How is Living in a Prefabricated House?

Living in a prefabricated house has both advantages and disadvantages. Overall, it has advantages in terms of cost and quality, but there are also shortcomings in aspects such as sound insulation and maintenance costs.

Advantages

• Cost-saving and time-saving: The factory-based production model reduces material waste by about 30% and significantly shortens the construction period by 50% to 70%. This means lower construction costs and faster move-in times, making it highly attractive for those in urgent need of housing or with limited budgets.
• Reliable quality: Prefabricated components are produced using high-precision molds in a standardized manner. The concrete strength is improved compared to traditional construction, and the seismic performance has passed a simulated test for a magnitude 7 earthquake. With new technologies, the seismic performance can be upgraded to a magnitude 8 standard, and the service life can be extended to 70 years. Moreover, the use of recyclable materials reduces construction waste by 8% and achieves a material recycling rate of over 90%, demonstrating good environmental performance.
• Improved living comfort: New prefabricated houses feature sandwich insulation designs that enhance sound and heat insulation, thereby improving living comfort to a certain extent and reducing the impact of the external environment on indoor temperature and noise levels.

Disadvantages

• Sound insulation issues: Currently, prefabricated houses suffer from poor sound insulation, being 20 decibels worse than the normal standard. Sounds from upstairs are clearly audible, which can cause some interference to the daily lives and rest of the occupants.
• Maintenance costs: After 20 years, the annual maintenance costs will increase by 1,500 to 3,000 yuan. In the long run, the living costs will rise.
• Misconceptions about service life: The state has never stipulated that prefabricated residential buildings must be scrapped and demolished after 30 years. According to the current national standard, the 'Unified Standard for Reliability Design of Building Structures' (GB50068-2018), the design service life for ordinary buildings and structures is 50 years, and prefabricated buildings also follow this standard. Their safety depends on the quality of construction and maintenance.