FAQ
Q: How much will building a dome cost?
A: Start by answering a few questions for yourself. What size dome are you looking for? What type of covering do you want? What type of flooring system do you want? Then consider how much time you would enjoy putting into this project. We can customize every kit, so don’t sweat the small stuff. We do customizations for almost every customer. Depending on size $7-25 per square foot is the average materials cost. The bigger the dome the lower the materials cost per square foot.
Q: How long will it take me to build my own dome from plans?
A: This depends on a lot of things, but the first dome I built, a 15 footer, took me about 60 hours. This didn’t include reading, watching videos or buying material. Larger domes will take much longer. A 30 foot dome will likely take you more than 300 hours to complete.
Q: What are my options for outer covering?
A: Lowest cost is plastic. 12 mil greenhouse plastic is very durable and costs around 35 cents per square foot. Polycarbonate is going to be about 10 times more expensive, so $500 dollars in plastic = $5000 in polycarbonate. Plywood can also be used to cover domes and then roofed in a traditional way. Roofing membrane can also be used to cover domes. Different parts of the dome can be covered in different materials as well.
Q: What are my options for flooring?
A: Gravel, Concrete & Wood are the three basic foundation types. If the ground is level already the dome can also be placed directly on the soil if that is preferable. Concrete or a wood base would be good choices if you want to do a finished floor system. Interlocking rubber / plastic mats, stone, tile, laminate, wood are all options if there is a proper finished foundation. Depending on the specific flooring system desired this may or may not be something we can take on ourselves. We can always subcontract the finish flooring work for you if you would like us to find an appropriate subcontractor.
Q: What is the process of building a dome like?
A: For me it is a four step process. 1. Vision, make sure that the vision of the builder and the customer are aligned. There is no point in designing the custom features of a structure unless it is understood by everyone what is wanted. 2. Design / Estimate. Make a design that will be agreed upon by everyone involved and will be the basis for a contract and estimate the materials & labor involved with that design. 3 Plan. Assemble materials, plans, schedule. 4 Build. Steps 1 and 2 are the most important in terms of everyone being on the same page and getting the desired result.
Q: Will I need a permit?
A: This all depends on your use case and where you are located. What size structure does your county allow you to build without a permit? Check with your county & talk to your neighbors if you think that may be an issue as well.
Q: Why are the kits structured the way they are?
A: Building a dome has phases. The first main phase is material selection and ripping the raw stock down to roughly half the size of the final strut width. Staining comes next and then ripping that stock down to its final width with the bevel angle then cut into the strut. A table saw is almost mandatory for this. The kits are designed to eliminate phases of the work. This is the first phase of work and is basically what comprises the 25% kit. The next phase is cutting the struts. The miters and compound miters need to be cut into the raw beveled stock after the triangle templates are made. Those struts being cut makes up the 50% cut. Without a compound miter saw this part would be very difficult. The next kit takes those triangles, and puts them all together for you ready for the covering of your choice. It also adds the special pieces for the door and the door itself to the kit. This stage of assembly requires basic tools to drill holes and put screws in. So that is what makes up the 75% kit. The 90% kit we add the sheeting for you. If you are building a greenhouse with a plastic covering a pneumatic stapler / compressor is helpful, but not 100% necessary for this stage. An impact driver to put the components together will be necessary and likely a helper for anything over 15′. The 90% kit is how we transport domes to our customers’ sites. Ready to install at that point.
Q: What power tools do I need for a DIY build?
A: If you plan on working from the 25% kit you will need a good miter saw preferably one that will miter and bevel in both directions. With the 25% kit you will have to cut all of your miters, make your triangle jigs, and then cut all of your compound miters. The tapered base sections will be cut for you already in all of our kits, which can be the trickiest pieces to cut. You will also need a good circular saw to cut out the door cards and door frame pieces. You also need an impact driver that can drive screws and a drill for pilot holes. Depending on the size of the dome you are wanting to build you will need a varying amount of shop space to construct the pieces in and store them until you are ready to assemble.