The process of building a house usually takes teams of construction workers months of work. However, as 3D printing technology advances, printed homes are efficient, cost-effective, and cut down on human error. According to Grand View Research, the 3D printing construction market could explode by 2030. Should you consider a 3D-printed home for your next house?
Why printed houses are the next step in home construction
3D-printed homes offer several benefits that traditional construction methods simply cannot match. Firstly, as mentioned, it takes a team of highly skilled laborers weeks of work to build the bones of a house from scratch. However, a 3D printer can build the foundation of a three-bedroom, two-bathroom house in as little as twelve hours. And it requires little to no human intervention to finish its task.
Additionally, the printers use an affordable concrete mixture to build the foundation, cutting down material costs by 15% per square foot. It’s also sturdier than a traditional wooden frame of a house, providing better protection from extreme weather in affected areas. It is also a better insulator than the usual materials, cutting down on heating and cooling bills.
Building a printed home also cuts down on waste and uses environmentally-friendly materials. Unfortunately, the unmanned printing process still releases carbon emissions into the environment. However, according to 3DPrint.com, with intelligent urban planning, 3D-printed homes can reduce the overall carbon footprint.
And 3D printing opens up nearly limitless possibilities for the design of a new home. Houses aren’t limited to the traditional shapes or designs that normal construction processes require. You can design new homes with efficiency in mind to eliminate wasted space. Or go completely wild with aesthetic choices for a more eccentric home buyer.
There are still hurdles to overcome before 3D printing homes can become commonplace.
The 3D-printed home construction sector is still in its infancy. According to Construct Connect, a pre-construction software company, printed houses face several barriers that need breaking before their widespread adoption.
Firstly, the equipment to 3D print a home is costly, meaning significantly higher startup costs than traditional construction companies. And, though they require far less manpower than conventional methods, you still need skilled laborers trained in 3D printing construction. However, to train these workers, you need the equipment.
Additionally, printed houses exist in murky regulatory waters. Home construction has extremely strict regulations and laws. A contractor’s failure to follow code can result in hefty penalties and fines. According to the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB), regulators are unsure how to adapt current laws to the technology.
“The nuances of this new building technology raise novel questions about complying with existing building code,” said the NAHB. “And permit requirements that are premised around traditional methods.”
Beyond following the construction code, the sector also faces significant bureaucratic challenges. For example, because the industry is still so new, there are no standardized contracts to follow. Contracts are vital because they dictate responsibility, liability, and other legal terms and conditions. These critical questions need answering before this new home construction method can see widespread adoption.
However, projections show that 3D printing construction could become a multi-trillion-dollar global market by 2030. These regulatory questions will likely have answers in due time.
