How Will 3D Printing Impact Construction In Real Estate?
How will 3D printing impact the real estate industry?
3D printing in real estate has not fully arrived yet, but I believe that within the next 20-25 years it will become a major force in building construction. Land developers will also see opportunities that might be realized in infrastructure design and project construction. Who wouldn’t want structure and project infrastructure designs that are highly efficient, customizable and allow for new geometric shapes and architectural styles that are not possible right now? Let’s take a look at what the future might look like in 3D building construction and in land development, along with the ways that it might take place!
What exactly is 3D printing?
3D printing is two distinct processes. Part one is the design of three-dimensional objects with the use of computer assisted design (CAD) or a digital 3D modeling. The second part is computer controlled manufacturing that uses a layering technique where semi-liquid materials are extruded and layered, then fused together as the finished product. In a construction setting, industrial printers with robotic arms might be the most likely thing we would see on future construction sites.
Where will I start to see 3D printing in real estate?
Current home construction relies primarily on stick built or block framed designs and it would seem that a likely place for 3D to show up would be in home construction. In fact, there are a few contractors in Texas and California that are building homes using 3D printing right now, but it is currently on a very small scale relative to total units that have been occupancy permitted in the U.S. I credit the visionary contractors that have started the ball rolling and I believe they will be rewarded for being out front.
Likely construction advantages with 3D printing:
Once fully scaled up contractors could see many advantages:
Right now materials are manufactured and delivered from multiple distant sources. 3D construction could localize much of this.
On-site computer controlled manufacturing could greatly reduce labor costs.
Costly waste of construction materials could be minimized or eliminated entirely.
Time to completion of new structures could be vastly reduced.
Other time wasters like waiting for materials to arrive could be solved.
Time to rebuild damaged structures from storm damage and retrofitting older structures could be saved.
OVERALL - 3D printing in construction could result in huge economic savings!
What is holding back 3D printing in real estate?
Pressure points that need to be overcome for the RE industry:
Large scale manufacturing and distribution of the 3D industrial printers and the associated costs.
Limitations in 3D printable materials: The industry currently relies heavily on plastics and “wood” composed of pulp and plastic.
Further development of concrete, metal, stone and wood materials suitable for large-scale industrial construction.
Further development of 3D printing technique for other construction phases like plumbing and electrical.
Building permit codes may need modification.
Entitlement process in land development would need updating.
Engineering for unique conditions like in seismic regions.
Other important possibilities:
Think about how great it would be if a custom designed home could be constructed and occupied in 30 days! What about a multifamily apartment that could be fully constructed on 90-120 days? Think of the land developer that has a project waterline design that is geometrically perfect, so that friction is optimal and a smaller line size can be used for the same flow rate and PSI. Lots of cost saving possibilities could be on the horizon!
Design Software:
The software part of design could be enhanced so that a regular person could design their own home. Advancements here could make an architect out of any reasonably intelligent person. If the software were to be calibrated to local code it could prevent non-compliant design flaws and potentially shorten building permit approval times. Heck, why not be able to get the approval on the spot if all the boxes are checked green?
Optimizing costs:
The cost savings in construction could be immense, but I also wonder how much of that savings would be absorbed as profit by the contractors and how much would actually be passed on the the homeowner. Time will tell.
There are many interdepended material, design and construction inefficiencies in land development that could also be improved. One area I think of right away is impervious surfaces. Using similar techniques as an asphalt paver does today, we could 3D print the road surfaces so that there is no material waste and with digital precision to ensure a faultless core depth for every square inch of the roadways. Material improvements would be required and extrusion technologies further developed, but why would that be so hard?
The price of progress:
The real estate construction industry is heavily dependent on human labor. Whether it’s home building or some guy operating a machine in a land development project, conventional construction jobs would be severely impacted by the full-scale use of 3D printing in our industry. Like horse drawn buggies back in the day, when the Model T showed up the future was clear to those that bothered to pay attention. I think paying attention to the future that 3D printing could bring is a wise choice for anyone that is likely to be in real property construction in the next 15-20 years.
Educational certifications as a transition point:
As a college graduate I think that way too much emphasis has been placed on a college degree as it relates to income production. My best friend from the 3rd grade and two other friends went to the local vocational school at age 18 and became union welders and eventually pipefitters. Of the three, one retired at 50, and the other two at age 55. What the hell did I do wrong? Our economic world today values specialization and rewards specialists, not broad generalists. Specialized certifications in 3D design and in 3D related construction could help future workers; ones that would have otherwise followed Dad’s footsteps as a drywaller, to thrive in this new world.
What is the future in 3D Printing / Construction In Real Estate?
Innovative contractors will say that the 3D Construction future is already here. In support of this position, take a look at the land development project and single family homes / ADU’s of Mighty Buildings: Mighty Buildings — Modern Prefab 3D-printed ADUs . I applaud your guts and innovative drive!
As for the rest of us just learning about the 3D construction industry, pay close attention. If a smart entrepreneur sees the future possibilities that I do, the future is yours to grab! Good luck!
Contact me at: ldr@landdevelopmentrealities.com
Blog photos courtesy of Unsplash.com - Andrea G., Christian Holzinger, Bogdon Karlenko - Thank you!
