Building Construction on Prefabricated Slab Roofs

Prefabricated slab roofs can be used for building construction, but it is necessary to comprehensively consider their advantages and disadvantages and take corresponding measures.

Advantages of Building Construction on Prefabricated Slab Roofs

• Low Cost and Fast Construction: Prefabricated slabs are cement components prefabricated in factories. During production, wooden models are nailed, steel bars are arranged, and cement is poured to form them. In rural self-built houses, using prefabricated slab roofs is very cost-effective, and the construction speed is relatively fast. Basically, the hoisting can be completed in one day or half a day. For example, in a case where the total area of a house is 40 - 50 square meters, the total cost of using a prefabricated slab roof is more than 800 yuan, and the slab seller is responsible for the hoisting process.
• Diverse Construction Methods: In addition to the conventional method of hoisting the prefabricated slab roof after the walls are built, a modular construction method can also be adopted. Special prefabricated slabs are spliced and combined to build the overall framework of the house. The gaps between each prefabricated slab are filled with foam glue, and notches are reserved on the sides for daylighting windows and entrances. Thick prefabricated slabs are spliced to form load-bearing seamless walls. When building the roof, a circular skylight tray is propped up in the middle position, and the tray is firmly fixed with crossbeams around it. A thick wooden board is placed on top, the exterior wall is wrapped with a layer of waterproof foam, and then a patterned waterproof tarpaulin is used to cover it, with the edges fixed. Transparent glass is used for daylighting at the top of the house. Foam boards are filled between the crossbeams inside the house, and then a layer of wooden boards is nailed on.

Disadvantages of Building Construction on Prefabricated Slab Roofs and Countermeasures

• Waterproofing Issues: There is a relatively high probability of water leakage when doing waterproofing. Among rural houses using prefabricated slabs as roofs, 8 out of 10 have water leakage problems, and waterproofing cannot guarantee 100% no leakage. Countermeasures: Independent waterproofing work needs to be done. Choose high-quality waterproof materials and operate strictly in accordance with construction specifications. Regularly inspect and maintain the waterproof layer.
• Poor Earthquake Resistance: The earthquake resistance coefficient of prefabricated slabs is too low, and they cannot be used in earthquake-prone areas as they are prone to collapse. Countermeasures: Use them in non-earthquake-prone areas. If in an area with relatively frequent earthquake activities, avoid using prefabricated slab roofs for building construction and choose structural forms with better earthquake resistance.
• Poor Thermal Insulation: The thermal insulation performance of prefabricated slabs is very poor. The indoor temperature is high in summer and low in winter. Countermeasures: In general, for rural houses with slab roofs, secondary roofing material coverage is also required on the slabs to make up for this shortcoming, such as adding thermal insulation boards and other thermal insulation materials.