What Is the Construction Process for Retrofitting Existing Building Facades with UHPC Panels? A Practical Renovation Guide

The core construction process for renovating existing building exterior walls with UHPC panels follows five steps: "assessment – design – renovation – installation – acceptance," balancing safety and convenience throughout. Through BIM detailed design and modular construction, Qinglong enabled renovation projects such as the American International School of Guangzhou and the Zhumadian Commercial Street in Henan to be delivered efficiently, with construction time shortened by 30% compared with traditional renovation.

I. Preliminary Assessment and Design Development: Laying the Foundation for Renovation

Preliminary preparation determines renovation quality and safety. Condition assessment: testing the strength, flatness, and structural stability of the original walls—Qinglong uses rebound hammers plus laser detection, achieving a 100% hazard identification rate. Load calculation: thanks to UHPC's lightweight properties (density 2400-2600kg/m³), the original structure requires no reinforcement; Qinglong's calculations ensure loads comply with codes. Design development: combining architectural style with functional requirements, BIM modeling optimizes UHPC panel specifications and shapes—for Qinglong's American International School of Guangzhou project, BIM simulated installation paths to avoid damage to the existing building. Plan confirmation: defining panel types, installation methods, and schedule milestones, and signing a special agreement—Qinglong provides a detailed construction organization plan.

II. Old Wall Treatment and UHPC Prefabrication: Parallel Progress for Higher Efficiency

Old wall treatment and prefabrication production proceed simultaneously. Old wall renovation: removing damaged exterior decorative layers, cleaning surface dust and grease, and leveling the substrate (flatness ≤3mm/m)—Qinglong uses high-pressure water jets plus manual cleaning, achieving a 100% substrate treatment pass rate. Anti-corrosion treatment: applying anti-corrosion coatings to metal substrates and interface agents to concrete substrates—Qinglong's anti-corrosion coating is ≥80μm thick for enhanced adhesion. Prefabrication: the factory produces UHPC panels modularly according to design drawings—Qinglong's automated production line has a daily capacity of ≥500㎡, and mass production ensures consistent quality. Quality inspection: panel strength and dimensional deviation are tested before leaving the factory—Qinglong's factory inspection pass rate is 99.8%.

III. Installation and Acceptance/Maintenance: Closed-Loop Control

Precise installation and later maintenance ensure long-term performance. Modular installation: using a dry-hanging process with laser positioning (tolerance ≤2mm), Qinglong's multi-point hanging system improves installation efficiency by 40%. Joint treatment: 8-12mm expansion joints are reserved and filled with weather-resistant sealant—Qinglong's sealant has an elongation rate of ≥500% and excellent aging resistance. Acceptance and delivery: testing verticality, flatness, and waterproofing performance—for Qinglong, passing the water spray test with no leakage means acceptance. Maintenance training: a "Maintenance Manual" is provided to guide daily cleaning and regular inspections—Qinglong offers 1-2 years of free maintenance for renovation projects. Project case: the auditorium renovation at the American International School of Guangzhou completed the UHPC exterior wall renovation in 2 months with no wet work and no disruption to school operations, and the building became a regional landmark after renovation.