What are 3D-Printed Homes?

Are 3D-Printed Homes the Homes of the Future?

3D printing, also called Additive Manufacturing (AM), is the process of constructing a 3-dimensional object based on a digital file. 3D printers take a digital file with a blueprint for the object, and then layer materials to create the object.

You may have seen 3D printers in local libraries, STEM academies, or perhaps even your workplace, and wonder how this machine could be involved in home construction. There is a major difference between typical 3D printers and 3D printers that manufacture homes: size.

3D printed homes are made through massive, robust printers that can “print” with heavy-duty materials, like concrete. Though hard to imagine when compared to the traditional construction process, 3D printed homes may become a new portion of the housing market.

Some experts things 3D printed homes are going to be a real estate revolution.

Can a Printer Really Build my House?

Calling it a 3D printed home is a bit of a misnomer, as about 40% of the home’s construction is completed by the 3D printer. The process is expected to be refined as the technology develops, but for now, 3D printed homes are being constructed of concrete about halfway, and then finishes with traditional building materials and processes.

Benefits of 3D-Printed Homes

There are many potential benefits to choosing 3D-printed homes, and some of them represent a solution to the issues we are seeing in the real estate market. Some of these benefits include:

Faster timeline. 3D printers that will be used in home manufacturing can print a meter in a matter of seconds, constructing an entire foundation and frame for a house in a couple of days. When compared to the weeks of even months-long process of traditional framing, 3D printed homes could be built in a fraction of the time.
Reduces waste. Traditional building sites represent significant waste, generating about two to three tons of waste material for every home. 3D printed homes, on the other hand, generate almost no waste at all. There are no scrap pieces of metal or wood from the framing process, leftover concrete that needs to go to a washout, or nails and litter left behind at the building site. 3D printing is simply superior when it comes to environmentally and financially conscious practices.
Requires less labor. As the construction industry continues to struggle through a massive labor shortage, 3D printed homes present a possible solution. There is no need for a large team of framers, and the 3D printers work around to clock to maximize the timeline in a way human labor never could.
Reduces costs. One of the most intriguing benefits of a 3D printed home is of course the reduced costs. A reduction in waste and labor each contribute to this factor, with no need to spend time or money cleaning up a building site and disposing of debris and litter, and a significantly lower cost for builders when there is no need to hire teams to pour a foundation or frame the house. These savings will be passed on to the buyers, addressing the cost of living issue we are seeing nationwide.

How to Buy 3D Printed Homes

There are not many 3D printed homes available on the market, yet. It is predicted to be an industry-disrupting technology, trending in the near future. For now, there are only a small handful of 3D printed homes available for sale, but we expect to see more of them in the Bay Area soon.

For more information about buying a home in the Bay Area, contact me today! Amar Realtor offers expert real estate services with proven results in the Cupertino real estate market as well as outlying areas including homes for sale in Milpitas, San Jose, Campbell and properties in San Mateo County, homes in Contra Costa and Alameda County.