Underground Dome Homes

There are many reasons to use dome homes for underground living, as opposed to those that have angular roofs and four-cornered walls. Monolithic domes have proven themselves to be energy-efficient, and fire and earthquake-proof.

Underground dome homes

Some people who are contracting to have dome homes built are worried about the "end of days", but most are looking for a more efficient way to enjoy cooler summers and warmer winters, without reliance on an electrical infrastructure that is becoming increasingly antiquated.

No Mushrooms Allowed ...

Most people living in dome homes are independent and self-reliant, and the underground lifestyle fits them well. Far from being caves, the homes are modern and roomy. Using concrete, rebar and polyurethane insulation, houses begin to look less like mushrooms and more like habitations.

After the concrete dries and a dome home is completed, most buyers are pleased with their purchase. They are protected from many disasters that above-ground structures simply can't handle. Some homeowners do stockpile canned foods and bottled water, but many live a lot like they would above ground.

Underground Dome Home Diagram

I'll Take Mine Chilled ...

Some subsurface dome homes include heaters, to take the chill off days or nights that are especially cold. The houses are becoming popular in Alaska, where the residents are accustomed to the cold. That doesn't mean they have to like being chilly. Generators stand by, in case they are needed.

Dome houses offer protection from cold winters and forest fires, as well as earthquakes. Underground domes conserve even more energy, since the earth is a more constant temperature than you can achieve above-ground.

One dome owner even watched in horror as a huge Spruce tree fell atop his home, and he feared the worst. The home was not cracked or dented. That made his family believers, if they weren't already. These may not be the most beautiful homes on - or under - the Earth, but they are proving themselves to be quite useful.

New Winter Coat ...

Monolithic domes are very well-insulated, and their concrete coats keep them at a comfortable temperature for most of the year. Heating bills can often be cut in half, as can cooling bills in summer months. Smaller dome houses are portable, too. If you live in an area where bringing in raw materials would make the houses cost-prohibitive, you can have them sent to your new home address, and finish them there.

Dome Home About to Be Sprayed with Concrete and Buried Underground

Since the beginning of putting dome homes underground, the building process has been refined, although the exact methods used by individual builders may still vary somewhat. The shape and the reinforced concrete are the main things, though. That's what gives the dwelling the ability to withstand earthquakes and fires.

Regardless of the way they are constructed, as long as that process is sound, you'll have a home designed to last a thousand years, and energy bills that are so much more manageable. It might make you wonder why you didn't think of living in a dome sooner.

External Links

If you like the photo at the top of the page visit the JobSite Visitor external link for more photos of this project. http://blog.jobsitevisitor.com/info/projects/uba-dome/

Written by Kevin Knatloa

First Published on November 05, 2012

Updated November 22, 2013