Like a traditional 3D printer, 3D printed houses are built in a similar way–applying

layer after layer of material in a computer-generated pattern.

In their case, the material used is concrete and the printer is really big.

One company's printer is nearly 50 feet wide and over 15 feet high.

It's used to print the house's footing, foundation, and walls, while things like plumbing,

electrical, and doorframes are added in throughout the process.

Houses built like this offer a lot of benefits: they're easily customizable, cheaper, and

can be built faster–which makes them ideal for the current affordable housing crisis.

Another company 3D printing homes, Alquist 3D, recently completed a home for the non-profit

home-building organization Habitat for Humanity.

In just 12 hours, a 1,200-square-foot home was created, letting a family move in four

weeks earlier than usual.