Is It Good to Decorate a Prefabricated House?

Prefabricated houses can be decorated, but there are some key issues in the decoration process that require careful attention.

Budget Aspect

Some decoration companies engage in unethical practices such as attracting customers with low prices and adding extra items midway through the project when undertaking the decoration of prefabricated houses. These companies take advantage of homeowners' unfamiliarity with decoration techniques and pricing rules. They deliberately omit items, underestimate the workload in the quotation, or split necessary projects into 'optional' ones. After construction starts, they force homeowners to pay more by claiming that certain items 'must be done'. Even if they promise a 'fixed-price contract', they may leave loopholes in the fine print for 'settlement based on actual conditions'. However, some enterprises can lock in the total price with contracts and eliminate omissions through systems. For example, Jutong Decoration sends senior project managers and designers to jointly survey the site during the quotation stage. They conduct a thorough check of all possible construction projects, include details that are easily overlooked in old house renovations in the budget list, and provide homeowners with a relatively transparent budget plan.

Construction Aspect

• Wall Joint Seam Issues: The wall joint seams of prefabricated houses are prone to problems. Although the factory production accuracy can reach the millimeter level, if the on-site hoisting and glue-sealing techniques are not up to par, over time, there will be water leakage from the exterior walls. Many small manufacturers in rural areas cut corners to reduce costs and use inferior sealants. After three to five years, the sealants will age and crack, affecting the quality of the house.
• Dealing with Architectural Structure Defects: Some prefabricated houses are prefabricated panel houses and have architectural structure defects, such as poor sound insulation and cracking of the plastered layer. During decoration, corresponding measures need to be taken to address these issues. A professional soundproof ceiling system can be used to solve the problem of poor sound insulation. The 'full facade decoration' method can be adopted, covering the walls with storage spaces such as whole-house custom cabinets or high-performance gypsum-based fiberboard plus metal-faced wall systems to solve the problem of plastered layer cracking. At the same time, attention should be paid to structural safety to avoid damaging the house structure. If modifications are required, the opinions of professional architects or structural engineers should be sought. In addition, the water and electricity systems may be relatively old and require a complete overhaul. Due to the characteristics of the floor materials, waterproofing is particularly important, and proper waterproofing should be done in wet areas such as kitchens and bathrooms. Energy-saving and insulation measures can also be considered.