How to Make Prefabricated Houses
The production process of prefabricated houses typically includes six core steps: modular prefabrication, foundation treatment, beam and structure assembly, on-site assembly, detail finishing, and quality control.
Modular prefabrication is the foundational step in the construction of prefabricated houses. The building is broken down into individual modules, such as ceilings, walls, floors, and plumbing and electrical lines, all of which are manufactured on factory assembly lines. In some processes, waterproof layers for ceilings, walls, and bathrooms are also pre-fabricated in the factory to ensure standardization and precision of components. For example, robotic arms can cut and nail wooden boards with millimeter-level precision in the factory, providing high-quality modules for subsequent assembly.
Foundation treatment is crucial for ensuring the stability of the house. The construction team needs to level the foundation and pour a cushion layer. In some cases, white plastic sheets are laid to prevent moisture loss from the concrete, enhancing the foundation's strength. Subsequently, foundation piles are installed, secured with base plates, and lifted into place using cranes. These prefabricated foundation piles, weighing approximately 5 tons each, provide a solid support for the subsequent structure.
Beam and structure assembly involves installing beams on the foundation piles, adjusting them with level measurements, securing them with nuts, and filling gaps with expanding foam to enhance stability. Some processes use mortise-and-tenon joints for quick beam connections, allowing stairs to be hoisted into place like building blocks, improving construction efficiency while ensuring tight structural connections.
On-site assembly is the core step of transporting prefabricated modules to the construction site for assembly. Using equipment like tower cranes, concrete modules or wooden components are assembled according to design drawings. For example, a public housing project in Shenzhen, Guangdong, was assembled from 6,028 concrete modules, reducing on-site labor by about 50% and significantly shortening the construction period.
Detail finishing includes grouting the gaps between components and sealing nuts with cement to prevent rust and corrosion. In some processes, high-precision equipment in the factory completes tasks like wooden board cutting and nailing, ensuring seamless connections between modules and reducing on-site adjustments.
Quality control runs throughout the entire production process of prefabricated houses. Each prefabricated module comes with a detailed 'ID card' recording project name, model, production date, and other information for traceability and management. During the design phase, errors are controlled to the millimeter level, and the construction period is reduced by more than 60% compared to traditional buildings, while ensuring stable and reliable house quality through standardized processes.
