Appearance of Prefabricated Panel Houses

Prefabricated panel houses are constructed primarily using prefabricated panels. Their appearance is not significantly different from other houses, but their internal structure and performance characteristics are distinct.

Structural Characteristics

The core components of prefabricated panel houses are factory-made cement panels, which are created by nailing wooden models, laying out steel bars, and pouring cement. These panels come in two types: solid and hollow. The structure is formed by assembling multiple prefabricated panels. Unlike the monolithic nature of cast-in-place concrete buildings, the panels in prefabricated houses rely on mortar for jointing, failing to form a robust, integrated structure. This results in an inherent lack of sturdiness and resilience. Such an assembly method makes the house prone to stress concentration when subjected to force, further affecting structural stability.

Common Issues

1. Surface Damage: The wall plaster in corridors is prone to peeling off in large patches, and spiderweb-like cracks appear on the floor. This is caused by the aging of the mortar at the joints of the prefabricated panels or the settlement of the house.
2. Leakage and Deformation: Problems such as wall cracks, ceiling leakage, floor deformation, and window leakage are common, especially in humid or rainy regions, where the inadequate waterproofing performance of the mortar joints exacerbates leakage.
3. Performance Defects: The thermal insulation performance is poor. In summer, the indoor temperature rises with the outdoor temperature, and in winter, cold air easily seeps in through gaps in the walls and around doors and windows, significantly reducing indoor comfort in extreme weather conditions. Additionally, the sound insulation effect is poor, as the gaps between the panels serve as channels for sound transmission, affecting living privacy.

Types of House Forms

Prefabricated panel houses mainly come in three forms:

1. Steel Structure: Characterized by lightness and high strength, it is suitable for ocean shipping and high-rise buildings, but its acceptance in the domestic market is relatively low.
2. Concrete Structure: More in line with traditional living experiences, it has high acceptance in the domestic market and is widely used in residential and public buildings.
3. Wooden Structure: Less common, it is mostly used in specific scenarios or low-rise buildings.

Chinese companies have comparative advantages in the fields of steel and concrete prefabricated panel houses. Among them, steel structures have become a hotspot in the international market due to their transportation convenience and adaptability to high-rise buildings, while concrete structures dominate the mainstream market due to their alignment with domestic living habits.