12 May 3D Printing And The Future Of Real Estate Construction

The list of gadgets, toys, instruments, weaponry, and body parts (yes, even flesh and bone) that you can create with a 3D printer are limitless. Everyday, innovative minds are adding to the ever-evolving catalog of 3D printer creations and possibilities. Industries from music to medicine have jumped on this technological wave to enrich their business and make an impact on the world. As this technology continues to advance, the real estate industry has been no exception and 3D printing may be the next cheaper, safer, and more efficient phase of real estate construction.

3D printing has been a tool many real estate developers use to display small-scale project models to their clients. Instead of laboriously creating 3D models by hand, printed models can be created in half the time with just as much detail. Fortunately, the benefits of 3D printing don’t stop in the development phase.

Construction companies around the world have successfully created entire homes and apartment buildings using 3D printing. Homes can be built onsite using 3D printing and a layered fabrication technology that is capable of automating the construction process of entire residential structures, including the plumbing and electrical components. Huashang Tengda, a Chinese construction company, utilized 3D printing to build a two-story house in less than two months. On average, it takes about seven months to build a single-family home using traditional construction methods.

Lower construction costs and shorter development timelines are just a few of the positive impacts 3D printing is making on the real estate industry. With the ability to create safe, environmentally efficient, and uniquely customized homes in a quarter of the time, it is no wonder the real estate industry is taking steps to implement 3D printing into the development and construction process.