3D Homes for Durham

Do you think 3D Homes  are in the future?

A 3D printed home? How does that work? How is it built? Is it resilient? The answer to all of these is included below, we had a lot of questions too. 3D printing construction technology seems to have accelerated during the pandemic with the constricted labor market and the housing market in the US and the first 3D printed home was listed on the market in Long Island New York. This home had 1,500 square feet, 3 bedrooms, and 2 baths, and was listed at $299,000, well under half the cost of a pre-construction home in the area, and before it was even built, the foundations and plans got over 100 showings. These homes may well be a solution to housing shortages and affordability issues and this groundbreaking listing is just the first of many 3D printed communities planned in the US. We are3D Homes  happy to share what we know about 3D communities and where they are coming next!

Who are the Builders of 3D Homes?

The first home in New York is by developer SQ4D and its home was printed on a concrete yard, to be moved to a nearby lot. There are two other developers that are planning full-scale 3D developments, ICON Developers in Austin Texas, and Mighty Buildings, out of California. Each of these builders has a different price point, challenges by regulatory bodies for building, and concept that is driving their innovations and methods, leaving plenty of room for more and more competition.

Austin Texas, ICON Developer, has completed 4 single-family homes already in East Austin, a series of homes Mighty Buildings 3D Homes for the homeless in partnership with Mobile Loaves and Fishes, and a small development in Mexico. ICON is one of the front runners in 3D construction and printing technology, but Mighty Buildings is on the heels of ICON. Mighty Buildings, in California, is planning a much larger community of 15 homes, called Rancho Mirage. Each of these developments represents completely new methodologies in building and has the ability to change the construction industry as we know it.

What exactly is 3D Construction?

Currently, there are two available ways of 3D construction. ICON uses its’ Vulcan construction system, which prints proprietary concrete at a very high speed and with a greater level of precision, and at a very low cost. You can print the first floor and build the second floor conventionally to meet building codes and while is not what one imagines immediately when you think of a 3D printed home, ICON 3D Home this technique is 10-30% cheaper and months faster than conventional. Additional savings is realized through labor, as it requires much fewer laborers, and conventional materials such as lumber, steel, and aluminum. The printer does the bulk of the construction here and you are sacrificing little in terms of looks and quality.

While ICON is focused on producing savings realized in materials, labor, and time, Mighty Buildings in Califonia, is chiefly concerned with sustainability. Its’ newest community will offer 15 homes that seamlessly integrate technology and sustainability.According to Might Buildings, their printing production process eliminates 99% of construction waste and is 30-40% cheaper than traditional construction. In addition to using solar energy, Mighty Buildings prints a sort of composite polymer comparable to synthetic stone and is assembled and printed onsite. Unlike concrete, this polymer is thermal efficient and would yield net-zero carbon emission homes, meaning that there is no heat or cold transfer between inside and outside.

Both types of homes, polymer printed and concrete, are more energy-efficient than conventionally built homes and some recent proof of resilience lies in the ICON homes being a safe and warm haven during the recent Texas power outage, and resistance Resistent 3D Exterior to earthquakes in Mexico. Polymer composite and concrete construction are both resistant to mold, termites, rot, and water. They are resistant to high winds and have yet to withstand hurricane testing, but that is next!

How soon will we see 3D Construction in the Triangle? 

There is the demand for 3D printing homes up and down both the East and West Coasts. Both ICON and Mighty Buildings biggest problem is producing the printers to meet the demand. With labor in tight supply and the housing market similarly in tight supply, each has secured big funding from venture capitalists, and they cannot print homes or proposals fast enough. Do you think 3D homes should come to the Research Triangle? Please reach out and let us know your thoughts!

If you are looking to purchase pre-construction homes or custom homes in the Triangle Area, we would love to help. Call My NC Homes Today! 919-451-7868


Posted by Martha Greenlee on

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I am interested in whether 3D printed homes might be available to build on a lot in West Jefferson North Carolina

Frank,
I'm a Realtor in the Triangle not a home builder (at least not any longer) I appreciate your interest in 3D printed homes as I wrote about in the article you commented on. I'd suggest reaching out to the two companies I mentioned in the article to find out more about having a printed home erected on your property. Thanks for your interest and if you ever need a Realtor in Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill area, I hope you reach out to us. Larry@ My NC Homes

Posted by Frank Martin on Tuesday, April 13th, 2021 at 2:31pm

We have 2.5 acres in a gated community in Rutherfordton, N.C.

When will 3D printing be available? I would consider a model home on our property. Jim, Glad you found the article of interest. We aren't builders we are a local real estate firm. Both Andrew and I have extensive experience as builders in the past and found the idea of 3D printed homes fascinating. If you're interested I'd suggest reaching out to the two companies we featured in our article to see if perhaps they can't help you. Larry @ My NC Homes

Our property has no liens and would be available for demos.

Jim Stone
407-963-7293

Posted by Jim stone on Thursday, April 22nd, 2021 at 3:05pm

I would love to see a basic floor plan for a one story 3D printed home. Also how is the wiring handled during construction? I had already been exploring tiny homes and found one in Brazil that was built of concrete. The notion of a structure being able to withstand hurricane force winds or tornados is certainly something I hope is tested soon.

Rebecca, You'll need to contact one of the companies mentioned in the article directly. We're a Research Triangle based real estate firm and don't represent the manufacturers / builders. Glad the article was of interest to you. Larry @ My NC Homes

Posted by Rebecca Latham on Saturday, May 1st, 2021 at 12:38pm

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