Machine-Built Houses with Tedd Benson | Future House | Ask This Old House

[@stevencraig349]

Ted Benson is the coolest guy ever. Maybe 15 years ago, after I had "graduated" from a timber framing course, I called him up and asked if we could chat about a barn I wanted to build. I live a 1/2 hour away. He invited me into his home and even offered me a beer. Maybe it was iced tea....I can't really remember. But I do remember walking through his barn and talking about timber framing. I'm so glad he's continued to expand his ideas now onto Bensonwood.

[@Otis884]

I hope it was a beer.

[@stevencraig349]

It was probably 2006 or 07. I do think it was a beer. And I remember it wasn't some pretentious hipster brew. Maybe Pabst or Old Milwaukee

[@Otis884]

@@stevencraig349 More a Bud guy myself, more like Bud light these days.

[@SuSpicious9748]

@@Otis884 Hind sight is 20/20 lol

[@JMiskovsky]

Factory owner is my hero. Trying to push dawn housing prices is noble goal. Every millennial should cheer him up!

[@mpyoung33]

So advanced compared to most US modular plants. This company is going to thrive as the years pass and the labor shortage becomes more of a problem.

[@Furiends]

While people might be freaking out over automation lets just think about that for a second. It takes about 5 people to frame a two story house in about 40 hours/one work week. The actual decrease in the number of jobs probably isn't as much as you'd think and its certainly not as people assume just all jobs lost. First of all there's certainly no lacking of demand for housing so you always have to keep in mind if a cut in labor per unit produced also means a lowered cost that increased volume might not result in a net lowered employment due to higher rates of production. Also note that this doesn't include a lot of other things involved in home building like leveling and foundation, drilling wells, roofing, plumbing, electrical work and fixtures. In fact its mostly just structure, framing and carpentry. There is at least 10 people that could be seen in the video working in software. There's also someone (more likely a team) writing that software and there might be another employee to maintain all those computers. As he mentioned at 3:30 there are about 30 employees working the machines. I'm not sure if the its included in the former metric but there's probably several other employees and frequent subcontracted work to maintain the machines. You now also need some specialized transportation for the component assemblies for these homes and lets just say that involves maybe 2 more people. Finally you need your onsite assemblers which I'll also just guess is maybe 10 people. So ballpark estimate is some 50 people working at any given time with ten or so homes waiting to be shipped. There's a lot we don't know and a lot of guess work but that puts the labor per house at pretty similar amounts even if you assumed they shipped 10 homes a week from that facility. If I had to guess intensive automation could probably get labor down something like 30% at most at any given company. But people just completely miss the fact that as the labor used per unit goes down assuming that follows a lowered cost means higher consumption in most industries. Thus there would just end up being more companies or bigger companies. The real risk with automation comes from who controls the machines and how employees are treated through transitions.

[@zilfondel]

The swedes have been able to erect a house with 3 guys in a single day... since the 1980s.

[@general4str]

They didn't address the plumbing or electrical. with it sheathed both sides and insulated, how do I get my electrical or piping run? I'm very curious about this.

[@heathracela]

general4str They install furring strips on the inside of the wall once sheathed. This gives a chase for pipes and wires and a place to mount the drywall without interrupting the insulation. You may be able to see it in a few shots, but we didn’t have time to include that in the final edit.

[@DavidLucBelanger]

You should never have any pipe inside an outside wall anyway due to freezing problem... Electrical should be ran inside the wall in case someone screw something in the wall.

[@julianreverse]

@@DavidLucBelanger Not just freezing, it's also a "heatbridge" or coldspot in the wall.

[@general4str]

Okay, I can see the interior furring at 7:36. That's terrible for trying to run anything in that wall. Sure, plumbing in exterior walls should be avoided. (I live in southern California, not much of a freezing problem here) but for electrical all you can run is romex to a pancake box. Not only is that not deep enough for most outlets and switches but your romex is now in a pinch position where it can't flex out of the way if a homeowner puts a nail or screw into the wall. That bottom chase is also right where any base trim would be nailed.

[@rosstrethewey9391]

Just to clarify most of the plumbing and electrical is located in the interior through chases, but it is also located in the air space provided by furring strips on the inside of the exterior wall where required. There is hardly a risk of freezing because of the wall assembly (high R-value and no thermal bridging).

[@hansski1995]

This is so cool. What amazing engineering and business strategy.

[@StortWeldingCoLLC]

TEDD IS A CLASS PERSON~~NUFF SAID

[@aleblanc3547]

I remember Ted. It's good to see he's still at it. Thanks guys!!

[@markfoertmeyer7690]

A master system. WOW!

[@DoctorSkillz]

This company must be killing it.

[@stevewilliams7852]

Pre-Fabs have always been cheaper. It's a question of the quality of materials and still takes a skilled technician to assemble and finish.

[@robjennings39]

I help build homes, and that’s pretty cool! Not worried about losing a job lol. Will always need hands on, for the most part. It’s about quality and squareness, so I think it’s great.

[@fmartino100]

Hi Ted, It's great to see you again...Frank

[@MinecraftLetstime]

As a Software Engineer student, this gave me great excitement and joy. This is cool.

[@TimothyDavis726]

I'm pretty sure it's ArchiCAD judging by the blurry icon, but can't tell for sure

[@MinecraftLetstime]

@@TimothyDavis726 They probably use a custom bespoke developed software specifically for this, at least the main brain of it, and third party software used with it along the whole process.

[@ThePhilandPam]

Not as prevalent here in the UK yet, but it’s definitely coming, great video guys 👍

[@steevemclean8275]

I live in Quebec and Machine-Built Houses have been around for a long time and it's very popular.

[@kingssman2]

Return of the Sears Catalog kit homes

[@boedillard8807]

Sears catalog kit homes were actually a good deal and more affordable than custom built homes. Don't get me wrong I'm all for it - just not when the price is up to 3 times the price of a standard home of the same size.

[@brandonmarchese1]

Wow 😮 crazy cool stuff

[@donnlowe9129]

How about the electrical or the plumbing , Central Vac entertainment systems I didn't see one wire one piece of tubing run inside those walls.

[@twodeepupyours508]

It's about the consumer as it should be.

[@joea1433]

About the only way you could run wiring in the furring strip are is by using metal conduit. To have boxes big enough, you would need 4-11/16 boxes with plaster rings.

[@markschuette3770]

yep, this is the way money is concentrated into the hands of the few- automation!

[@daddynichol52]

If I were younger, I would be trained on the installation, servicing and repair of the production equipment. Some construction jobs would disappear, but other opportunities will arise.

[@MrFreddywise1]

there,ll always be construction, carpentry, electricians, plumbers, etc no matter how modernized the building Industry becomes .....

[@jessiepapabear4272]

Wow,just wow.

[@louisbertini6840]

OMG this was freaking amazing!!

[@edward88n]

This is awesome.

[@douglasmccarty1196]

Why don't you use plywood for sheathing instead of crap OSB?

[@cloudstrifeification]

I was just thinking the same thing as OSB is really sensitive to moisture but gets used frequently in newer homes.

[@dlamarsobotor4573]

Why would you ? It's quickly covered and strength is not an issue.

[@toomanymarys7355]

@@cloudstrifeification It used to be sensitive. It's not anymore. Progress.

[@acerjuglans383]

Plywood isn't a cost efficient material.

[@charlesstevensEnki]

Awesome

[@mickthompson2947]

These houses have to be a shit ton of money. The software that is used a amazing technology. I wonder how they take into account plumbing and electrical work.

[@percyjen6490]

I think I’m going to use BMC Ready Frame on my next build

[@wjthehomebuilder]

This is the true definition of a modular home. A modular home is a factory stick built home; not to be confused with manufactured/ mobile/ doublewide/ homes.

[@kingtutakhamon]

What’s the price per square foot?

[@jakemeyer6047]

That guy squeezing the caulk gun will be unemployed tomorrow

[@ericwhite265]

They could at least be nice and get him an electric caulk gun.

[@toomanymarys7355]

@@ericwhite265 Yeah that was weird!!!

[@Techmatt167Official]

Should I Pursue this type of construction for my future? How does the salary compare to an actual construction job outside?

[@acerjuglans383]

If you ever worked in construction, why would you want to do subpar work in the freezing cold, or rain, or snow, or work on a hot roof in the middle of the summer when you could be comfortable and do the same job using high end tools, and be part of a much higher quality build?

[@Techmatt167Official]

@@acerjuglans383 I agree I’ve been working construction for 2 years and the cold sucks. I don’t mind the heat too much

[@squirrelboy538]

Great dishonor!

[@excitedbox5705]

That degree of Automation will not last. Right now they are just making it easier for the people but everything they showed people doing like the gluing and paneling can be automated. I think what they are doing is a good thing though because it does make the house building process a lot safer and less demanding on the body.

[@zippy3711]

"Do you think it will be taking away jobs?" Doh ! It's a really good house"

[@erikkovacs3097]

I hate these questions. Everything manufactured is maximized to save labor. It's been that way since the beginning of the industrial revolution. Yet everyone isn't out of work because new jobs are always being created.

[@anwarlucas]

Good way to deflect the answering if the question: do you think it's taking away jobs .

[@acerjuglans383]

What job is it taking away? Looks like it's added jobs to a typical construction company. But it's not a typical construction company. If you knew anything about Tedd Benson, you'd know he's an industry leader.

[@daveklein2826]

No deflection just an honest answer

[@joeschlotthauer840]

With automation quality should go up, everything should be plumb and square, the only thing I didn't like was the insulation, you need to stop the movement of air. I would've like to have seen spray foam insulation...

[@joeln3415]

How does the house get to the location?

[@righteous8562]

I wonder what's the cost difference from regular framing?

[@milkychannel4696]

great

[@sanjuansteve]

We should automate everything that can be automated (everything). :D

[@markledesma1106]

What is the software they are using to do this homes?

[@GowaX]

Cadwork

[@DavidLucBelanger]

Looks like autocad

[@donegal79]

I believe it is MS Paint

[@tracycolorado]

cellulose insulation settles after time = unwanted gaps

[@hazelwood55]

He explained that it goes in dense packed so s not to settle.

[@Limebuscus]

Nvr homes build about 3-6 houses a day in factory then ships them out.

[@1979dal]

The only reason to use automation is to drive down cost. I'm curious as to how this compares to traditional onsite built homes. I'm thinking this process might be more expensive by the way the owner side stepped a few questions and how he pitched out the quality side.

[@GK-fq3cy]

Seen this on grand designs over 20 years ago. Germans kit homes made in factory

[@ShakespeareCafe]

No more incessant hammering and racket from the construction site down the street. The sheer waste of excess building materials and scraps ends up in the landfill. In the factory everything can be recycled

[@rickywright3894]

So where's the house???????

[@boedillard8807]

I'm sure their stuff is nice but HOLY $#!+ their prices! I suppose if you have money to spare it isn't bad as I'm sure it is decent construction.

[@fancybrooks3156]

I want one of those houses! How do I go about ordering one? Edit: contact Bensonwood.com

[@rio197]

This reminds me of that level in the video game Titanfall 2.

[@Otis884]

Didn't say good or bad, just making an observation.

[@godbluffvdgg]

I thought it would be built in modules...This is just panelized...We've been doing that for decades and maybe the consistency isn't comparable but the speed is pretty close to the same..The only difference I see is more machines...No robots in that building...Those were all just automated or manually run cutters, nailers, jigs and fixtures...As well; those fir studs look like shit from home depot...Checks, warps, missing chunks...Yuk...

[@kperkins1982]

Holy god that was a giant circular saw

[@Otis884]

Almost no humans required.

[@MyGardenForYou]

Bernie Worona humans are only for paying bills!

[@fancybrooks3156]

Humans still have to do the final assembly.

[@dudehenchman]

Because who needs jobs right?

[@godbluffvdgg]

@@fancybrooks3156 And set up and maintain the machines, drive the trucks with the lumber, clean up, load units..etc...This is one business that will NEVER be robotic totally...What I saw in there were helper monkeys, not robots......:)...I just noticed you're a brooks...That's my Company name and mine...:)

[@ShawnTempesta]

@@godbluffvdgg "Drive the trucks with the lumber". That'll be changing within a decade. Same with the machines (AI is here). This is the one business that is the most protected by full automation, but it's not totally protected.

[@drewbush6535]

Wow

[@willford8475]

That software looks 20 years old.

[@classikz]

Keith, sit up straight 2:08

[@Jemalacane0]

Engineered wood is stronger? In which universe?

[@toomanymarys7355]

Glulam vs hardwood beam.

[@Jemalacane0]

@@toomanymarys7355 Railroad ties aren't laminated.

[@acerjuglans383]

@@Jemalacane0 railroad ties are soaked in oil to be long lasting in exterior environments. Has nothing to do with strength.

[@Jemalacane0]

@@acerjuglans383 No, railroad ties don't need to be strong. They don't support trains weighing thousands of tons.

[@Xergecuz]

Will american houses still be built out of cardboard and yogurt lids?

[@apeiron1984]

in Europe manifacturers like Rubner haus or Rensch haus do this kind of fabrication since 1970

[@buckhorncortez]

And we've been doing in the USA since, oh...1300 BC..and without using the metric system..okay?

[@apeiron1984]

No problem with that. @@buckhorncortez

[@apeiron1984]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/apvChp1_qM2tg8U this is what i'm talking about @@buckhorncortez

[@toomanymarys7355]

No. They haven't. Building modular originated in the US. Kit homes started in the 1800s and manufactured ones by the 1930s What's new is the level of automation, not the fact that it's factory made. You Europeans are always so clueless about this kind of stuff.

[@toomanymarys7355]

@@apeiron1984 Aaaaand that would be hand built. Just because it's done in a factory doesn't make it automated.

[@julianreverse]

That's what we Germans do for over 80 years :-D :-D :-D :-D :-D :-D :-D :-D Even their whole machinery was built in Germany.

[@grayzao7688]

80 years? You mean since WWII?

[@julianreverse]

@@grayzao7688 Exactly. In 1948 Heinz Bauer invented it in Augsburg and began mass production of 230 houses. Walter Gropius invented a similar system in 1931 but you know history ...

[@julianreverse]

A timelaps of a modern German prefab home from the market leader. They build 800 - 1.000 homes each year. kzbin.info/www/bejne/i4e5h4eHa8qngdk

[@julianreverse]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/gmfclJinnLF3f7s

[@grayzao7688]

@@julianreverse Interessante Informationen. Danke! Sorry for my bad German :D

[@ro63rto]

Cheaper than a Huff House???

[@jezeski2011]

He still didn't answer the question at the end; he just sidestepped it.

[@fancybrooks3156]

Of course. LOL Doesn't want to give away company secrets!

[@jezeski2011]

@@fancybrooks3156 I was talking about the one referring to taking away jobs.

[@fancybrooks3156]

@@jezeski2011 I guess he really didn't want to come out and say machines do a better job than humans, even though that is the rationale.

[@jezeski2011]

@@fancybrooks3156 That and the fact they would take away many jobs

[@fancybrooks3156]

@@jezeski2011 Oh, for sure. The final assembly can probably be done by a crew of three or four, with a crane. Thus, many construction jobs have been replaced.

[@wiseguydirk]

Great eliminate human error.. no more shim to fit construction..

[@jul9cuz]

I wish he would have asked some decent questions about things like cost and mechanicals. He did a good job patting him on the back though.

[@robertplatt643]

Half-million dollar house, BLACKTOP SIDEWALKS. Jeez people...

[@toomanymarys7355]

Maybe they hate shoveling? :)

[@ScorbyBird]

Those railings at 0:55 don't look legit.

[@toomanymarys7355]

Probably built before you had to have the bit sticking out at the top and bottom. Those are pretty new requirements.

[@djdiscoworm]

PARTICLE BOARD SHOULD BE BANNED. TONS OF FORMALDEHYDE

[@dlamarsobotor4573]

It out gasses quickly. Please don't drink the Kool-Aid.

[@acerjuglans383]

Where do you see particle board in the construction of this house?

[@aarontuplin]

Aren't you worried about jobs? Well I look at it as I make more money.

[@LucidDreamer54321]

I want to have my house built inside a tree by the Keebler Elves.

[@FableMythLore]

I didnt see a single thing other than programming, qa, design, that couldnt be automated at the factory. I wouldnt feel comfortable having a job knowing that my position could be automated easily. IE the factory floor could be handled by maybe 3 people at most and one of them is to repair/replace equipment failures.

[@toomanymarys7355]

They're not replacing a guy with a six degrees of movement $1 million robot. Not unless minimum wage is $30. It's going to be 20 years before any of those jobs disappear even with the focus on automation.

[@FableMythLore]

@@toomanymarys7355 your right there not due to taxes placed on automation. its the reason why McDonald's doesn't automate now, the tech is there the software is there. but taxes on automation make it cheaper to keep low paying jobs.

[@TheOneshot78]

Let's see a robot do my job,hvac

[@zilfondel]

Swedes have been doing this since the 80s. Anyways, 3d Autocad is nothing new, this is 1970s technology.

[@davidparsons5918]

Its gonna dumb down the people from doing carpentry and all the skills we now today i don't see education in this format.

[@toomanymarys7355]

There will be remodeling forever.

[@JohnDoe-kp3sw]

Won't be happy until they have snuffed out every peaon

[@dnsmithnc]

This is going to make housing more affordable? What jobs are going to be available to get the money to buy machine built houses when 90% of the jobs are automated. And no, other jobs are not going to arise to take their place. We're past the tipping point where automation will provide more or as many jobs as it eliminates. The two employees featured here? Their jobs will soon be gone. Doctors? Other than a overseeing MD, their profession will be largely replaced by computers and probably will be done better. Even certain surgeries are being done through automation. Lawyers? computers will do 90% of their work. Just a matter of writing the programs. Oh, and what about writing computer programs? Computers are doing that too and doing it better. Just give the computer a desired outcome and the computer will figure out the best way to do it. I write this only so that you will know what you or your children will be facing so that you can look into preparing for the not so bright future.

[@LinoPR-ds2ke]

Oh boy , robots taken our jobs

[@briancnc]

More like nail hitters turned into engineers and advanced manufacturing machine operators. Safer, more efficient work environment with lower costs, less insurance claims and everyone moving up in society. It's a win-win for everyone. Anyone that thinks advanced manufacturing or automation is a bad thing for our country has never worked in manufacturing. Also keep in mind that each one of those machines he has was probably custom built and has a supply chain that goes another dozen or so vendors that get a piece. I would much rather have my house built in a factory and assembled in days on site rather than it being built, soaked, snowed on, and then settling for the next 5 years.

[@FernieOW]

Keith has bad posture...

[@acerjuglans383]

You try timber framing for most of your life and see how your posture is at his age.

[@MrEtherShot]

You remove the tradesmen from the picture what type of pride the next generation of men gonna have.... Socialism 🤦🏻‍♂️

[@johnnyfeathers2567]

He steered around the question about the machines taking away jobs with a big bundle of verbal bullshit!.lol

[@fljetgator1833]

The yankee 'lenders' typically shunned these in the past. (think of Palm Harbor.. NOT mobile homes.. I'm speaking of in factory MODULAR home with SIX INCH wall studs) ... Yet NOWWW they have interest? ... Hmmm 🤔 ... They MUST have 'friendly connections' ! ROFLMFAO 😂

[@ForwardGuidance]

Seems this wouldn't be cheaper, but just more faster so not sure I'd pay the extra unless I was 100 percent sure I'd never sell the house. That's the thing about TOH, they just high-end materials and methods to get the job done, but if one sells one of these homes, no one cares how or what it was built with so they still only paying same as if it was built by a bunch of mexicans. With AI coming, maybe the US will officially do something to reduce the labor supply which reduces wages which is why so many don't want to work in construction any more.

[@gslavik]

There are other companies that do something similar but with less automation. The benefit of this is that you don't have to worry having good weather for a long time. You only need a few days to come in and put everything together.

[@ForwardGuidance]

@@gslavik True, but 2 of these companies in the mid atlantic area have gone bust. Those companies served all markets, not just high end. I've passed through some housing developments lately and see lots of packaged panels laying around - panels is as far as the big track home builders have gotten with automation but no doubt more is coming which means less jobs while the left doesn't care how much low skilled labor is in the US. Too much labor reduces wages - basic law of supply and demand. I "had" family working in all aspects of construction - low wages drove them out. They'd rather work a comfortable indoor job if the pay is the same - some just give up since welfare is on par with low end job pay.

[@monsantofungaro5704]

Sad, sad. Tech geeks replacing people and killing crafts. With this guy around we don't need this old house. He says, "raise the quality", this high tech stuff doesn't last near what things used to.

[@acerjuglans383]

Lol!