Dome Houses

[Lynnette]

Any thoughts, experiences? This is the design we have chosen for our new house. DH has and is researching it, but so far has found that they are cheaper to build, more efficient in heating and cooling, and are far more likely to withstand extreme weather conditions then rectangular houses. We both also really like the design itself.

[WisJim]

I haven't lived in one, only visited. They are not designed for regular furniture, at least some spaces will probably turn out to be unusable triangles, and I think that they would make a good greenhouse to raise all sizes of plants, up to trees. But as a house--no. Friends are currently finishing a concrete done, and it is turning into a money hole, and many rooms are downright weird almost unpleasant.

But it is your time and money to dispose of as you like.

[Bink]

Our furniture fits just fine, and we don't have any unusable triangles, but it cost as much as a stick-built.

If you haven't yet, check out: http://www.monolithic.com/thedome/index.html

[Lynnette]

Originally Posted by Bink

Our furniture fits just fine, and we don't have any unusable triangles, but it cost as much as a stick-built.

If you haven't yet, check out: http://www.monolithic.com/thedome/index.html

DH is building it himself (for the most part) and says it is cheaper because of the trusses (sp), and his abilities vs. what he would have to have hired done. So in general it may not be cheaper but in our case it should be more cost effective.

Thanks for the link, I am going to check it out now!

[Lynnette]

Originally Posted by Bink

Our furniture fits just fine, and we don't have any unusable triangles, but it cost as much as a stick-built.

If you haven't yet, check out: http://www.monolithic.com/thedome/index.html

Do you have pictures of your home, I would love to see it.

[Bink]

I've PMed you a few. And you're right, if your husband does a lot of the work himself, that should save you something. At the very least, you won't have to swear at a contractor.

[Hoop]

My $.02 worth.

I happen to think a person should always think about reselling their house.....because we never know what life will throw at us.
Dome homes are undoubtedly one of the most difficult (if not THE most difficult) to sell. I know of a dome home near here that languished on the market for 7 years. Price reductions.....price cuts....improvements to the house.....more price cuts. It was not a pleasant experience for the owners.

It is for that reason I believe dome homes should be avoided.

One wants to own a home. One does not want the home to own them.

[Bink]

This is true. If one plans to resell, domes can be difficult. OTOH, if the economy collapses, those McMansions will be tough to unload, too.

This is the last house we plan to be in, so resale wasn't a factor.

[Lynnette]

Originally Posted by Hoop

My $.02 worth.

I happen to think a person should always think about reselling their house.....because we never know what life will throw at us.
Dome homes are undoubtedly one of the most difficult (if not THE most difficult) to sell. I know of a dome home near here that languished on the market for 7 years. Price reductions.....price cuts....improvements to the house.....more price cuts. It was not a pleasant experience for the owners.

It is for that reason I believe dome homes should be avoided.

One wants to own a home. One does not want the home to own them.

Point taken, my BIL is a real estate appraiser and he said the same thing, however, I watched a news report that stated that the popularity of them is expected to increase in the coming years due to the changing weather patterns (more severe) and the stability of a dome vs. a rectangular house. I imagine it is like anything else, it comes in phases, and anymore any house of any type is hard to sell expecially in Michigan. The house is going to be more than a home it will be my husband's dream, and our legacy to leave behind us as it is not going to be a normal house but more like a museum with hand crafted decor etc. Point being, we have no intention of selling it, even if we do move, it will be left to our families.

[Lynnette]

Originally Posted by Bink

I've PMed you a few. And you're right, if your husband does a lot of the work himself, that should save you something. At the very least, you won't have to swear at a contractor.

Thanks!!!

[fantasymaker]

Hoops right I have a friend with one .He got hit with a double wammy. Its hard to sell for anything close to what it should be worth and its ASSESSED at twice that!

He is a very acomplished wood worker and built it himself but it wasnt cheep. Every piece needs to be cut , everything is special and unless you are going to do every bit of it yourself contracters will kill ya on prices not because they hate Domes but because since they dont do a lot of them they have to bid way high to cover thier buts.Even then they may not be able to afford the job. He had 4 contracters start the drywall before one finished it and now a few years later its not looking so good. Dry wall hates joints and a domr is all joints.
he kept impecable records and it was far more expencive to build than a regular home of the same footage remeber you are going to have lots of wastage on things intended for square homes. And some things like windows a re a huge specialty that translates into $$$$
Heck even his plumber charged him a premium for working "Hassles"

Its a neat place but dont think for a minute it will be easyer and cheeper.

[pancho]

I have been in a couple, one is a restaurant. Heating in winter is a nightmare. The top is very hot and the bottom is very cold. Cooling in summer was a little better but the electricity bills were more than a stick built home.

[quietstar]

If possible, I would certainly examine one or more dome homes that have been completed for 10 years or more, and that were constructed similar to your plans. I have heard of problems with stick built dome frameworks holding shape. Like you, I am most impressed with the way they handle wind loads. Some of the same effect is available to hip roof designs. Good luck with your project. I salute bold builders laying it all on the line...Glen

[Bink]

Originally Posted by pancho

I have been in a couple, one is a restaurant. Heating in winter is a nightmare. The top is very hot and the bottom is very cold. Cooling in summer was a little better but the electricity bills were more than a stick built home.

Our electric has been way less. We've heated 1800 sq.ft. with one of those oil-filled radiator-type space heaters, two if it's bitter out for a long time. And this is with a window kept cracked open for fresh air. There's a 2-3 degree temperature difference between up near the ceiling and down on the floor.

In the summer, we get by with an air conditioner in one window, set on low.

Of course, this is a superinsulated monolithic dome, not a geodesic.

[fantasymaker]

good point Bink my friend has the geodesic dome

[Bink]

Originally Posted by fantasymaker

good point Bink my friend has the geodesic dome

We had considered one of those, first, but the dealbreaker was that they tend to have leakage problems.

[Sand Flat Bob]

Originally Posted by Lynnette

Any thoughts, experiences? This is the design we have chosen for our new house. DH has and is researching it, but so far has found that they are cheaper to build, more efficient in heating and cooling, and are far more likely to withstand extreme weather conditions then rectangular houses. We both also really like the design itself.

There is a dome home close to us that was for sale when we bought the place we live in now. It had the price reduced several times, is what the Realtor told us. It has resold several times in the past 15 years. I am told that the main thing people didn't like about it is the lack of privacy due the transmission of sound through out the dome. This is something you might want to investigate and take into account in your design.

Bob

[Bink]

Originally Posted by Sand Flat Bob

I am told that the main thing people didn't like about it is the lack of privacy due the transmission of sound through out the dome. This is something you might want to investigate and take into account in your design.

Bob

This is true, too. Inside noise is intensified. You also get the "rotunda effect" where it can be difficult to hear someone 10 feet away from you, but someone entirely across the dome sounds as though they're right in your ear.

The dome houses we visited in Texas all had quilted baffles hanging from the ceiling to minimize noise. And you definitely want to make sure there are ceilings on your bathroom(s). Otherwise, taking a tinkle sounds like Niagara Falls and anything else sounds like Herb Alpert and the Tijuana Brass.

[LisaInN.Idaho]

Originally Posted by Bink

I've PMed you a few. And you're right, if your husband does a lot of the work himself, that should save you something. At the very least, you won't have to swear at a contractor.

I've always been intrigued by domes. I'd love to see your house too Bink, if you wouldn't mind.

[pancho]

Originally Posted by Bink

Our electric has been way less. We've heated 1800 sq.ft. with one of those oil-filled radiator-type space heaters, two if it's bitter out for a long time. And this is with a window kept cracked open for fresh air. There's a 2-3 degree temperature difference between up near the ceiling and down on the floor.

In the summer, we get by with an air conditioner in one window, set on low.

Of course, this is a superinsulated monolithic dome, not a geodesic.

I also know a family that has a smaller dome. They built it themselves. It is very small but the heating and cooling is very cheap. It is just 4 small rooms off of the center room. Cheap to build and cheap on heat and cool. They do have to spend money to redoo the outside every few years. The outside is sprayed on, a mixture of cement and styrafoam.