Dome homes stand up to storms

Dear Jim: I saw some pictures of the aftermath of a tornado and the only things standing were geodesic dome homes. I have always thought they looked neat. Are those types of home energy-efficient and easy to build? – Alan R.

Dear Alan: For the same reasons they survive terrific storms, geodesic dome homes are one of the most efficient designs available. If you think the exteriors look “neat,” you will love the unique interiors with high, multiangled ceilings, lofts, triangular skylights, open stairwells, etc.

For people who want a unique, but not totally unconventional house, a hybrid dome home is an excellent choice. By adding nondome room extensions with large vertical windows, sunrooms, balconies and porches to the basic efficient dome structure, you can produce any exterior look you desire.

The spherical shape of a dome home provides the greatest indoor living space with the least exterior wall-roof area. Since the amount of heat loss during the winter (heat gain during the summer) is directly related to the amount of exterior wall area, dome homes are inherently energy-efficient.

The geodesic design is unique in that, once it is completely assembled, the exterior of the structure is self-supporting. With the smooth circular exterior, winds pass smoothly over the exterior without creating strong pressure differences from side to side. This is why they survive storms.

Some dome home designs, even ones as large as 4,000 square feet of floor space, are available as do-it-yourself kits while others must be constructed by an experienced professional builder. Even with this type, you should be able to help out with some of the initial construction to lower the costs.

One of the most common dome home kit construction methods uses a hub and strut design. Wood studs, that form the basic triangular sections of the dome exterior, bolt into strong steel hubs. A lower-cost variation on this design eliminates the hubs and the studs are just screwed together.

Hub and strut designs are one of the easiest to build yourself. All the members and hardware are color-coded. Once the foundation is ready, a few strong friends can have the basic shell assembled and ready to enclose over a weekend.

Other designs use pre-assembled lumber panels that are bolted to one another as you assemble the exterior wall. The exterior sheathing is already attached to the panels for rigidity during assembly of the structure.

The most efficient methods use lightweight, thick, rigid foam insulation panels to form the exterior. Thick concrete is sprayed over this to form a super-strong shell. The interior can be sprayed with concrete too or finished conventionally.

Write for (instantly download – www.dulley.com) Update Bulletin No. 892 – list of nine manufacturers of geodesic dome kits listing construction methods, sizes, specifications, six floor plan layouts and several exterior diagrams. Include $3 and a business-size SASE. Send to James Dulley, 6906 Royalgreen Drive, Cincinnati, OH 45244.