Prefabricated Roof for Houses

Prefabricated roofs were once relatively common in rural self-built houses, but they have many drawbacks. Nowadays, cast-in-place roofs have largely replaced prefabricated slab roofs. The specific drawbacks are as follows:

Prominent waterproofing issues: Prefabricated roofs pose significant challenges in waterproofing, with rain leakage being quite common. There is a saying that 'among rural houses using prefabricated slabs as roofs, 8 out of 10 experience rain leakage.' Even the waterproofing industry cannot guarantee 100% leak-proofing. This is mainly because the joints between prefabricated slabs are prone to forming gaps. Over time, with exposure to wind, sun, and rain, the waterproofing materials tend to age and crack, allowing rainwater to seep into the house, affecting the living experience and the lifespan of the building.

Poor earthquake resistance: Prefabricated slabs have a low seismic coefficient and are not suitable for use in earthquake-prone areas. During an earthquake, due to the relatively weak connection between the prefabricated slabs and the walls, the slabs placed on the walls are prone to collapse, causing harm to the occupants. For example, in some two-and-a-half-story self-built houses, if the first floor uses prefabricated 5-hole slabs without inter-story ring beams, during an earthquake, the prefabricated slabs may fall off the walls due to vibration, triggering serious safety incidents.

Inadequate thermal insulation: Prefabricated slabs are generally about 12 centimeters thick and, although hollow, have poor thermal insulation performance. In summer, the indoor temperature rises significantly, making the house feel like a steamer; in winter, the indoor temperature is relatively low, requiring more energy to maintain a comfortable temperature. To improve this situation, it is usually necessary to add a secondary roofing material on the floor slab, such as an insulation layer, but this increases construction costs and difficulty.

In addition, during the renovation of old houses, if the roof is made of prefabricated slabs and is uneven, simply applying putty may lead to peeling in the future. A better approach is to use gypsum board ceilings, but this may also lead to issues such as reduced ceiling height. Nowadays, cast-in-place roofs have largely replaced prefabricated slab roofs in rural self-built houses. However, cast-in-place roofs also have drawbacks such as being hot in summer and cold in winter, and cracks may appear if the pouring is not done properly.