As a specialist in 3D printing for the construction industry, I can attest to the technology’s immense promise to transform the building process as we know it. However, one common concern is whether or not basements are included in 3D printed houses. In this article, we’ll discuss whether or not basements are useful in 3D-printed houses, along with other factors that may influence this decision.
The first thing to keep in mind is that 3D-printed houses can have basements just like regular houses. Many early prototypes of 3D printed homes, including those made by Chinese firm WinSun and American firm Icon, included basements.
On the other hand, it’s important to remember that a basement is by no means required in a 3D printed house. Several factors, such as:
In some areas, a basement in a 3D-printed house may be required by local building codes, while in others, it may be prohibited. In order to find out what is permitted in your area, you should contact the local building department.
For extra living quarters, storage, or other uses, some homeowners may opt to have a basement added to their 3D printed house. Some people might not think they’d use a basement, so they decide against building one.
What kind of 3D printing is being done, and how: It’s possible that certain 3D printing techniques and approaches work better than others when it comes to making underground rooms. If you want to print a basement, you might want to use a 3D printer that can print concrete instead of plastic filament.
In conclusion, basements in 3D-printed homes are possible, but by no means required. Whether or not a basement is included is a decision that needs to be made taking into account a variety of factors such as regional building regulations, the intended function of the space, and the type of 3D printing technology and technique employed.
About the Author: Reynaldo Santana
Author, Ph.D. Candidate in 3D Printing Construction, Ted Talk Speaker, 3D Printing Consultant & Mastermind Group Creator.
References:
“3D Printing in Construction: A Review” (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5878185/)
“WinSun Decoration Design Engineering Co.” (https://www.winsun.com/en/) & “Icon” (https://www.iconbuild.com/)