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[gardenman]

@151949

It is my opinion, but I think they'll find that supplying the printer with a nonstop supply of the concrete/polymer mix will be more challenging than they think.

At least domestically, the vast majority of the cost is in the plumbing, electrical, and finish work. Using a 3D printer doesn't save money on those costs. I've seen lots of highly promoted and talked up housing revolutions, that flop over the long term. Geodesic domes were going to be huge. You don't see them much these days. They sounded neat. A manufacturer simply makes panels that get shipped to consumers and bolted together. You could build a house in just a few days. They were touted as being cheaper, stronger, more efficient and better all around. The public didn't buy in.

[151949]

They claim they can build a 1 bed 1 bath for $4000. You aren't going to beat that with any stick built house.

[gardenman]

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@151949 wrote:

They claim they can build a 1 bed 1 bath for $4000. You aren't going to beat that with any stick built house.

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We'll see.

[BirkiLady]

@151949What are "they" doing to address mold and mildew in a concrete home in FL? Seems that would be a horrible problem, especially if it doesn't have a crawl space. If wiring and plumbing are embedded into the space prior to the mixture being poured, what happens when repairs, replacements or new technology are required? Huge expenditures and/or entire walls tore out and replaced? A stick-built home would be much easier to work on, repair, remodel, etc., for future liveability. Cheaper isn't always better. Cannot look at the initial cost of a home. A well-built home should last for 80-100 years or longer. 

Also, many insurance companies are no longer replacing steel roofing (just patching problem areas). That means sun fading is patched with newer, brighter pieces of steel . . . and would appear very strange in a neighborhood trying to keep an appealing vantage point for resale. 

[151949]

Since almost all homes in Fl. are built of concrete block I suppose they would be the same - Do you mean a crawl space underneath? Most modern florida homes don't have that.They build on a slab these days. I have no idea where they put the plumbing and wiring. In log homes they run it inside and place a decorative front over it.Lots & lots & lots of people have steel roofs these days. Go anywhere a hurricane has recently gone through and you'll see them everywhere.As for how long these  homes will last - who knows.  

Some people are just resistant to anything new. Sad.

[gardenman]

"Some people are just resistant to anything new. Sad."

In my case it's not resistance to anything new, it's experience at seeing new ideas get touted while people ignore the potential issues. Lots of money gets wasted and that highly touted new idea gets shelved due to the issues that many saw from the beginning. In the case of 3D printed houses, you have to keep the printer constantly supplied with viable concrete/polymer mix. Concrete has a relatively short working time.  You can't just keep it sitting around unused for hours. You like to pour concrete in a continuous pour for maximum strength. If you let the previous layer set up, then add fresh on top, you create a less strong seam. If the machine gets stopped or stalled for any reason the concrete could start to set in the printer. Just keeping the printer supplied with properly prepared concrete is more challenging than many would like to believe. Delivery trucks break down, mixers malfunction, supplies don't get there when expected.

The structure of a new home is one of the lower cost parts of home building. This could reduce the cost of making the structure, but brings with it significant obstacles. It is my opinion,  that the obstacles are greater than the benefits. Can you use a 3D printer to make a house? Absolutely! Just don't expect to really save money if you do. The money you save on the shell (if you save any) may very well be offset by increased costs in wiring, plumbing, and finish work.

It truly isn't resistance to anything new, it's experience living in the real world and with home construction.