36FT (11M) Dome - Northern California

Here is a story from a sweet family telling their Dome experience. The photos in this article show the dome through the construction process:

We began clearing a space for our dome in June of 2004. We had originally, wanted to build the 44′ dome but were unable to clear sufficient space to put it on. We ended up going with the 36′ dome and are pleased that we did.

The foundation was finished in September and we eagerly awaited the arrival of our dome. Our new home arrived in two boxes on September 24th. You don’t often expect to get your new home in a box the size of a washer/dryer combo.

We started unpacking and labeling our poles the very next day. Two of us were able to get the first couple of frame rows going ourselves; eventually it took 3 people once we reached eye level. After the first few rows, we found ourselves in need of scaffolding and rented a 20′ package.

It took a little over a week to finish the frame and we called in all our friends and neighbors to help get the skin on. We used the bucket of our old tractor to help us get the skin rolled out. Positioning the skin turned out to be a challenge. We started out in the wrong place and had to make some adjustments to get it aligned. After “scootching” it around awhile, we got the skin in place and the roof zipped on. The following week, we got the insulation in and the winter liner installed.

The contractors were called back in and went to work on the interior, building the walls. Because of the unique nature of the dome, our contractor experienced unique challenges, and met them head on. Since the walls and the floor of the loft can not be attached to the sides of the dome, they had to come up with some creative alternatives that included extra foundation, interior supports, and weight bearing walls.

It is now the end of February and our dome home is near completion. When it is finished, our dome will have two bedrooms and a full bathroom down stairs, with a loft in full, but very small bathroom upstairs. It looks like the plumber and electrician should be our final stages and they are almost done. We hope to be living cozy in our Pacific Dome by mid March.

36FT (11M) Dome - Mendocino - Northern California

My family lives on 20 acres in Mendocino, Northern California, in a Pacific Dome that we built a few years ago. After installing a propane monitor heater, winter cold became winter bliss. The monitor has a fan to blow the heated air and the dome shape seems to be ideal for the feature.

It takes about 5 minutes to heat our 36 ft. dome and according to our gas company, we use less propane than the majority of their customers. The stove vent goes right through the winter liner and skin. Heat is insulated through the pipe by a double wall as it exits. We love our dome!

30FT (9M) Dome - Northern California

We were guests on this property in Northern California, and were blessed with the opportunity to stay in this 30′ dome. It has been used for dance and yoga workshops, gatherings, DJ events and sacred healing ceremonies. It is sitting on a deck that is about 10′ up in the air, on top of a mountain overlooking a breathtaking forest and on a clear day, the Pacific Ocean.

It had a hardwood star mandala floor that was great for movement and dance. It also had a wood stove in it that kept it nice and toasty at night. There is an outdoor kitchen on the deck and below that, an outdoor shower on the ground level. It is a very magical space, and at the moment is used to houseguests and those working on the property.

24FT (7M) Dome - Orcas Island

Fall has arrived in the Pacific Northwest, and Winter is not far away, and we are LOVING our 24’ Dome Home! The floor is sanded and oiled, the door is hung, the loft is sturdy, the underground room (Kiva) is cozy and dry, the wood-stove is installed, the exterior of the dome has 3 coats of Thermoshield, and I’ve lost track of how many neighbors and friends have said “Cool!” when they’ve seen the space. Lot’s of small finishing details remain on the to-do list, but enough has been completed to feel the contentment of living here and prepared for whatever the weather will bring. Here on Orcas Island, WA in the San Juan Islands north of Seattle. A four-season location with occasional winter snow, spring rains, warm summers, and fall windstorms.

With the help of my brothers and dad, in a couple of hours, the dome frame was re-assembled on the ground beside the deck. Then a call out to the neighborhood brought enough people to pick the frame up and set on top of the floor, aligned to the corners. We then pulled the canvas over the frame and lashed it down – that part of the project can happen *so* quickly! Then installed the door, ‘scored’ as a defective unit from a door company on the mainland. The loft is supported by 1” galvanized pipes and four 4×6” beams, with lateral support provided by plumber’s tape connections to the dome frame.

But even summer nights here get cold, and it the recent installation of the wood-stove that has really made a difference in Living. A little plumber’s tape and a stovepipe bracket connected to the frame of the dome holds the pipe firmly in place. A simple hearth and heat-shield of painted concrete-board completely protects the floor and walls from heat. Near future projects include installing Reflectix insulation as well as a ceiling fan, and lights, and a ladder for the loft, and a shoe-storage box, and….the list is long, but I am very pleased.I can’t say enough about how happy I am with Thermoshield Paint, that is a waterproofing and UV protection. Before it was painted, in full sun, the dome could get unbearably hot. Now, painted, and with some curtains over the main southwest facing window, it stays very comfortable inside. Comfortable enough for a rocking afternoon jam session a few weekends ago…drums, bass, guitar, vocals…everyone in the neighborhood heard, but (ahem) we are pretty good and only received distant applause and no complaints.

20FT (6M) Dream View Dome - Healing Room

DreamView Dome, situated above sweeping views of Bald Hill and the Pacific Ocean, is a sacred geodesic dome intentionally created to promote equilibrium and healing through massage.

I’m a new owner of the fully erected 20′ DreamView Dome and am very pleased with it. I use it as a sacred space for my massage and healing work. One of my first concerns was how hot the dome would get during the day (up to 50 degrees warmer than outside) and I found most of my time adjusting the windows and base screens to make it comfortable for my clients. When Pacific Domes suggested I add the solar attic fan I knew it was the right solution.

It fits right into a window port hole (actually directly into the window frame!) and was fully assembled so it was running immediately. DreamView Dome has been much more comfortable ever since and it’s easier for me to focus on my practice.

16FT (5M) Domes - Washington

I imagine that most people who are attracted to Pacific Domes have a lot in common. We want a beautiful space to live that doesn’t enslave us with a mortgage payment. We want comfort and sanctuary without using excessive natural resources. We want to live close to nature and yet feel secure and safe from the elements. Most importantly, we want it done in a day or so. We’re a demanding lot, but luckily the people at Pacific Domes understand us.

Although we’ve owned our one Pacific Dome for 5 years, it wasn’t until this last fall that we actually moved in full time. We bought another dome and finally made the leap to live more closely with the land. I call it a leap but it was a mental leap more than a physical one. It is your mind that wonders “will we be warm when it’s 5 degrees outside?” or “if this is so easy why don’t I know anyone else that lives in a dome?”

Put your mind at ease because with some Reflectix, you’ll be downright cozy when it is 5 degrees and the only reason people everywhere aren’t in Pacific Domes is because they don’t know about it yet. We have a 16′ bedroom dome and a 16′ kitchen dome. We live with our 2 dogs and our 2 cats and there is still enough room for company to spend the night.

We are both very grateful to Pacific Domes for providing such a beautiful, structurally sound, and affordable shelter. They truly are shelters for freedom and that logo means a lot more when its your freedom they are talking about.

Take the leap
Jacy and Travis