Introduction
The world 100 years ago is no longer the same today, thanks to technology. The TV wasn't in colour, commercial flying was just being introduced, and basic home appliances like vacuum cleaners were seen as a luxury. Nowadays, a video can be played on a touch screen phone, commercial flying is widely accessible and we even have robot vacuum cleaners. Every industry has changed the way they do things, and we have technology to thank for it..... Except for a couple things.
Stacking Layers, Not Bricks
When it comes to construction, there seems to be a cornerstone of the industry that will not fall down, and that's good o'l bricklaying. The amount of ads I see for "Bricklayers needed" and "Bricklayers for hire" are immense and although I always get tempted about starting my blue collar life, it got me wondering why manual bricklaying is still around today? Well it turns out... these bricks may all fall down thanks to 3D printing.
3D printing is going to change the jobs of these bricklayers. Instead of laying the bricks manually, they will operate machinery that will help them literally print concrete, layer by layer. Just like an ordinary FDM 3D printer, these machines will spew out concrete to build a wall, just like how bricks are stacked to make one. However, this is just one element to building a house. Lighting fixtures, plumbing, structural support and furnishing has to be carried out as well. Other 3D printers that print metal, ceramics, resin and thermoplastics can help carry out the second stage of building a house. You can use a resin printer like the Form 4 to create custom light fixtures or components like faucets, You can use a metal printer like the Al3D to help with plumbing, creating pipe connectors or help with structural support. You can use ceramics from Admatec or Lynxter to help create countertops, floor tiles, or custom furniture (imagine customizing your own toilet bowl) as well as using silicone for waterproofing and sealing from Lynxters S300X. Additionally, BCN3D printers can print thermoplastics, allowing you to create necessary finishes like vents at a cheap price. Lastly, if you want to get real crazy, you can custom print PCB boards from Voltera to make your very own Tony Stark smart home.
(Click here if you're interested in these applications)
Here are are a list of the advantages:
Faster build times:
Typically to brick lay a house for the size of a single - family sized home, would take around 3-6 weeks. This is dependent on manpower, restricted working hours and safety restrictions. Not to mention, the manual process of bricklaying is a slow one, despite having all the tips and tricks they use to improve efficiency. However, a concrete 3D printer would take 24 hours to a couple days to build the same sized home. This is because it's building the layers faster and could work 24 hours around the clock.
Reduced Labor costs:
Give credit where it's due, bricklaying is a skill. You can have some awful bricklayers who may lay 1-2 bricks a minute and you have some speed demons who can lay 5-8. The wide variety of this makes the hiring process tedious and if you are falling behind with the construction plan, more hires will have to take place. However, with a 3D printer, this effectively goes away as you no longer need to hire multiple bricklayers, the work output is the same and it can print through the evening.
Design Flexibility:
There's not a lot of wiggle room when it comes to creativity and brick laying. A brick is a brick, it's rectangle and due to that, the aesthetic and building designs is quite limited. However, with 3D printing, whatever you design can be achieved. If you want a straight wall that then connects into a circle wall? Easily done. This allows architects or wannabe homeowners the freedom to have their dream design turn reality.
Sustainability:
I'd say the last advantage I'd like to highlight is sustainability. 3D printers are notorious for this as they print exactly what is needed for the build, helping save 30-60% of the material. Furthermore, 3D printed materials can be made from recycled waste, adding to it's sustainability.
Proven in the Real World
If you think this is all too good to be true, Singapore has actually already started using this technology today. They have started making HDB flats via 3D printing in Tengah and Bidadari estates.
Conclusion
The future of construction is transforming, with even the timeless craft of bricklaying reimagined through 3D printing. Soon, bricklayers may swap trowels for touchscreen controls, as 3D printers work round-the-clock to build walls, floors, and fixtures layer by layer. No longer limited by brick shapes, architects can explore complex, custom designs, from curved walls to intricate structures. Specialized 3D printers tackle every element—resin printers make custom light fixtures, metal printers form plumbing parts, ceramics create tiles and countertops, and silicone seals ensure waterproofing. This approach speeds up build times, lowers labor costs, and allows for sustainable materials, as Singapore’s HDB flats in Tengah and Bidadari estates demonstrate. With construction shifting toward automated precision and creativity, the future of building homes is set to be both efficient and limitless.
Interested in starting a new construction project in a innovative way or just trying to build a dream house? Contact us so we can work together!
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