The impact of 3D printing in construction and real estate

The real estate sector has seen the highest number of changes compared to any other sector when it comes to technology and innovations. The newest of all technologies that are creating a buzz in this sector and is taking convenience and intelligence to a new level is 3D Printing.

What is 3D Printing?

Also referred to as additive manufacturing, 3D printing is a process that makes three-dimensional solid objects from a digital file. It is useful for manufacturing geometrically complex components and prototyping.

 

The role of 3D printing in construction

The entire concept of printing a house has changed from science fiction to reality. Though this may take some time to understand, but the truth is that it is happening and houses are being constructed through 3D printing.

When people think of 3d printers, they think of printers that are a bit smaller or almost the same size as an oven. But these are not the 3d printers that are used to build houses.

The 3D printers that are used to construct houses are massive machines and use special materials which include fast-drying concrete.

Here are a few reasons why this method of construction is gaining a lot of attraction in the real estate sector.

1. Speed

When it comes to the speed of constructing a house, 3D printed houses have a lot of advantages compared to homes that are built traditionally. You will be surprised to know that there are some houses that were built within a day or two using 3D printing.

Now compare this time with the old standards where it would take weeks or months to complete construction.

2. No Noise Construction

Everyone is aware of the atmosphere around a construction site. The hammering sound, drilling, sawing, yelling and all the annoying noise. But when it comes to 3D printing there is a possibility of a quieter construction area. Too much noise can cause construction teams to pause their work or start it at a time which may be convenient for the surroundings but may not be for the workers. With 3D printers, there can be a non-stop construction process be it lunch, dinner or even midnight.

3. Low Labor Cost

3D printing can lower the labor cost as most of the work is being done by the machines. To be précised, 3D printing can lead to an 80% reduction in labor costs. This leads to a massive cost saving for the builders. Less management and more time to focus on the work, what else does a construction company need? Also, there is almost zero chance for errors as humans make mistakes, but machines don’t.

4. Various Design Possibilities

With 3D printing, there are options to go crazy with when it comes to design. Traditional techniques of construction mostly deal with rectangular shapes whereas the mechanical arm in 3D printing can add a lot of color to a boring design.

With limitless possibilities and huge potential, this new method used in construction is all set to create a benchmark for the real estate industry.