Backyard Dome Kit with Many Uses
Our 24 foot diameter Backyard Dome kit features a hexagon framed in each of 130 triangles on the upper portion of the dome surface. The precision-cut 2x4 geodesic frame kit is exposed to the interior. The exposed interlocking hexagons and triangles on the dome ceiling create an awesome three dimensional pattern and a very strong building. If desired, hexagonal sylights may be installed at any of 130 different locations. Our Backyard Dome kit is modified on the lower perimeter to include vertical wall framing for conventional doors and windows. A braced three feet high, ten-sided, perimeter riser wall is constructed under the modified hemisphere to lift the dome just enough to accomodate the height of a standard pre-hung exterior door. The total height of the dome at the center is 15 feet.
Our "backyard dome kit" is designed to be
assembled and enclosed by folks with no prior construction experience.
The Backyard Dome frame kit is easily assembled with screws and a battery powered drill.
The exterior triangular panels may be nailed or screwed in place.
Insulation sheeting is laminated to the back of the exterior cement composite panels.
Exterior triangular panels may be ordered as option, or, made with local materials.
We provide complete instructions for assembling the dome frame and sealing the exterior.
The exterior of the Backyard Dome may be any color that you desire.
The floor may radiantly heated, if, you are building where it gets cold in the winter.
Normally, it is difficult to build a floor for a building because a perimeter footing must extend below the frostline to
prevent the building from moving when the ground freezes.
However, there is a way to construct a lightweight and
balanced dome, without a massive perimeter concrete footing.
To build a substantial floor, begin with a pile of river rock gravel that is raked level.
Be sure to contain the gravel at the perimeter with larger rocks, bricks, or treated landscape timbers.
We advise building the dome kit above a river rock gravel surface, because then the floor
of the dome will be above any pools of water, and, the floor will be insulated from the ground temperature.
Depending on your location, 4 to 12 inches of river rock gravel should be placed where you want to build the dome.
It is best if the leveled pile of gravel extends 2 to 6 feet outside of the dome perimeter.
The Backyard Dome is 24 feet in diameter with a 12 foot radius.
This means the round and level pile of gravel could be about 30 feet across with a 15 foot radius.
To keep weeds and grass from growing up thru the gravel, lay landscape fabric
on the ground prior to putting the gravel in place.
To build a substantial concrete floor above the river rock gravel without building "throw-away" concrete forms, we suggest that you make a perimeter treated wood base using treated 2x8 lumber to contain a concrete floor. This is done by putting two layers of treated 2x8 boards flat on the gravel surface, with the boards cut to fit and lapped at the ten corners. The top surface of these "permanent concrete forms" will be 3 inches above the gravel surface. A concrete floor can then be poured flush to the top of the treated boards. The "permanent concrete forms" are installed to be flush with the outside perimeter of the riser wall kit. The "Permanent Concrete Forms" (PCFs) are secured to the concrete floor by installing lag bolts on the inside edge of the PCFs. We advise that the concrete floor is reinforced with wire mesh, or, that the concrete be fiber reinforced redi-mix. You can make the PCFs yourself with locally obtained materials, or, we can supply you with a "Permanent Concrete Form" kit.
You can also make the riser wall kit yourself with locally obtained materials. If you purchase a "Backyard Dome" Frame Kit, we will supply you with detailed instructions for making the "permanent concrete forms" and the 3 ft. high "perimeter riser wall". Or, you can order the "permanent concrete forms" and "riser wall frame kit" as an option.
Cost of the 24 ft. diameter Backyard Dome frame kit is $5,250.
Cost of the riser wall frame kit for the Backyard Dome is $800.
Cost of the pre-cut treated 2x8 "permanent concrete forms" is $400.
You may take your Backyard Dome frame kit home in a small pick-up truck or have it shipped.
See photo of a 24' dia. 2x4 Backyard Dome frame kit in a small pick-up truck.
FYI: It costs about $700 to ship the 2x4 Backyard Dome frame kit anywhere in the U.S.A..
You can build this two-story dome home with the 24'diameter EconOdome frame kit.
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This two story 24 foot diameter "fun to build" passive solar dome home can be completed for about $24,000.
We supply the kit plus plans, written directions, and, both email and phone construction consultation.
To build this really cool dome home at this price, you need to supply the labor.
Or, you can hire help "by-the-hour" and pay more to complete this home.
All the pieces to build this home are small and lighweight.
Other than the 2x4 EconOdome frame kit (cost $5,250),
all the materials can be purchased at lumberyards, or,
local Home Improvement stores such as Menards, Home Depot, or, Lowes.
If you purchase an Econ-O-Dome roof frame kit that fits on this ten-sided building,
we will help you with instructions and consultation as necessary to complete your new ten-sided dome home.
Perhaps your live-at-home son, daughter, mother, and/or, father
would like to live more independently in an energy efficient dome home in the backyard.