Prefabricated Panels for Rural House Renovation

There are certain issues and hidden dangers in using prefabricated panels for rural house renovation. Unless restricted by cost, it is not recommended to prioritize their use; cast-in-place concrete roofing is more recommended.

Issues with Prefabricated Panels in Rural House Renovation

• Poor sound and heat insulation performance: The sound insulation effect of prefabricated panel houses is not good. External noise can easily enter the house, affecting the comfort of living. At the same time, their heat insulation performance is also poor. In summer, the indoor temperature will rise significantly with the increase in external temperature, making people feel extremely hot; in winter, indoor heat is easily lost, resulting in a lower indoor temperature, and additional energy consumption is required to maintain a suitable temperature.
• Easy ground cracking: Ground cracking is prone to occur at the joints of prefabricated panels. This may be caused by problems such as uneven foundation settlement, the quality of the prefabricated panels themselves, or installation techniques. Ground cracking not only affects the aesthetics of the house but may also pose a potential threat to the structural safety of the house.
• High risk of water leakage: In rural self-built houses, the probability of rain leakage is relatively high when using prefabricated panels as the roof. If the joint gaps between the prefabricated panels and the roof waterproofing treatment are not in place, during rainy weather, rainwater can easily seep into the house through the gaps, damaging indoor decorations and items.
• Low seismic coefficient: The seismic performance of prefabricated panels is poor, and their integrity and continuity are not as good as those of cast-in-place structures. In the event of an earthquake, prefabricated panel houses are more likely to be damaged and are not suitable for use in earthquake-prone areas, posing a significant hidden danger to the life and property safety of residents.

Policy Orientation and Recommendations

Since 2022, China has implemented the old housing renovation policy, focusing on the repair and renovation of prefabricated panel houses and only demolishing buildings that meet the criteria for dangerous houses. This indicates that prefabricated panel houses have certain deficiencies in overall performance and need to be improved. If rural house renovation is not particularly restricted by cost factors, it is recommended to use cast-in-place concrete roofing. Cast-in-place concrete roofs have better seismic resistance, sound and heat insulation performance, and waterproofing performance, providing a safer and more comfortable living environment for residents.