Prefabricated and Cast-in-Place House Slabs

The core differences between prefabricated and cast-in-place house slabs lie in construction methods, performance, costs, construction periods, and applicable scenarios.

Construction Methods

Prefabricated slabs are manufactured in factories using wooden molds, with steel reinforcement laid and concrete poured to form components, available in solid and hollow types. After production, these components are transported to the construction site for direct assembly, similar to assembling Lego blocks, with the construction period for a single floor shortened to as little as two days. In contrast, cast-in-place slabs require on-site formwork construction, steel reinforcement binding, concrete pouring, and curing until solidification, forming an integrated structure of beams, columns, and floor slabs. The construction process involves formwork making, steel binding, concrete pouring, and curing, with the concrete curing period alone exceeding 28 days, making the overall construction period approximately 2.3 times longer than that of prefabricated slabs.

Performance Differences

In terms of earthquake resistance, cast-in-place structures achieve rigid connections between beams, slabs, and columns through integral pouring, dispersing cracks during earthquakes and incurring low repair costs. Prefabricated slabs, due to the presence of joints, are prone to overall collapse along the joints during earthquakes, exhibiting significantly weaker earthquake resistance. Regarding waterproofing, cast-in-place slabs form a seamless integral structure, offering excellent waterproofing performance. Prefabricated slabs, with inherent holes in the components and gaps at the joints, are prone to leakage in areas such as kitchens and bathrooms after long-term use.

Costs and Construction Periods

Prefabricated slabs can save approximately 30% on material and labor costs, making them particularly suitable for projects with tight budgets. For a 5,000-square-meter project, the construction period for prefabricated slabs is only seven days, while cast-in-place structures require a longer construction period due to curing needs. Although cast-in-place structures have higher initial costs, their long-term maintenance costs are lower, and overall economic efficiency needs to be comprehensively evaluated based on the project duration.

Applicable Scenarios

Cast-in-place structures are suitable for high-rise residential buildings, large-span spaces, and bathrooms, which require high structural integrity. Buildings in earthquake-prone areas should prioritize cast-in-place structures to enhance earthquake resistance, and irregular structures such as curved balconies also require cast-in-place construction. Prefabricated slabs are mostly used in temporary buildings or projects with extremely tight budgets, but joint waterproofing must be emphasized. Projects with tight schedules and limited budgets can choose prefabricated slabs, but they are strictly prohibited in areas requiring waterproofing, such as bathrooms, to avoid soaring rework costs in the later stages.