Dome Homes

There are numerous benefits to dome homes, which are simply homes constructed into the shape of a dome. They are unique in appearance as well as construction methods.

Here is a list of benefits for these homes:

Sustainability. Due to the strength of an arched surface as opposed to a flat one, dome homes are considerably stronger against natural disasters – earthquakes, tornadoes, hurricanes, even fires. Obviously, the materials with which the structure is made has a lot to do with it, as well as the method of construction.

Monolithic Domes

Certain manufacturers build what's called monolithic domes using a technique that incorporates an "airform" around which the structural elements are added to stiffen the dome.

The airform is inflated to establish the dome shape and size, and polyurethane foam, steel rebar, and a cement-based finish are applied from the inside. An exterior coating is applied on the outside to complete the structure.

A monolithic dome is a dome that is constructed in one piece, as opposed to one that is a joined network of many triangular or hexagonal planes. These forms (about 117 square feet each) can be used as a single unit, or combined to create larger homes.

Energy efficiency. Heat is both lost and absorbed through surfaces that have direct contact with the outside. Being that domes have the smallest surface area for a given volume, and because there's an air barrier built into the structure, this essentially provides better insulation. Smaller surface area equals higher R-value due to less surface area through which thermal energy can be transferred.

Eco-friendly. Dome homes are extremely green in terms of cost, building materials required, and future maintenance and upkeep. Because the sphere has the greatest volume given a certain surface area, it stands to reason that it also is the most economic to construct in terms of size and available budget.

A dome home uses roughly 50% to 75% less materials to construct than a normal home with the same volume – taking into account various internal walls and such to adequately brace a non-dome structure.

And because the dome design is extremely resistant to winds as well as seismic activity, it has a comparatively long life, needing very little maintenance, – all collaborating to make it a very green home.

Disadvantages of Dome Homes

Not as much usable space. This is perhaps the biggest disadvantage of dome houses – the fact that for all the volume it has, the actual usable space within this volume is limited. Crescent-shaped space is lost behind furniture pushed up against the dome wall, as well as a lack of headroom along the peripheral boundaries.

Both initial construction and future additions are reliant on custom materials due to a dome's unique shape. The outer shell for example, often being a network of triangles, requires large amounts of irregular-shaped triangles that in most cases must be cut from rectangular materials.

Any future improvements – additional walls, etc – joining with the dome wall must be customized to follow the curved contour. You will encounter higher plumbing and electrical installation cost.

Electrical circuitry, plumbing, and other utility cables, are typically installed throughout the maze of walls and ceilings of a house. But due to a minimal amount of internal walls within a dome home, all such wiring and plumbing must take a significantly longer path, adding to the needed raw materials and man-hours.

Unless it's a monolithic – meaning a "one piece" – dome, these homes have many seams. Such domes are susceptible to water and moisture damage via each of these seams, as well as attack from the sun. Some designs utilize an overlapping system of faces which will ideally protect the joints from the rain, but remains partially vulnerable to thermal damage from the sun.

A monolithic dome is extremely well sealed, which could be good for keeping the cold out. But this also means potentially humid, damp, and stuffy environments. Dehumidifiers and proper ventilation are a must for monolithic domes.

Resale. Dome homes are not the best option for those who are hoping to resell sometime in the future. As you may have guessed, this type of design is a rather niche market for the few, not the many. As such, potential buyers will also be limited.

Visual Objections. Not that this matters necessarily, but neighbors may perceive a dome home as an eyesore due to its UFO appearance – especially when nestled right in the middle of a row of "model home" type houses. This can also be directly linked to the above point on resale difficulty.

With the various pros and cons of dome homes, the decision to choose this style of construction may be more a matter of personal preference than a question of "which is better". Different people have different perspectives and priorities, and they all have their individual pros and cons to consider.

An alternative to going for one or the other, is going for both. You can experiment with a hybrid style of construction, or have 2 separate, smaller buildings adjacent to each other – one dome and one rectangular. Or you can add a dome to an existing house. This will still be going "part-green".

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