A comparison of the cost and construction time of small residential houses using 3D-printed concrete systems versus conventional construction methods in Thailand

Abstract

This study aims to assess the cost feasibility of applying 3D Concrete Printing (3DCP) to small residential buildings in Thailand. Two standard house designs published by the Department of Public Works and Town & Country Planning were selected as case studies: Disaster Relief House 1 with a usable area of 36 square meters and Economy House 2 with a usable area of 77 square meters. The estimated construction costs of conventional construction were based on the official indicative costs provided by the Department. The 3DCP cost estimation was developed based on the cost calculation framework for Construction 3D Printing, considering a load-bearing 3D printed wall system that can partially replace wall construction, plastering, selected columns and beams, and formwork, while foundations or piles, floors, roofs, building services, and finishing works remain necessary.

The results indicate that, for single-unit construction, the 3DCP system is more expensive than conventional construction. For the 36-square-meter house, 3DCP costs approximately 24.4–25.7% more than the conventional system, while for the 77-square-meter house, it costs approximately 10.2–10.8% more. This is mainly due to the fixed costs of 3DCP, including printer mobilization, installation, digital toolpath preparation, machine calibration, and quality control. However, when a repeated production scenario of 10 units was considered, the unit cost of 3DCP decreased significantly. The 36-square-meter house showed a cost nearly equivalent to conventional construction, while the 77-square-meter house became approximately 1.0% less expensive than the conventional system. The findings suggest that 3DCP is not yet cost-effective for a single small detached house but has potential for repeated-unit projects, such as disaster relief housing, affordable housing, and community housing. Further research should be conducted using detailed bills of quantities, actual material prices, and cost data from 3DCP service providers in Thailand.