Anyone here live in or know about Dome Homes?

To gobug & RAC:

Yes, I have studied the Pyramodule and $5000 is realistic for materials. The foundation is on 6x6 posts, and the posts & subfooring for the 20x20 base will only cost about $300 for lumber.

We are talking about basic plumbing & electrical to be included in this price, not appliances. The door & basic light fixtures are modestly priced.

Since conventional construction materials are used, getting a permit should not be a problem. Additionally, the designer offers a money-back guarantee if the permits are denied for his design.

Of course, you may upgrade with any construction materials you wish. Costs will naturally increase accordingly.

Part of the issue with getting permits is aesthetics--as in what your neighbors may think of it and what they "think" it will do to their home values. It might be ok'd if you have a wooded property, but if you try to plunk it down near some clearcut area with more expensive homes nearby, it could be an uphill battle.

Just something to think about, and you have to do that with domes or any other type of alternative housing--although I'm surprised that A-frames were on that alternative housing site--they are quite common in many mountain vacation areas.

I understrand your concern about permitting now. I was posting in the context of rural homesteading where appearances aren't as much of a concern. I happen to like the look of the Pyramodule, but I do recognize that many may not agree.

Hi!

I think everyone should have a dome. I have a feeling that the leaking has much to do with who built it. I live in Eugene, OR, rains 9 months a year, and my dome is 100% dry. i also have 8 skylights, not a one leaks.

I love my dome, and my only complaint is that I want more room. I bought mine pre-existing, so had to go with what I could find. Good thing is they are easy to add on to.

It is incredibly inexpensive to heat and cool as well. I guess its the same as any home. Mine was built in 1986, so I would imagine the older ones would have more problems just as with any house.

Anyway, dont be discouraged by other bad luck. its the way it goes no matter what kind of house you are buying.

Kristin

Im sorry!

Yurts rock too!!! I go camping in some that they have on the ORegon coast.

Dont know anything about living in one, but I would go for it if you want to.

Hi!

I just wanted to add that my dome has radiant floor heating. Maybe that helps regulate the heat better or something. I dont seem to have the problems with temperature that you guys are talking about.

I dont have any of the problems you guys are talking about. Maybe I just have a mystery dome. :O)

Kristin......could you tell us a bit about your dome? Like how is it roofed for a starter. Most all our skylights leaked, and we had the sprayed on foam stuff that was suppose to really seal it up. I actually loved living in the dome, if were not for the leaking problems. Once we installed some rather large overhead fans, the heating and cooling were not as much of a problem.

Hmm... It has roof tiles on it, they are just an odd shape. Im not sure about to much else because the person who inspected it just marked down that he didnt know about this type of roof.

I was talking to family recently that have skylights in regular homes, and they all leak. No one believed me that mine dont. Perhaps I just got lucky. The skylights are large bubbles, and they open outward and then close again. I would think this would be more prone to leaking, but they do not. Oregon Dome, Inc. is located where I live, so perhaps they had experimented with it alot before they built mine. I also work next to a large office building that is a dome, cant say if it leaks or not, but there are a bunch of people with offices there. I cant imagine they would stay there if it was a leaky mess.

Actually, they dont even leak if I leave them open with its raining, the water just runs over the bubble and off the roof. My cat loves it because he sits in them on the screen and stays dry.

There is one above my stairs that is cracked, and it doesnt even leak.

Sorry im not much help.

Kristin

We deliver fire wood to a guy who lives in a dome house. It actually consists of multiple domes. It is rustic! That being said, he has no plumbing, and heats with just wood. Winters can be harsh here, he normally gets 4 cords in the fall and by Feb. needs two more. Sometimes we even hear from him again.

They were hand built, back in the 70's. I have never been in one. Just seen it from the outside. He says it actually is very nice. He says his don't leak.

The outside is all regular shingles. And they are not on a foundation they are on short posts. But like I said, they were built in the 70's before it was harder to build where I am. We actually have a fair amount of dome houses in our area too.

I don't think i would care for one you may. domes are extremely dificult to finish due to all the bastard angles so it would not be well suited to any do it yourself finishing remodeling or repair unless you are a quite accomplished trim carpenter. there is a reason we use straight lines in archetecture it just works better. Been that way ever since we moved out of brush huts still is. If you like cooncrete, and i do too,check into the foam block that is going mainstream now it can build a conventional style home that has some chance of decent resale. once stacked and poured it gives the advantages of concrete as well as integrated insulation extremely infiltrtion proof so wind won't sneak through the cracks can be finished very nicely on the exterieor with stone or brick and possibly even other siding products. for not a whole lot more than the cost of a wood frame you should be able to build a house your great grandkids may still be able to use.