Cement Prefabricated Panels for New Houses

Using cement prefabricated panels for new houses has both advantages and disadvantages, and careful consideration should be given based on the actual situation.

Advantages

• Low cost: Cement prefabricated panels are inexpensive to produce and are widely used in self-built houses in rural areas, primarily due to their low cost. For example, for a self-built house in rural areas with an area of 40 - 50 square meters, the total cost of using floor panels is around 800 yuan, and the seller of the panels is also responsible for the lifting process, showing significant cost advantages.
• Fast construction speed: The construction process is simple, and the construction period is greatly shortened. The prefabricated panels are processed and manufactured in the factory in advance and then directly spliced and installed at the construction site. For self-built houses in rural areas, the lifting of prefabricated panels can be completed in one day or half a day, enabling rapid completion of house construction.

Disadvantages

• Poor earthquake resistance: Prefabricated panels should not be used in earthquake-prone areas as their earthquake resistance coefficient is too low. Even a minor earthquake can cause the house to collapse, and existing prefabricated panel houses generally have weak earthquake resistance.
• Prominent waterproofing issues: There is a relatively high probability of rain leakage when waterproofing is done. Prefabricated panels are composed of independent panels spliced together, and there are tiny gaps between the panels, through which rainwater can easily seep in. In rural areas, rain leakage is relatively common when prefabricated panels are used as roofs.
• Poor sound insulation and heat insulation: The sound insulation ability is extremely poor. The thickness of prefabricated panels is usually around 10 centimeters, with long circular holes in the middle. Sound has strong penetrating power and is easily amplified through the holes. The heat insulation performance is also poor, with high indoor temperatures in summer and low indoor temperatures in winter. Generally, secondary roofing materials need to be covered on the floor panels to make up for this.
• Uneven quality: The quality of prefabricated cement panels on the market varies greatly, with a large proportion of inferior products and extremely short service lives, which may lead to house collapse accidents.

Current situation and suggestions

With the development of building technology, cast-in-place concrete and prefabricated buildings are gradually replacing traditional prefabricated panel houses. Since 2022, China has implemented a policy of old housing renovation, focusing on repairing and renovating prefabricated panel houses and only demolishing buildings that meet the criteria for dangerous houses. In self-built houses in rural areas, if financial conditions permit, it is recommended to use cast-in-place concrete roofs.