Exposing the Scams of Prefabricated Concrete Houses

Prefabricated concrete houses themselves are not scams, but some merchants exploit information gaps to set traps, requiring a comprehensive assessment of risks based on specific cases.

Low-Price Inducement Traps

Some merchants attract customers with low prices like '300 yuan/㎡', but this price usually only covers the rough main structure (such as walls and floors) and does not include necessary items like doors, windows, plumbing, electrical wiring, or foundation treatment. The actual comprehensive cost may rise to over 600 yuan/㎡. For example, a project in Henan initially quoted only for the main structure, but later incurred additional expenses for foundation reinforcement and decoration, resulting in a total cost exceeding the budget by 30%. Consumers need to clarify the scope of the contract and request an itemized quotation list from the merchant to avoid hidden charges.

Construction and Quality Risks

1. Lack of Qualifications in Small Workshops: There are small factories in the industry without production qualifications, and their products lack quality inspection reports, which may lead to issues such as roof leaks and wall cracks. For example, a rural homestay project used components from an unqualified manufacturer, resulting in module misalignment after construction and ultimately losses due to the merchant's disappearance.
2. Long-Term Durability in Question: While the short-term performance of prefabricated houses (such as 8-level earthquake resistance and thermal insulation) meets standards, long-term issues like joint water leakage may arise due to aging of grouting materials and corrosion of connectors. A project in Zhengzhou required extensive repairs after 5 years due to seal failure at the joints. It is recommended to verify the factory's 'Prefabricated Concrete Component Production Qualification', third-party compression test reports, and local housing and construction bureau acceptance records.

Renovation and After-Sales Limitations

1. Modular Design Sacrifices Flexibility: The walls and floors of prefabricated houses are cast as a whole, making it costly to install underfloor heating or renovate the layout later, as entire modules need to be removed. For example, a family wanted to add a partition in the living room but ultimately gave up on the renovation due to the need to adjust load-bearing modules.
2. Vague Warranty Scope: Some merchants promise a '70-year warranty' only for the main structure, with only a 2-year warranty for the decoration. Consumers need to clarify the contract terms and prioritize projects that offer long-term revenue modules like photovoltaic power generation to balance later maintenance costs.

Preventive Suggestions

1. Verify Qualifications and Reports: Require the merchant to provide production qualifications, component test reports, and acceptance records for similar projects.
2. Clarify Contract Details: Include material brands, construction standards, and payment milestones in the contract to avoid verbal promises.
3. Assess Long-Term Needs: Choose module types based on the family's 15-20 year plan to avoid additional costs due to renovation limitations.