Up to this point in our lifetime, most homes and buildings have been constructed using the same techniques and materials that our ancestors in previous generations used. Now, businesses are starting to apply new technologies to some of the tried-and-true trades of the past to build houses for tomorrow.

For example, 3D printing has been expanding significantly in the last couple of years. Homebuilders now have the capability-- and supersized printers-- to construct walls for a new home in as little as 48 hours. These huge new printers work much like the ones small businesses and hobbyists use. The designer (an architect and/or engineer) can draft a building or section and upload the finalized file to a printer at the site. The element would then “print” out, based on the exact specs, over the next few days. As each section leaves the printer, and cures for the right amount of time, builder crews would continue piecing them together, installing roofs, windows, doors, and other finishes by hand.

This combined build process could save time and add benefits. Printed walls could have more exact dimensions and better insulation. The walls, once sealed, would be airtight and provide a consistent thermal break between the indoor and outdoor environments. With no hint of any shortcuts, walls could be finished with the same interior or exterior treatments and materials or painted.

As this technology is taking off, the recipe for printed houses right now is usually a specialized mix of concrete - so the walls can be printed without forms. Some businesses have been experimenting with alternate concrete/cement- based mixtures and additives to reduce the CO2 impact of the production, potentially reducing the carbon footprint in the overall construction. There's even a village in Tanzania, working with local architects, that has designed a printed building using rammed earth to cut down on the carbon footprint. These walls, while sustainable, still need to be supported by a separate structure to hold the weight of a roof... But the whole concept is becoming more realistic- in our lifetime still.

It's cool to think about the future, as more smart people get their hands on these new building practices and techniques like these become more common. I've already seen a mini 3D printer around the office. Here at Howell, we are committed to supporting these advancements and welcome the opportunity to assist in designing the site layout for your next 3D-printed home. However you do it, we'll provide you with our guidance and expertise upfront.