The Domes Of Dome-InGo

The Domes Of Dome-InGo


Living In A Dome-Home...If the photograph above looks like something from another time or dimension you aren't too far off. We live in a dome-home that is so energy efficient that it allows us to use solar energy. The same solar system runs our water well and a guest house. We haven't gotten an electric bill since at least 1994. A simple wood burning stove supplies plenty of heat for the place almost year round.

The smaller guest house, nicknamed The Hobbit House, can stay above freezing all winter just from the heat of the pilot light to it's gas stove. We can get well below 0% here on cold winter nights. If you look closely you can even see that there is still some snow on the ground in one photo. The guest house has a kitchen, living room/bedroom combination and a bathroom. It is 20 ft. in diameter. In the winter one very small propane heater provides all the cozy warmpth yet uses less than $5oo a year to heat as well as keep the hot water heater and the stove going as well.

Our dome is 40 ft. in diameter, two story and approximately 2000 sq. foot of living space.

These domes are tornado proof, hurricane proof, flood proof, earthquake proof and have an estimated life span of around 500 years. They are constructed of concrete, rebar and polyurethane spray insulation. While we did go to a special class to learn how to build one it can be done without the classes.

These domes are constructed of 8 sack mix concrete, rebar reinforcement every 16 inches and polyurethane for insulation. A huge outer lining called an air form is first attached to a concrete slab and blown up by gigantic fans. Then the polyurethane is sprayed onto the inside of the air form. This must be done by professionals because it is a very special chemical mix and can be dangerous if someone doesn't know what they are doing. Next rebar (long very strong metal bars) are attached to the polyurethane every 16 inches both vertically and horizontally. These rebar give the domes their great strength. Rebar reinforced concrete can last for hundreds of years. If you look at the photo to the right you can still see the imprint of the rebar through the concrete.
This dome stands 22 ft. in the air and the upper part had to be done using scaffolding. The chain hanging from the center is to allow for a ceiling fan once the dome is completed. You can also see two of the second story windows. Once the rebar is attached the whole thing is sprayed with concrete using a shot-crete machine.