How to Build a Geodesic Dome Home

Table Of Content

• Built using environmentally sane, Earth friendly building principles and materials.
• Choosing a Suitable Geodesic Home Kit
• Construction Cost Guide
• Transform your geodesic dome into a functional living space
• The World's largest collection of domes open for touring in Minnesota.
• Eco-Living In A Geodesic Dome

Not only is a geodesic dome home safe and spacious, it is environmentally friendly. The products used to make geodesic domes are mostly recycled and the structure does not take up a lot of materials to begin with. Living in a geodesic dome house uses far less resources than building wooden houses.

Built using environmentally sane, Earth friendly building principles and materials.

This three-story monolithic dome home is still for sale in Florida, and now $300K cheaper - Orlando Weekly

This three-story monolithic dome home is still for sale in Florida, and now $300K cheaper.

Posted: Tue, 17 Oct 2023 07:00:00 GMT [source]

Zip-doors are the perfect option if you want your geodesic dome house to be fully mobile. However, choosing a clear dome house cover definitely sacrifices privacy. I also love the idea of building a cover out of a smooth, maple-colored hardwood.

Choosing a Suitable Geodesic Home Kit

These points are then connected to divide the original triangle into smaller triangles. For example, if you are dividing each side of a triangle by 3, you will have a 3v dome. If using a kit, the materials required t o construct the geodesic dome should be included which eliminates the added challenges sourcing the right building materials. In 1986, a patent for a dome construction technique involving polystyrene triangles laminated to reinforced concrete on the outside, and wallboard on the inside was awarded to American Ingenuity of Rockledge, Florida. The construction technique allows the domes to be prefabricated in kit form and erected by a homeowner. This method makes the seams into the strongest part of the structure, where the seams and especially the hubs in most wooden-framed domes are the weakest point in the structure.

Thinking About Building a Geodesic Dome? Don't. - Treehugger

Thinking About Building a Geodesic Dome? Don't..

Posted: Wed, 17 Jun 2020 16:48:22 GMT [source]

Construction Cost Guide

They’re often built out of concrete over an air form, and tend to embody the half sphere shape. There is, however, a great deal of variability amongst materials used to build different sections of a dome house. There are many builders that specialize in building dome homes of various kinds, including geodesic domes.

The chicken wire and screen are tied to the framework with wire ties. Tests should be performed with small squares to achieve the correct consistency of concrete or plastic. Generally, several coats are necessary on the inside and outside. The last step is to saturate concrete or polyester domes with a thin layer of epoxy compound to shed water.

There are so many options for geodome cover materials, and each comes with its own set of pros and cons. As a forerunner to the science of biomimicry, Buckminster Fuller, inventor of the modern day geodesic dome, observed how the spider’s web mimics Nature’s geometry to withstand the extreme forces of Nature. It's important to remember that home kits typically include only the materials needed to build the shell of the house, and not the interior elements you'll need to move in. Depending on your skills and available time, you may decide to hire a local construction firm to put together and finish your kit dome home.

The World's largest collection of domes open for touring in Minnesota.

A geodesic dome house is possible but requires commitment and an understanding of the law and the building process. The etymology of geodesic contains “earth” and the “to divide.” Geodesic domes are spherical structures that are composed of many networks of triangles. These triangles create a sturdy framework, reducing the need for inner columns and thus creating more space inside and using less materials than a more common building. Geodesic dome houses were produced by Buckminster Fuller after WWII. The goal of Fuller was to create housing that could use materials to quickly and efficiently create affordable housing. The first commercial dome he designed was in 1953 for the Ford Motor Company at their headquarters.

Even if you choose a cover material which isn’t removeable, the general shape of a dome house makes it a lot more challenging to trap heat within the structure. Geodesic dome homes generally don’t need a foundation which saves time and money in digging a foundation and pouring concrete for a traditional house. And, not having to add reinforced concrete slabs and walls is another factor in their favor. Building estimates put material savings at least 30% less while building a geodesic dome home versus a traditional home.

The rigid triangular elements of the dome distribute stress throughout the structure, making geodesic domes able to withstand very heavy loads for their size. More than 300,00 geodesic domes are said to exist and range from homes to radars to shelters. Fuller designed the domes to be affordable and efficient in their architecture. Hypedome’s many different dome house kit styles can be assembled easily in your own yard. As a general rule, dome houses typically cost between $100 and $250 per square foot if you partner with a builder. This price includes finishing the home and labor costs, but does not include buying or preparing your land for the building process, which you should certainly not neglect in your budget.

Not only they save you an upfront fee of the lesser materials used, but they will also use lesser energy later thus, saving you dollars of energy bills. Ekodomes are covered with hard shell panels that will prevent forced entry by wild animals or intruders. Our qualified team is able to produce and ship your ideal dome to fit the timing of your project. Thanks to our in-house manufacturing, we have a 100% track record even with custom orders.

The domeowners and builders we’ve spoken to have been extremely helpful. To complement the structure’s whitewashed, 20-foot-high ceilings, cantilevered stairs were constructed and now connect the living room to the mezzanine sitting room. A midcentury Malm fireplace that Fouquet found at Venice Vintage Paradise is the room’s focal point. A dome home is an odd thing, certainly, and you may never see them lining the grid of regular city streets.

These domes homes are eventually gaining momentum throughout the world and why not? Insulative liners help reduce air conditioning costs on hot days and heating costs on cold days while providing you with an all-around stable room temperature. Our insulative liner is made of water resistant, easy to clean, fire retardant Oxford Nylon Cloth backed with a Thinsulate® liner that is naturally mildew and mold resistant. It’s easy to install and to attach on the inside of your frame, keeping your dome home cozy and comfortable all year-round. This is why we are the choice for advanced Eco-Villages, The NASA Mars exploration project, and some the most advanced high-tech development projects in the world. If you would like to buy a dome home, get started by exploring our dome homes brochure.