Cracks in Prefabricated Panel Houses

For cracks in prefabricated panel houses, targeted measures should be taken according to the severity of the cracks. Minor cracks can be repaired by oneself, while severe cracks require identification and handling by professional institutions.

Causes of Cracks

Cracks in prefabricated panel houses are relatively common problems, mainly due to the following reasons:

• Low structural strength of the house: Prefabricated panel houses are assembled from prefabricated panels, lacking overall firmness. After long-term use, areas such as the connections between walls and prefabricated panels, and between prefabricated panels themselves, are prone to cracks due to insufficient structural strength.
• Expiration of service life: As the service years increase, various components of the house gradually age, and the material properties decline, leading to cracks in walls, floor slabs, etc.
• Wall cracks and susceptibility to water leakage: When the walls of prefabricated panel houses are affected by factors such as temperature changes and foundation settlement, they are prone to cracks, which in turn cause water leakage problems, further exacerbating the damage to walls and floor slabs.
• Improper decoration or excessive load: During the decoration process, if unreasonable modifications are made to the house structure, such as removing load-bearing walls, it will damage the overall structural stability of the house and lead to cracks. In addition, if the temporary load stacked on the floor slab exceeds its bearing capacity, it will also cause the floor slab to break. For example, the prefabricated panel breakage accident that occurred in Guanba Town, Zhong County, Chongqing on April 11, 2024, was caused by excessive temporary load stacked on the second-floor floor slab.

Crack Handling Measures

• Repair of minor cracks: For cracks with a small width that do not affect the structural safety of the house, measures such as applying fiberglass mesh can be taken for repair. First, clean the crack area, then apply a layer of bonding agent to enhance the adhesion between the fiberglass mesh and the wall surface. Next, flatly attach the fiberglass mesh to the crack area. Finally, cover the fiberglass mesh with putty, smooth it out, and then carry out subsequent treatments such as painting.
• Handling of severe cracks: If the cracks are severe, such as having a large width, a large number, or being through cracks, or if there are safety hazards in the house, such as wall inclination or floor slab subsidence, it is recommended to immediately contact a professional institution for identification and handling. The professional institution will conduct a comprehensive assessment of the structural safety of the house and formulate corresponding reinforcement or repair plans according to the assessment results to ensure the safety of the house during use.