Amerimix 3D Printing Mortar tackles 'sustainable' homebuilding
Amerimix, a division of Oldcastle APG, a CRH Company, says its 3D Printing Mortar Mix was provided to New Standard Homes, which resulted in the successful 3D printing of three concrete homes located in Shiner, Texas. According to the company, this marks a step forward in addressing the need for more affordable, efficient and high-quality housing.
“We are looking at cutting-edge technology to help shape the future of the building industry,” said Jason Dean, SVP of pro sales at Oldcastle APG. “We want to align with builders and developers to achieve their customers’ dream living spaces, while creating job efficiencies and cost savings.”
The build team’s goal was to fast-track the three test homes using the efficiency of bagged mortar formulated for the precision of 3D printing. The project, according to the company, aims to set a new standard in home construction that will allow more first-time homebuyers to enter the market.
"We’re not just building houses; we’re creating homes that elevate living standards with cleaner lines, superior finishes and greater durability," said Rex Rizk, owner, New Standard Homes. “The goal is to set a new benchmark for sustainable, more affordable housing in architectural styles that folks want to live in.” His visionary standard home model would be 1,500 sq. ft. and in the $350,000 to $400,000 price range.
With a gantry-style 3D printer manufactured by COBOD and leased from PERI 3D Construction, the build team used nearly 150 3,000-lb. bulk bags of Amerimix’s AMX300 3D Printing Mix, which was custom-formulated in partnership with the PERI team. The gantry printer allows the New Standard team to print walls in continuous passes rather than section-by-section, leading to increased jobsite efficiency and superior build quality. According to all collaborating team members, New Standard Homes showed incredible efficiency and resiliency on this project.
The first 1,200 sq. ft. home took approximately six weeks to print, with subsequent 1,500 sq. ft. homes completed in 3 to 3 1/2 weeks. These dramatic speed improvements were realized through continuous optimization of machine setup, layer time and printing speed, all of which require tweaking based on site conditions, weather and more. And, according to the company, there’s more optimization to come.
“New Standard Homes’ ultimate goal is to print one 1,500 sq. ft. house per week, which is entirely feasible with our new designs,” says Rizk. “Ultimately, concrete is a material that we believe in for its longevity, durability and sustainability. This is the future.”
Looking ahead, the New Standard Homes team is committed to pushing the boundaries of construction technology. "We are at the forefront of reinventing how our world is built,” said Rizk. “This technology is a key component of our vision to provide better homes for everyone." He said the homes will go on the market as possible rentals and will be located near restaurants and shops in Shiner.
New Standard Homes is actively evaluating proposals for its next project, according to the company.
