Exposing 5 LIES about 3D Printed Concrete Homes

It's time to cut through the 3D Printed Concrete BS! This trending construction technique is littered with fake news and hyperbole and a lack of critique. In this video, we’re going to analyze the claims made not from a pessimistic point of view, but a realistic one.

Chapters:

Thanks @Jarett Gross for the footage!

Thumbnail courtesy of XTree

Claim #1: 3D printed homes can be built for less than $4000.

This is a flat out lie that started circulating in 2018. Journalists misled people for the sake of clicks by claiming that ICON 3D, based in Austin, Texas had a $10,000 tiny home prototype that could cost around $3,500 or $4,000 when printed in large quantities. The cost of 3d printed homes is a hotly debated topic because it is a new field with many unknown variables. 3D printing can have lower labor costs, but there are other expenses to consider: the cost of electricity to run the machine which is exorbitant in some countries, the cost of renting or buying the printer, the cost of hiring specialists to calibrate and run the machine, etc.

Claim #2: Homes can be printed in 24 hours

3D printers create walls, not homes. There are dozens of other components that go into building a house: windows, doors, roofs, electrical wiring, plumbing, insulation, HVAC systems, interior walls and finishes, millwork, etc.

Claim #3: 3d printing will make jobs unnecessary

There’s a common thread behind all these misleading claims. The productivity of the construction industry is lagging far behind others. Outsiders from the tech field want to fix it by disrupting and automating the entire industry without having any knowledge of its intricacies. There are millions of variables at play: soil conditions, weather, local materials, culture, economy, design codes, and of course, form and function.

Claim #4: 3D printed homes can solve homelessness

The arrogance of designers and architects really shines when they talk about homeless shelters. Making a shipping container or 3D printed concrete shelter will not solve homelessness. I spoke to Nicholas Patel, the founder of Fullbore Africa. He pointed out lack of consistent power, the need for several backup generators, the carbon emissions shipping the machine to Africa, the poor infrastructure, the legal issues clearing the printers at ports, 24 hour security, cost of foreign-trained specialists, and the difficulty in getting high quality, consistent windows and doors to fit into the precise openings created by 3D printers.

Claim #5: 3D printing is sustainable

The building construction industry accounts for 40% of all energy-related carbon dioxide emissions, of which cement accounts for 8%. As much as I love the material and the solidity of concrete structures, it is one of the most destructive materials on Earth. Also, walls are a tiny portion of the entire structure. We need a holistic approach to construction to make it truly sustainable.

I don’t think the technology is a gimmick, but I despise the sensationalist coverage, misleading claims and over-promises. They generate a lot of buzz and probably help fund startups, but I think the lies cheapen its value.

Right now, 3D printing seems to be a solution looking for a problem. The technology has so much potential, but it’s in its infancy stage. I see so many parallels between the hype and media coverage of shipping container homes and 3d printed homes.

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SOURCES:

CNBC Television

Jarett Gross

Jarett Gross

Icon 3D Tech

New China TV

LaFargeHolcim

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