Prefabricated and Cast-in-Place Houses

The core differences between prefabricated and cast-in-place houses lie in construction methods, performance, cost, duration, and applicable scenarios.

Construction Methods: Cast-in-place houses require on-site formwork setup, steel bar binding, concrete pouring, and waiting for solidification to form an integrated structure of beams, columns, and floor slabs. This process takes more than 28 days, with a duration approximately 2.3 times that of prefabricated houses. In contrast, prefabricated houses involve pre-fabricating cement slabs in factories, which are then transported to the construction site for direct assembly, similar to “building with Lego blocks”. Single-story construction takes only 2 days, significantly improving efficiency.

Performance Differences:

• Earthquake Resistance: Cast-in-place houses, due to their monolithic pouring, have strong structural continuity. In earthquakes, cracks are dispersed, and repair costs are low. Prefabricated houses, however, are prone to overall collapse at joint seams due to stress concentration, exhibiting weaker earthquake resistance.
• Waterproofing: Cast-in-place slabs have no seams, forming a complete waterproof layer suitable for humid areas. Prefabricated slabs, with holes and assembly seams, are prone to leakage after long-term use and require additional waterproofing treatment.

Cost and Duration: Prefabricated houses can save approximately 30% on material and labor costs, making them particularly suitable for projects over 5,000 square meters, which can be completed in just 7 days. Cast-in-place houses, due to their long construction period and high labor input, have higher costs but offer superior long-term durability.

Applicable Scenarios:

• Cast-in-Place Houses: High-rise residential buildings, large-span spaces (such as shopping malls and stadiums), bathrooms, and other areas requiring high waterproofing, as well as special structures in earthquake zones or curved balconies.
• Prefabricated Houses: Temporary buildings, rural self-built houses, or warehouses with tight budgets. If the project requires a tight schedule and limited budget, prefabricated houses can be prioritized. However, they are strictly prohibited in waterproof-critical areas such as bathrooms and kitchens, and seam waterproofing must be strictly handled; otherwise, maintenance costs will be extremely high in the later stages.

In summary, cast-in-place houses excel in integrity and durability, suitable for long-term residence or high-demand buildings. Prefabricated houses offer advantages in low cost and rapid construction but require strict restrictions on usage scenarios. When choosing, it is necessary to comprehensively consider structural safety, functional requirements, and economic efficiency.