Abnormal Sounds in Houses and Prefabricated Panels
The main reasons for abnormal sounds in houses related to prefabricated panels are thermal expansion and contraction, uneven foundation settlement, and architectural structural factors.
Thermal Expansion and Contraction: Prefabricated panel floors have unique structural features, including gaps between panels and internal hollow cavities. Building materials undergo slight deformations with the temperature variations between day and night and across seasons. In regions with large temperature differences between day and night or between summer and winter, this deformation phenomenon is more pronounced. Building materials repeatedly go through cycles of expansion and contraction, accumulating stress within or at the connections between components. When this stress is released or friction occurs between materials, sounds like 'ding dong' or 'creak' are produced. For example, in summer, when the temperature is high during the day, the prefabricated panels expand due to heat, and at night when the temperature drops, they contract. This repeated change can trigger abnormal sounds.
Uneven Foundation Settlement: When the foundation of a house experiences uneven settlement, slight deformations occur throughout the wall structure and at the connections between walls and concrete components. Older self-built houses with prefabricated panel structures are more prone to this situation due to construction techniques and materials, making them common sites for abnormal sounds. In the early stages of uneven foundation settlement, there may only be slight abnormal sounds, and other obvious signs may not be easily noticeable. However, as the degree of settlement increases, cracks may appear on the walls or panels, and these cracks may gradually expand. This not only affects the aesthetics of the house but also poses a serious threat to its structural safety.
Architectural Structural Factors: The structural characteristics of prefabricated panel floors make them more likely to act as channels for sound transmission. Due to the presence of gaps between panels and internal hollow cavities, their sound insulation is generally weaker than that of cast-in-place floors that are poured as a whole. Normal activity sounds from upstairs residents, such as walking or moving furniture, are more likely to be transmitted through the prefabricated panel floors to the downstairs, creating abnormal sounds and causing some interference to the lives of downstairs residents.
