs and cast-in-place houses in terms of construction methods, performance, cost, construction period, and applicable scenarios, and the choice should be made based on specific needs.

Construction Methods: Cast-in-place houses require on-site formwork erection, steel bar binding, concrete pouring, and waiting for solidification to form an integral structure of beams, columns, and floor slabs. Prefabricated slabs, on the other hand, are produced in advance in factories and then transported to the construction site for direct assembly without on-site pouring.

Performance Comparison:

• Seismic Resistance: Cast-in-place houses have strong seismic performance due to integral pouring and meet seismic design standards. Prefabricated slabs have a lower seismic coefficient due to their assembled structure and are not suitable for earthquake-prone areas.
• Waterproofing: The joints of prefabricated slabs are prone to leakage, with a higher probability of rain leakage. Although cast-in-place roofs may also experience leakage due to construction issues, their overall sealing is better, and their waterproofing performance is more reliable.
• Thermal Insulation: Prefabricated slabs have poor thermal insulation performance and require additional thermal insulation materials. The thermal insulation effect of cast-in-place houses is inferred to be better than that of prefabricated slabs as no thermal insulation disadvantages are mentioned.

Cost and Construction Period:

• Cost: Prefabricated slabs are inexpensive. Taking a 40-50 square meter roof as an example, the total cost is approximately 800 yuan (including hoisting). The cost of cast-in-place roofs is higher, with formwork erection costs alone exceeding 1,000 yuan, and the total cost exceeding 3,000 yuan when materials and labor costs are included.
• Construction Period: Prefabricated slabs have a fast construction speed and are suitable for rapid construction. The construction period of cast-in-place houses is affected by the construction type. Some prefabricated cast-in-place technologies (such as CMC modular construction) can shorten the construction period by 30%, but traditional cast-in-place methods may have a longer construction period.

Applicable Scenarios:

• Cast-in-Place Houses: High-rise residential buildings, large-span spaces (such as shopping malls), and bathrooms, which require high strength and waterproofing, must adopt cast-in-place structures.
• Prefabricated Slabs: Suitable for temporary buildings, projects with tight budgets, or rural low-rise residential buildings, but strict treatment of joint waterproofing is required.

Service Life: Both have a design standard of 50 years, but the actual service life of existing prefabricated slab houses is generally between 30-50 years due to material aging, construction defects, and other issues, requiring regular inspection and maintenance. If constructed according to specifications, the service life of cast-in-place houses can reach the design standard.