Through exploring 3D printing ' s potential in revolutionising housing , we acknowledge hurdles in widespread adoption and the necessity for flexibility . Despite cost and sustainability benefits , challenges like limited design options persist , highlighting the need for innovation . We hear from three experts on how 3D printing can be a game changer for affordable and sustainable housing .
KOREY GREGORY
SUPERINTENDENT AT ASAP RESTORATION
3D printed homes have the potential to be a cheaper way to mass produce the same home ( s ) repeatedly , but due to the way that people live their lives , it probably won ’ t be a game changer for the industry as a whole – at least not in the near term .
There are many reasons for this , but chief among them is the lack of options . People love options , and with 3D-printed homes , there are very few options to take advantage of . From the initial design or even the construction materials to the ability to change a wall or light switch location down the road , there isn ’ t much room for variation . People love the ability to add to a home , change the inside of every room , and even repurpose whole sections of their floor plan .
However , 3D printing makes all of these situations much more challenging . The reason for this is that 3D-printed homes tend to be made with a substrate that hardens and can ’ t be easily altered .
Changing the floor plan of a normal home to an open concept ( very popular lately ) is easy with stick-framed homes because it ’ s simply a matter of demo work on the drywall , repositioning some studs , and Bob ’ s your uncle . With 3D printed technology , there are no studs , and if you have drywall , it is an afterthought to make the property look ‘ normal ’ again .
Changing the floor plan of a 3D-printed home can in theory be almost as challenging as ‘ printing ’ in the first place !
All of that said , there are some benefits to a 3D-printed home that are hard to beat from an industry perspective . The possibility of reducing or nearly eliminating labour costs for the construction of the home can potentially have a huge impact .
Labour is one of the most expensive inputs for any new build , and eliminating the labour by pressing a button and letting the cookie cutter build a house on its own can dramatically reduce the bottom line .
Another factor that might turn out to be positive for 3D printed homes is the reduced cost due to the lower amount of transportation needed to get building materials to the job site , and the reduced use of those building materials on site .
I believe that 3D-printed homes should offer less material waste than a traditional build due to being form-fitted for each project . This means no offcut ends or bowed studs filling up a dumpster . Theoretically less waste on the job site means less waste overall and that can reduce the space needed in landfills for new home construction over time .
DO YOU SEE 3D PRINTING AS A GAME-CHANGER FOR AFFORDABLE AND SUSTAINABLE HOUSING , AND WHAT HURDLES STAND IN THE WAY OF ITS WIDESPREAD ADOPTION ?
www . intelligentbuild . tech 25