Prefabricated House

Prefabricated houses are modular buildings or 'prefab homes' that are constructed by prefabricating modules in factories and assembling them on-site.

Construction Process and Characteristics

The construction process of prefabricated houses is similar to 'building with blocks': ceilings, floors, plumbing, and electrical systems are all prefabricated on factory assembly lines and then transported to the site for assembly. This approach significantly reduces noise, dust, construction waste, and traffic congestion at the construction site. Compared to traditional construction methods, modular buildings offer significant advantages such as shorter construction periods, controllable quality, energy efficiency, environmental friendliness, and ease of maintenance. The construction period can be shortened by more than 60%, and on-site labor requirements reduced by approximately 50%. However, this model places extremely high demands on the industrial base, requiring support from technical systems, production systems, and industrial clusters.

Structural Forms and Market Distribution

Prefabricated houses mainly come in three structural forms: steel, concrete, and wood. Chinese companies have comparative advantages in the steel and concrete sectors: steel structures are lightweight and suitable for ocean transportation and high-rise buildings; concrete structures are closer to traditional living experiences and have high acceptance in the domestic market. In terms of applications, existing prefabricated panel houses in China generally suffer from weak earthquake resistance, poor sound and thermal insulation, and a lifespan of about 30-50 years. Since 2022, China has implemented renovation policies focusing on repairs and upgrades, with only buildings meeting hazardous standards being demolished. In overseas markets, there is strong demand for Chinese prefabricated houses: in the first four months of 2026, enterprises in the Guangzhou Customs district exported movable houses worth 1.4 billion yuan, a year-on-year increase of 38.1%; exports through Shenzhen ports reached 1.68 billion yuan, a year-on-year increase of 19.6%.

Reasons for Popularity Overseas

There are two core reasons for the popularity of Chinese prefabricated houses in European and American countries: First, cost-effectiveness: with high construction labor costs and a housing shortage in the United States, Chinese prefabricated houses are priced at only one-third to one-half of local similar products. Second, suitability for living quality: although there is a gap compared to high-quality self-built houses in China, they can meet the housing needs of some low- and middle-income groups or temporary housing requirements in Europe and America, and comply with local building codes and environmental standards. Additionally, modular design facilitates transportation and rapid assembly, meeting the demand in European and American markets for efficient and flexible housing solutions.