Maine Builds 9 Homes From 3D-Printed Sawmill Waste

Maine is about to get nine new homes built from something most people throw away: wood scraps from local sawmills.

The University of Maine proved four years ago that 3D-printed homes made entirely from bio-based materials could work. Now they're partnering with Penquis, a housing nonprofit, to build nine BioHome3D houses across the Greater Bangor area to test whether this technology can actually solve real housing problems.

The homes are printed using "ink" made from residual wood fibers sourced from Maine sawmills. The original prototype took just half a day to manufacture, transport, and secure on its foundation.

That first experimental home has already survived three harsh Maine winters without issues. Researchers continue monitoring it to make sure the unusual building material holds up over time.

The technology has come a long way since 2022. The university's new large-scale printer can now create 500 to 1,000 pounds of material per hour, up from just 100 pounds per hour two years ago.

Executive director Habib Dagher wants to create what he calls a "Ford factory of homes." The goal is to automate homebuilding so more people can get housing faster and more affordably.

The nine-home project received $4 million in Congressional funding. Each home will be built in three stages, allowing researchers to test and improve the process with every build.

The team is focusing on safety as they scale up, developing fire-resistant materials and running tests to ensure the homes meet all required building standards. Meeting code requirements is essential before the technology can be used widely.

The Ripple Effect

This project tackles multiple problems at once. Maine faces serious housing shortages, but the technology could help communities anywhere struggling with similar issues.

The approach also addresses labor shortages and supply chain problems that drive up construction costs nationwide. Using local sawmill waste instead of traditional materials means builders depend less on complicated supply chains.

Housing development director Lawrence Rogers says the project offers an innovative way to create desperately needed housing. Significant planning work is already complete, including selecting architectural and engineering partners.

Dagher emphasizes that this is about much more than nine homes. These builds give the team a chance to validate and improve a manufacturing system that could eventually produce housing at a massive scale.

By turning waste into walls and local resources into roofs, Maine is showing how sustainable housing can be built faster and cheaper than ever before.