Published on July 21st, 2016 | by Guest

How 3D Printing Could Change the Home Improvement Industry

By now we’ve all heard how promising 3D printing is. It’s so miraculous, in fact, that to the non-tech savvy person a 3D printer still feels like science fiction. The additive process of making three-dimensional products has promised to revolutionize almost every industry with time, and home improvement and design is no exception.

In 2015, Lowe’s implemented in-store 3D printing easy enough for any customer to use at one of their locations. In 2017, a 3D printed single-family home will be built in Chattanooga, Tennessee. These are examples of how 3D printing looks on either end of the home design spectrum—the accessible and the unbelievable. Home Improvement Leads shares what these kinds of innovations will make possible for homeowners and home designers in the near future.

3D House Plans

A house is the biggest investment most people will make in their lifetime. When you buy an existing home, you have a fair picture of what you’re going to get. But when you begin a new construction, you have only simple illustrations and images to help you visualize the project. But that leap of faith is about to get a lot smaller. House plans can be printed in 3D so that homeowners and designers can get a full 360 scaled view. Not only will this help homeowners get a better idea of the project; it will ease communication between the homeowners and their contractors so that they can get exactly what they are looking for.

Access to Out-of-Production and Unique Products

It’s hard to imagine a world with more choices. When you can hop online to easily browse through thousands of products and ship them straight to your house, what’s next? Complete customization at your fingertips.

Have you ever gotten a sick feeling in your stomach when you lost or broke something you truly love? What about when you realized the manufacturer no longer makes that item? Well, 3D printing is here to give us access to rare, unique, and out-of-production products. Lowe’s in-store 3D printing paired customers with design specialists who would walk them through the process of building the item that they needed. With this power comes the ability to customize, to build pieces that uniquely suit your needs—or even just your desires.

Home Furnishings

At the moment, most of us are consumers. Unless you build furniture or upcycle antiques, you may never have gotten the chance to design anything for your home. But Shapeways allows you to design your own 3D product and customize material, color, and texture. In addition, the company sells eye-catching home products that are sure to be conversation starters when guests are over. From ring vases to coffee mugs to light fixtures, the 3D printed decor inventory possibilities just keep growing. With the power to print in 3D, homeowners will have the ability to more easily customize everything from a little metal screw to their entire house.

Tags: 3D printing, change, home, improvement, industry