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Re:Bricklayers Think They’re Safe from Robots by cmrdporcupine on Wednesday March 28, 2018 @02:39PM (#16700487)
Surely the framing of a home is a very minor part of the total cost of construction at this point in time. My brother is a carpenter and formerly did mostly framing, and it wasn't a terribly high-paid job. He makes a lot more now doing concrete on commercial sites.

All of this is to say that I'm sure yes, I'm sure automation could reduce costs there, but likely the amount of money invested in R&D and then the machines itself wouldn't be worth it to these companies.

Re:Bricklayers Think They’re Safe from Robots by olivermarks on Wednesday March 28, 2018 @03:06PM (#16700765)
I live in an old (1896) house constructed with douglas fir and redwood that is thousands of years old and incredibly dense - it's hard to pound a nail into it. Today's houses are framed with wood that is very 'green', soft and flammable and cladding that is little more than thick cardboard with weathershield on one side.

It seems likely the next generations of materials will be even more ephemeral and designed for speed of construction...concrete seems to be the only material resistant to this, although older concrete is a lot more dense than the mixes we buy today....

Re:Bricklayers Think They’re Safe from Robots by downrightmike on Wednesday March 28, 2018 @06:22PM (#16702565)
If your house burns down, you get to buy another house. Capitalist wins coming and going.