Renovation of Houses with Prefabricated Panels Added

The rationality and limitations of renovating houses with prefabricated panels added should be discussed in different scenarios. Regular renovation cannot resolve structural hazards, while technical solutions can be adopted for local waterproof renovation, and reconstruction is better when there are overall hazards.

Regular Renovation Cannot Resolve Structural Hazards of Prefabricated Panels

Most old buildings with prefabricated panels were constructed in the 1980s and 1990s, using a hollow floor slab splicing structure. They have structural issues such as poor earthquake resistance, easy cracking of panel joints, steel bar corrosion, and foundation settlement. Regular renovation only targets external facilities such as exterior walls, corridors, and pipelines, and cannot reach the load-bearing structure, making it an “ineffective renovation.” For example, simply redoing the waterproofing or filling cracks cannot prevent rainwater from seeping through the panel joints into the floor slab, causing continuous steel bar corrosion. Reinforcement construction requires chiseling open ceilings and floors, which is costly and has a long construction period, and cannot change the fundamental defect of poor overall integrity of the prefabricated panel splicing.

Technical Solutions for Waterproof Renovation of Prefabricated Panel Roofs

For the leakage problem of prefabricated panel roofs, a systematic renovation plan is required. The prefabricated panel roof is composed of multiple panels spliced together, with panel joints being the core channels for water seepage. The base layer is prone to problems such as unevenness, sanding, and peeling, leading to hidden water channeling. The construction process includes steps such as base layer disease repair, rigid filling and reinforcement of panel joints, national standard thickened coil full-area defense, and special exposed waterproof reinforcement for gutters. Anti-stretching and anti-deformation waterproof materials need to be used, and a 5-year warranty is provided. However, such renovation only solves the roof leakage problem and cannot improve the overall structural defects of the house such as earthquake resistance and spatial layout.

Core Conclusion: Reconstruction is Better than Renovation

For prefabricated panel buildings with safety hazards, reconstruction is a more thorough solution. Reconstruction can eliminate risks such as insufficient earthquake resistance and foundation settlement and meet current building standards. The cost of reinforcement is close to that of reconstruction, and it can only delay aging and cannot solve the hard injuries of the splicing structure. Reconstruction can optimize supporting facilities such as kitchen and bathroom spaces, lighting, and elevators, improving the quality of life.

Summary: If the renovation only involves local issues such as waterproofing of the prefabricated panel roof, targeted technical solutions can be adopted. However, if the house has overall structural hazards, regular renovation or reinforcement is not a long-term solution, and reconstruction is a better choice.