ABOUT DOME HOUSES

Dome Houses are an unusual and interesting way of building a home. They are a specialist product, which appeals to those who want a really different type of home. Dome houses also appeal to the environmentally conscious, as they can be designed in ways which are highly energy efficient. One reason for this is that the curved shape reduces the area of outside wall. Dome houses can also be sunk into the ground, and covered with earth. This reduces the dome house's visual impact, and increases its energy efficiency.

There are two main methods of construction for dome houses: geodesic and concrete. Geodesic dome houses have a structure made up of interlocking triangles. This is a technique invented by the famous 20th century innovator Buckminster Fuller. The other method of constructing dome houses is sprayed concrete; this is usually applied to a light dome made of foam.

Dome houses can be made from a single dome, or from as many as seven domes of various sizes linked together.

SPONSORED LINKS

LEADING DOME HOUSE MANUFACTURERS

Leitgeb Industries: Dome Houses. Leitgeb Industries, headquartered in Toccoa, Georgia, is a supplier of concrete dome homes. The company specializes in building dome houses made from sprayed concrete (shotcrete), and is run by founder Lawrence Leitgeb. The company also constructs domed storage facilities, sheds, shops, and even airplane hangars. Other Leitgeb spray concrete projects include fences, decorative features, and waterfalls. Leitget dome houses are built out of two layers of foam. A shotcrete layer is applied to the inside of the dome house receives a shotcrete layer, with the outside of the dome house receiving an exterior coating.

Geodesic Domes & Homes: Dome Houses. Geodesic Domes & Homes is headquartered in Whitehouse, Texas. The company has been manufacturing geodesic dome houses since 1957 and was the first dome house company to receive approval from FHA, FNMA, and VA. It normally supplies its dome houses with triple-glazed skylights. Its dome houses are certified to withstand winds of over 200 mph. Its dome houses are manufactured in the factory, and the structure can be erected within eight hours. Triangular panels are grouped into hexagons and pentagons, which make a self-supporting structure without internal uprights.

Timberline Geodesic Domes: Dome Houses. Timberline Geodesic Domes has been making dome houses since 1975. Its dome houses are produced as pre-cut, pre-drilled lumber, which is color coded. A readily understandable and illustrated Assembly Manual is included. Timberline dome houses provide good energy efficiency. One reason for this is that dome houses use thirty percent less surface area to enclose the same volume compared to a rectangular building. Also cold air is deflected around the curved surface of the house, reducing air penetration.

USEFUL LINKS RELEVANT TO DOME HOUSES

Wikipedia article on Geodesic Domes

Monolithic Dome Institute

CONSTRUCTION PRODUCT DIRECTORIES

We recommend the following professional construction directories, which include standard specifications, manufacturers' specs, and CAD details: 4Specs at www.4specs.com, Arcat at www.arcat.com, Arcom at www.arcomnet.com, Reed at www.reedfirstsource.com, Sweets at www.sweets.construction.com.

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Other recommended portals: Archbone, Building Design, Homeone Australia, Lighting Directory, Sapling, Stone Network.

Publisher: Abacus Construction Index is a professionally edited directory of recommended construction websites, published by Extonet Ltd which also publishes a directory of the world's best websites. It is financed only by Google advertisements; no payment is received from included websites.