Homeowners will soon be able to live in 3D printed homes north of Sacramento:

The $1.1 million 3D-printers have churned out at least five new modern properties so far, with the first one taking only 24 days to complete.

Made by 4DIFY, the 1,000-square-foot house was the initial installment in the 3D-printed neighborhood…

Additionally, the process requires less labor and materials and also produces less waste, helping keep costs down.

The 3D printers mainly use concrete as filament for their builds…

“By automating the construction process with robotic precision and reducing material waste, we’re cutting build times by up to 75% and significantly lowering costs while increasing structural integrity, fire resistance, and seismic performance,” the spokesperson emphasized.

If construction techniques after World War II helped contribute to a suburban boom – mass production, large-scale subdivisions – could 3D printers help change the market? Two things stand out to me about the possibilities of 3D printed homes:

1. The speed at which homes can be built.
2. A lower price point compared to other construction techniques.

If both these things are true (and perhaps might even be improved at a larger scale), there could be opportunities. This neighborhood is also being constructed in California, a place where housing is especially needed.

The biggest change for a possible homeowner might be having concrete as a primary material for their home. Many American homes are made of wood frames clad with different materials. Concrete is essential to the modern world and why not have more homes made of the material? (I can also think of downsides; would people push against having concrete homes?)