Floor Construction for Prefabricated Slab Houses

When constructing the floor of a prefabricated slab house, it is crucial to focus on load-bearing safety, base treatment, construction methods, and joint treatment, while also considering details such as waterproofing and hole repair. Professional evaluation may be necessary when required.

1. Load-Bearing Inspection and Reinforcement The load-bearing capacity of the floor slabs in prefabricated slab houses is limited. Before construction, it is essential to inspect the floor slabs for cracks, deformation, or aging, especially in older houses. If instability is detected, reinforcement measures such as adding steel beams or applying carbon fiber sheets should be taken to enhance structural stability. Failing to address load-bearing hazards before construction may lead to floor collapse or tile cracking.

2. Base Treatment Requirements The flatness of the base directly affects the quality of the floor. It is necessary to thoroughly clean dust, grease, and other impurities, repair pits or damaged areas, and ensure that the base is free from hollowing and sanding. If the base is uneven, tiles may crack due to stress concentration after laying, or even result in hollowing and detachment.

3. Selection of Construction Methods

• Wet Laying Method: Suitable for ordinary rooms, but tiles must be soaked in advance until no bubbles emerge, dried in the shade before laying, and left to stand for 48 hours after laying to prevent tile displacement. This method exerts significant pressure on the floor slab, so it is essential to ensure that the load-bearing capacity meets the requirements.
• Dry Laying Method: A thick mortar bed is laid first, suitable for rooms with underfloor heating. Dry laying reduces the static load on the floor slab and lowers the risk of cracking, but it is more costly and has a longer construction period.

4. Joint and Expansion Treatment The joints between prefabricated slabs should be filled with flexible materials (such as glass glue or foam filler), and a 2-3 mm 'expansion joint' should be reserved during tile laying to accommodate thermal expansion and contraction caused by temperature changes. Ignoring this step may result in tiles arching or cracking due to stress挤压 (extrusion).

5. Balancing Waterproofing and Leveling If there are cracks in the prefabricated slabs, direct leveling may cause water to penetrate to the floor below. It is necessary to apply a waterproof coating (such as a polyurethane waterproof layer) first. However, waterproofing is usually not required in dry areas such as bedrooms. If leveling is necessary, a comprehensive evaluation of the construction period, cost, and impact on the floor slab should be conducted to avoid excessive construction increasing the load.

6. Hole Repair and Load Control If construction causes small holes (such as thumb-sized) on the surface of the prefabricated slabs, they should be filled with grout and tiles should be laid with a thin mortar layer to reduce the static load. Avoid stacking heavy objects on the floor slab to prevent local pressure from causing structural damage.

7. Necessity of Professional Evaluation Before laying tiles or renovating older prefabricated slab houses, it is advisable to commission a structural engineer to evaluate the load-bearing safety and issue a written report before proceeding with construction. Unauthorized renovations may pose safety hazards and even violate building codes.