Prefabricated Beams for Rural House Roofs

There are various traditional transportation methods for prefabricated beams used in rural house roofs. Nowadays, reinforced concrete integrated casting load-bearing beams are more commonly used, and prefabricated concrete panel houses have safety hazards.

Traditional Transportation Methods for Prefabricated Beams

• Manual Lifting: For beams with relatively small spans and light weights, craftsmen and helpers are gathered. A thick wooden pole is placed under the beam, and they lift it to the roof along temporary ladders or ramps in unison, with a dedicated person directing and adjusting the direction during the process. This method relies on human collaboration and has high requirements for the physical strength and coordination of the craftsmen.
• Assisted by Simple Lifting Devices: If the beams are heavier, simple lifting devices are used in combination. For example, pulley blocks are installed on temporary wooden frames on the roof or the existing ridge structure. A thick hemp rope is tied to one end of the beam, and workers on the ground and the roof pull the rope while using wooden crowbars to assist in adjusting. In some areas, homemade winches are used, where a hardwood is used to make a wheel structure, and the hemp rope is wound around the wheel. Workers push the wheel to rotate and slowly pull the beam.
• Utilizing Mountain Terrain: In some mountainous areas or regions with special terrain, when building houses on slopes, rollers and pads are laid in advance between the beam installation position and the foot of the mountain. The beam is placed on the rollers, and by pulling the rope, the beam slowly slides to the roof along the rollers. This method cleverly utilizes the terrain and reduces the use of manpower and complex devices.

Selection of Load-Bearing Beams for Modern Rural Self-built Houses

Nowadays, the load-bearing beams of rural self-built houses are basically made of reinforced concrete through integrated casting using prefabricated formwork. The size of the load-bearing beam depends on the span size and whether there are buildings above the roof. There are also requirements for the selection of internal steel bars. The larger the load-bearing coefficient, the thicker the model of the selected steel bars, and the greater the thickness and height of the corresponding load-bearing beam. This type of integrated casting load-bearing beam has good integrity and stable structure, and can better bear the weight of the house and various external forces.

Hazards of Prefabricated Concrete Panel Houses

Prefabricated concrete panel houses, which were once popular in rural areas, use prefabricated panels for floors, roof panels, and other parts to serve as load-bearing panels. However, they have serious safety hazards. For example, a minor earthquake can cause the house to collapse. The quality of prefabricated concrete panels on the market varies greatly, and they have a short service life. Moreover, there are gaps in the splicing of prefabricated panels, and poor sound insulation and water leakage are common problems.