House Renovation - Prefabricated Slab

Renovating prefabricated slab houses requires a comprehensive consideration of the market, potential hazards, risks, policies, and techniques, with scientific planning to ensure safety and cost-effectiveness.

I. Market Status and Costs
In 2026, Xi'an will enter the existing housing market, leading to a surge in demand for old house renovations. However, renovating prefabricated slab houses involves higher technical thresholds than new home decorations, with overall costs being 20%—30% more expensive than ordinary renovations. The main costs are concentrated in 'hidden works': demolishing old structures, removing construction waste, and rearranging water and electricity lines. For example, if the original water and electricity pipelines are severely aged, they need to be completely replaced and re-planned, potentially accounting for over 40% of the budget.

II. Common Hazards Requiring Focus
Prefabricated slab houses, built early, generally have the following issues:

• Structural Safety: With a typical design lifespan of around 40 years, some houses have already shown signs of wall cracks, floor slab subsidence, and even collapse risks. Before renovation, it is necessary to commission a professional institution to conduct a structural safety assessment.
• Performance Defects: Poor thermal insulation and sound insulation result in high energy consumption in winter and stuffiness in summer, along with significant noise interference from neighbors. The house layout design lacks humanization, such as insufficient lighting and chaotic movement paths.
• Weak Earthquake Resistance: The spliced structure of prefabricated slabs is prone to dislocation during earthquakes, necessitating the enhancement of earthquake resistance through wall reinforcement and the addition of structural columns.

III. Avoiding Renovation Risks

• Beware of Low-Price Traps: Avoid choosing 'all-inclusive price' advertisements. For instance, Mr. Chen in Xi'an signed an 80,000-yuan contract but was forced to add nearly 20,000 yuan in extra items. It is essential to clarify contract terms and require a list of all projects and cost ceilings.
• Control the Construction Period: Renovating prefabricated slab houses involves structural adjustments, typically taking 20%—30% longer than new home decorations. It is necessary to agree with the decoration company on key milestones (such as completion of demolition and alteration, water and electricity acceptance) and delay compensation clauses.

IV. Policy Guidance and Subsidy Utilization

• Old Renovation Policies: Since 2022, China has been promoting old renovations, with prefabricated slab houses primarily undergoing repairs and only buildings meeting the dilapidated house standards being demolished. During renovation, priority can be given to applying for government subsidy projects such as external wall insulation and roof waterproofing.
• Trade-In Subsidies: In 2026, Xi'an will provide subsidies for six categories of Class 1 energy-efficient home appliances (such as air conditioners and refrigerators) as well as smart home and elderly-friendly products, reducing renovation costs. For example, replacing energy-saving doors and windows can simultaneously improve thermal insulation performance and enjoy subsidies.

V. Renovation Techniques: Minimizing Structural Alterations

• Space Optimization: Improve lighting and movement paths by removing non-load-bearing walls and adjusting door and window positions, avoiding damage to the prefabricated slab structure.
• Soft Furnishing Enhancements: Use soundproof curtains and carpets to improve sound insulation and increase storage space with custom furniture to compensate for layout defects.
• Local Reinforcement: Reinforce cracked walls with carbon fiber cloth and perform grouting on floor slabs to enhance structural safety.