Self-Built House Roof Without Prefabricated Panels

Self-built house roofs should avoid using prefabricated panels mainly due to issues such as joint cracking and water leakage, low seismic performance, poor thermal insulation, poor sound insulation, and insufficient overall safety.

Joint Cracking and Water Leakage: Prefabricated panels are assembled from multiple panels, and the joints between two panels are the most prone to problems. Due to the characteristics of the material itself and various factors during the construction process, the joints are highly susceptible to cracking. Even if waterproofing measures are taken during construction, such as applying waterproof coatings or laying waterproof membranes, it is difficult to guarantee 100% protection against rain leakage. Once the joints crack, rainwater will seep into the house, causing damage to interior decoration and the living environment.

Low Seismic Performance: The seismic coefficient of prefabricated panels is relatively low, and their structural characteristics determine that they are difficult to withstand significant seismic forces during an earthquake. In earthquake-prone areas, using prefabricated panels as the roof structure can lead to the collapse of the house under seismic action, seriously threatening the lives of occupants. In contrast, cast-in-place structures have better integrity and seismic performance, enabling them to better resist earthquake damage.

Poor Thermal Insulation: The thickness of prefabricated panels is generally around 12 centimeters, which results in poor thermal insulation performance. In summer, direct sunlight on the roof allows heat to easily transfer through the panels into the house, causing the indoor temperature to rise. This requires prolonged use of air conditioning and other cooling equipment, increasing energy consumption. In winter, indoor heat is lost to the outdoors through the panels, lowering the indoor temperature and necessitating additional heating measures, such as using heating systems, which increases living costs.

Poor Sound Insulation: The sound insulation performance of prefabricated panels is poor. Normal activities of upstairs occupants, such as walking, talking, and moving furniture, can be clearly heard downstairs, affecting the quality of life for downstairs occupants. This is a significant issue for those who require a quiet living environment.

Insufficient Overall Safety: Prefabricated panels are typically placed on walls, and even with the support of ring beams, their overall safety is not as good as that of cast-in-place structures. Over time, problems such as cracking and water leakage are prone to occur at the panel joints, which can further affect the overall structural safety of the house and reduce its service life.