Building engineer Ross Trethewey takes us to a 3D printed home build site where he discusses the ins and outs of 3D printing technology. After, we follow him to a completed build to talk about designs and finishes.
3D Printed Home Technology is Here
The technology required to print a home made from concrete is here and in use. This technology uses a large printing machine that rides over the building site, printing layers of concrete to form walls. This technology is designed to be faster, more energy efficient, and eventually less expensive than traditional framing.
How It works
With the plans loaded into the machine, the printer head pours beads of wet concrete mix on top of one another. Each wall consists of an exterior layer and an interior layer with a cavity in the middle, totaling 12 inches thick. While the walls are being poured, site personnel install rebar and other reinforcing materials to strengthen the wall. Also, knock-outs for electrical boxes, plumbing, and other penetrations are also cut, allowing subtrades to easily install their work. Once the walls are cured, the builder blows in open-cell foam for insulation.
How It Saves Time
3D-printed walls are major time savers. With stick framing, the wall is framed and the outside is sheathed, house-wrapped, and sided while the interior is insulated, vapor-protected, and eventually drywalled. With 3D printing, the printer completes all of these layers in one structure. This simplifies scheduling, reduces confusion, and helps minimize supply chain delays.
The Benefits of 3D Printed Homes
3D-printed homes are durable and long-lasting. They’re resistant to flooding and fires and they don’t attract wood-destroying insects, allowing these structures to stand for many, many years. Also, the majority of the home is built within two weeks, with the 3D printer building one to two feet of wall each day.
What About Design and Finishes?
3D printing provides many options for design and finishes. Curved structures are easy to pour, allowing designers to create intricately designed structures. Also, walls can be left raw with the bead on display, painted, plastered, or even covered with drywall after they’ve been furred out. The options are limitless.
How Much Does It Cost?
The national average for traditional framing is around $35 per square foot. Companies are now meeting or exceeding those prices on some builds, proving that 3D printing may very well be a solution to affordable housing.
Resources
Ross Trethewey travels to Austin, TX to visit ICON, a company that is building homes using 3D Printing. Ross visits their construction site and a finished house to learn how the process and finished homes differ from the classic stick-build.
