Renovation of Prefabricated Panel Houses

The renovation of prefabricated panel houses should be systematically carried out from three aspects: structural safety assessment, functional optimization, and the selection of professional teams.

I. Structural Safety Assessment as the Foundation for Renovation Before renovation, it is essential to commission a qualified testing agency to conduct a comprehensive “check-up”, focusing on hidden dangers such as wall cracks, steel bar corrosion, and foundation settlement. For example, wall cracks less than 0.3mm wide can be repaired by grouting, while cracks exceeding 1mm require steel plate reinforcement; roof leaks necessitate the removal of the original waterproof layer and the laying of polymer waterproof membranes; foundation settlement can be addressed through static pile or root pile reinforcement. According to data from the Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development, approximately 60% of old prefabricated panel buildings nationwide can achieve safety upgrades through reinforcement rather than demolition after professional assessment, saving resources and extending the building's lifespan. The inspection report must specify core parameters such as structural load-bearing capacity and seismic resistance as the basis for the renovation plan.

II. Functional Upgrades Require Targeted Optimization To address the pain points of poor sound insulation and low space utilization in prefabricated panel houses, the following techniques can be employed:

• Sound Insulation Renovation: Install 50mm thick sound insulation cotton + 12mm thick gypsum board on walls, and replace windows with double-glazed units (gap ≥ 12mm), which can reduce noise by over 70%;
• Space Optimization: Increase usability by removing non-load-bearing walls and customizing built-in furniture, but pay attention to the load limit of prefabricated panel floors (usually ≤ 200kg/㎡) to avoid adding heavy items such as large fish tanks or pianos;
• Waterproofing and Moisture Resistance: Adopt a same-floor drainage system in bathrooms to reduce leakage risks from pipes passing through floors, apply 2mm thick polyurethane waterproof coating on the ground, and conduct a 48-hour closed water test.

III. Selection of Professional Teams Requires Strict Control of Three Indicators Taking Yangpu District as an example, high-quality renovation companies should possess:

• Structural Handling Capability: Master specialized techniques such as carbon fiber reinforcement and prefabricated panel crack prevention, such as the “elastic base layer + anti-crack mesh + high-toughness surface layer” system developed by Jiangcheng Decoration, which can reduce wall repair rates by 79%;
• Budget Closure Capability: Sign a fixed-price contract, clarify the proportion of additional items not initiated by the owner (usually ≤ 5%), with the company bearing any overruns;
• After-sales Guarantee Capability: Provide warranties far exceeding industry standards (e.g., a 10-year warranty for waterproofing works) and establish a 24-hour emergency response mechanism. Before renovation, verify the company's qualifications and request similar project cases and assistance with structural safety assessments to avoid structural damage due to improper construction.