Quality of Chinese houses

Why are the houses in China, esspecialy in rural area, being built not the right way. We from the Netherlands built our houses to last centuries with no rotten walls due to moister. Als our houses are better isolated, and our outside walls do not direct connect with the inner walls, so no moister possible. Also the way we built is much cheaper, and in shorter time. I watch many movies from China where people rebuilt the old house from familie, but always I see bad isolation, and no proctection from moister outside. I think its sad for the people, becouse the houses I see renovated, will not last very long, and moister will come inside, and I see very little isolation agains the cold, and heet. My name is Bert from the Netherlands, I am a building engineer, built many houses, and if you have any question, feel free to ask. You can also contact me by mail, [email protected]

Have to agree when it comes to what I've seen of new builds; mentioned things like cavity wall insulation to neighbours to draw blank looks, though have been told it does get used in the north east. Damp courses not so much of a requirement here in the north but again, surprised by their general absence. My impression is that traditional builds were a pretty good use of the materials available - seen rammed earth walls going up when I worked somewhere remote in Sichuan, and that is a good insulator and cheap etc; though think getting the sort of big timber to make the traditional frame and windows is also madly expensive now.

What I see on youtube, and ofcourse thats not in all of China the same, is the walls out of 1 thick stone, or 2 stones put together. In that way they always plaster the outside walle, or even use tiles to prevent moister. We buikt 2 walls, first the inside wall, then put isulation against the outside of the inside wall, in witch we while building the inside wall, put metal pins in, to hang the isulation on. Also when we built the outside walls, the metal ankers will be also put in the walls, so the 2 walls are connected, with 8cm isulation against the inside wall, end 5 cm of air before the outside wall. Son inner wall, 8 cm isulation like glasswoll, or stonewoll, then 5 cm air, and then oudside wall. All will be on a foundation of concreat at minimum of 70cm under groundlevel. In the 2e layer of bricks wil be put in a thick plastic stroke in full lengt of the wall, end in 1st layer of outside wall. This means that all rain, and moister from outside wall, if gets very wet, inside the walls the water will drup down on that plastic, and becouse its inside in a higher layer in the innerwall, and lower in the outside wall, all water, and moister wil float to the outside walls. In the outside walls, just above the plastic, we keep every meter a opening between 2 stones, so the air can circelate, and will dry the walls inside. This means that the moister, and rain will never touch the inside walls, or the inner floors. 

As for the roof, we use from beginning of the roof, until the nok, 10 cm thick isulation plates, and these plates are already from tge side that will show in the house, be prepared with a finiched side. So only on the top of those plates you have to put wooden srojes like 2x3cm from left to right to hang the rooftiles on. This way 2 people can finnish a complete roof from about 15 meters long, and 6-7 meter high, in 1 day. Its also cheaper, and faster this way. 

The things I see on youtube from China renovation from houses is sad, they can be built, and renovate much cheaper, and beter isulationed, and no need for outside walls to plaster, never need for special treathment in the bathrooms. I see them putting a kind of thick plastic put against tge walls, and floor. Why, there is no need for that, if bathroom is being tiled, its already waterproof.

Maybe its tradition, or some role to do like this, but from a architect point of view, its not needed. 

If there are any building company's who do a lot like this, they can contact me, and I am sure I can save them a lot of money, and time  building as we do. I'm happy to give any advice.  See detail drawings. 

Your English is a little rough to understand, but I think I've got your point more or less.

As someone who lives in China and has observed some terrible building procedures I think that part of the problem is the level of knowledge of everyone involved in the building industry. Most workers in the industry are basically uneducated peasants and the knowledge of western materials and techniques is very limited even amongst architects, engineers, and executives.

But it really doesn't surprise me, the speed of change in everything else in China is rapid, but the building industry is very slow to change. I mean even if you look at how houses are built in America vs. England or Europe you will see large differences.

Which kinds of houses are you watching them build? In my experience your observations are pretty universal, from the cheaper rural houses, to high rise apartment buildings and fancy "mansions" for the nouveau riche. You'd be amazed at how many fancy housing developments are essentially unlivable because they built the houses poorly and now the expensive imported wallpaper is covered in mold.

One thing that they do is spend heavily on things that are easy to see, like imported bathroom fixture and appliances, but neglect things like you've mentioned.