This is dependent upon many things such as: steepness of the lot, whether it is owner-built, or contractor-built, etc., and this can vary tremendously from area to area. For instance, towns and/or cities that are highly unionized reflect considerably higher construction cost than more rural or remote areas. In short, Geodesic Domes can cost less than, or the same as conventional construction. But, regardless of how much you spend on your dome, you must realize you are ending up with a far superior product as compared to conventional construction....it is stronger, it is more energy efficient and more aesthetically pleasing than any conventional-built home.

2. Can Domes Cost Less To Build Than Conventional Construction?

Yes! The low cost of the dome shell as compared to conventional framing and the speed of construction, which reduces crew cost, gives you a great edge over conventional homes.

3.Why Would A Dome Cost Less To Construct?

Geodesic Domes cover a given floor area with the least amount of material. In essence, you are "doing more with less." Here is a good way to describe this: If you were to build two foundations, each representing one thousand (1,000) square feet---the only difference being that one is a rectangular shape and the other one is round---you would find the following to be true. If you were to add up all of the material in your rectangular foundation and let that represent X and then try to cover that foundation using any conventional type home and in return add up the amount of material you needed to cover that foundation (regardless of what type of roof you use) whether it is an a-frame lean-to four (4) and twelve (12) pitch flat, etc., you would find that the amount of material to cover that foundation would be three times what you have in your foundation which was represented by X or 3X. Now if you were to move to the Geodesic Dome foundation and add the amount of material that you have in it and let it represent X. Then proceed to cover that foundation with a Geodesic Dome and in turn, calculate the amount of material that you in the dome you would find that this amount is only twice or 2X as much as you have in your foundation and the difference between these two means there is 30% less material in the Geodesic Dome as compared to the conventional structure. Obviously, if you are using less material it can lead to lower construction costs. This is the basic reason domes can cost less. But the best method to achieve the lowest construction cost is some sort of owner/builder involvement. The obvious rebuttal to that would be, "Well, the owner/builder can save money on a conventional house too!" However, the dome concept lends itself more readily to owner/builder involvement than does conventional construction. In addition, the owner/builder can get a far superior house using a dome and should, therefore, be much more inclined to use the Geodesic Dome conc ept rather than conventional construction. Obviously, the same earlier variables will again hold true in this question. For example, regardless of how much fewer materials a person were to use, if the builder is inefficient, and it takes much longer to build, and he makes errors on the job, he can easily erase some of the cost efficiencies.

4. How Much Do The Individual Stages Such as Sheetrocking, Roofing, Etc. Cost?

Sheetrock and roofing are two stages on Geodesic Domes which are more labor intensive than on conventional houses. They are not more difficult--they simply take longer to do. You are going to get a higher bid for your sheetrocking per square foot on the dome than you do on conventional houses, but remember there is less surface area to sheetrock than if you were covering the exact same square footage with a conventional house. An easy part of the sheetrocking is the dome shell. There are only two sizes of triangles, and a competent sheetrocker can do a great portion of his cutting at one time, thus saving the owner time and money. Sheetrocking should be done by a qualified mechanic but by no means should either the owner/builder or someone in the industry be intimidated by thinking that sheetrocking is difficult. Again, it is not more difficult - it will simply take longer to do. Roofing is basically the same answer - you are going to have to pay a higher price per square foot to put a roof on a dome, but you are going to have less external surface area as compared to conventional construction. Remember, the roof of a dome for the most part also pretty much includes any siding that you might have and quite frequently, though the cost of the roof may be higher, that higher cost is offset by the fact that there is much less siding to worry about. The less siding - the lower the maintenance the owner will have, which is another advantage. Due to fluctuations in the prices of materials, all of your cost questions are going to be difficult to answer. If the home is contractor-built, the contractor can give bids on each phase of the work. If it is going to be owner-built, the owner must simply get the cost of his supplies from his local suppliers.

5. Who Does The Construction On The Geodesic Domes?

Geodesic Domes are built in exactly the same way as conventional houses; i.e., they can be completely contractor-built, they can be owner-built, or a combination of the two; i.e., the owner can do what work he is qualified to do himself. Supervised dome kit erection is available where needed.

6. Do Domes Pass Building Codes?

Yes, our panelized domes have ICBO Approval, FHA approval, and conforms to minimum building code standards. Any house built in this country must conform to those minimum UBC standards.

7. Will This Building Be Acceptable To Our Building Department?

Unfortunately, there is not a standard building code that applies to all parts of the country. Different parts of the country utilize different building codes. Because the building code requirements can vary even from one county to the next, we cannot be knowledgeable of them all. We will modify our building plans to comply with any requirements of your local building department. Some building departments may require an architectural or engineering seal for unusual structures, including domes. Unfortunately, architectural and engineering certification is only honored on a state level but we do have access to certification in all states. If your area is governed by a building department, we suggest you start by asking a few questions such as:

What are the requirements for an individual to build his own home?

Are there any special or additional requirements to build a geodesic dome?

8. What Is The Resale Value Of These Domes?

It is very difficult to say because there are so many variables involved. As with any house, if it looks good and is well built, it will sell quickly. The few we know of which have been sold have sold quicker than conventional houses. The constant threat of rising energy costs has led to the increasing popularity of domes, because the market is wide open for an exceptionally energy efficient house. We are building more and more permanent or last homes which are not planned for resale.

9.Is It Difficult To Get A Loan On A Dome House?

Lenders are typically conservative and often not willing to take a chance on an unusual type of house. There are many lenders who have loaned on dome houses and you may need to visit more than one loan officer to find someone who is receptive to the idea or you can ask us for references to dome-minded lending institutions. Our domes are VA, FHA, and FNMA approved. If you own another house, there are many advantages to refinancing it in order to get funds for building a new house. By using other collateral, including personal loans, you remove much of the added expense, paperwork and pressure associated with a construction loan. You may also consider building you new home as you can afford the materials. Once the house is livable, you can move in and save the amount that would otherwise be going to rent. Building a house in this manner could obviously take a considerable amount of time but it avoids the long process of house payments and interest.

10. How Do You Finance Domes?

Domes are financed in the same manner as conventional buildings. Once you have your property selected and plans completed, you simply approach your banker for the construction loan. The methods of doing this vary somewhat depending on whether or not it is an owner/builder involved or contractor, or a combination of both. More and more lending institutions are becoming dome minded. Check with us on mortgage money and rates available at the current time. In the same manner as in conventional construction--you borrow from established lending institutions.

11. Does Geodesic Domes and Homes Provide Plans For Construction?

Yes, the company offers both a stock plan and a custom plan service.

12. Can A Client Draw Their Own Plans?

Yes, you can draw your own plans. But since most folks live in "box" houses, they have a difficult time utilizing space in a dome. We can help you turn your ideas into reality. We can also work with your architect.

13. What Are The Special Requirements For The Foundation Of This Dome?

The only thing unusual about our foundation is its shape. Because our dome is lighter than most all other buildings, it has less loading on the foundation. Our building plans include drawings for a concrete slab foundation or a pier and beam foundation.

14. How Does The Weight Of These Domes Compare With Other Houses?

Because of the reduced area of a dome, they weigh less than most all other types of structures, while at the same time, remaining exceptionally strong. They are considerably lighter than a block house and even lighter than a wood frame house. Due to this fact, they can be supported easily on pier and beam in flood threat areas.

15. Can I Backfill Or Berm Dirt Up Around The Outside Of This Dome?

Our dome lends itself very well to berming because of the strength acquired from the dome shape. Our domes have been bermed with as much as eight feet of backfill. A drain system is a must to remove water below the foundation level. We recommend that the dome be manufactured from treated materials.

16. Can You Have Basements With Domes?

Most definitely! You can use any type of foundation with geodesic domes as you use in conventional houses.