How to Make a Dome Out of Shotcrete

Monolithic concrete dome houses are the future. Easier and faster to construct than traditional wood frame houses, safer, better insulated and created with less waste, it is a wonder that there aren't more dome homes in the world. They are also much stronger, longer-lasting, resistant to insects, more energy-efficient and safer in regard to adverse weather conditions. The best part is, you do not need to be a master craftsman to create one.

Dome shell (inflatable airform)
High-volume air pump
Shotcrete
Reinforcing bar and wire

Instructions

- 1
  Set up the dome's inflatable airform over a foundation ring or pad. As domes are round, they must have a round, or ring, foundation. The airform is sealed around its base, ready for inflation.
- 2
  Connect the air pump to the dome's airform and fully inflate the airform, maintaining positive air pressure for the duration of the build.
- 3
  Create wooden frames on the interior surfaces of the airform for any window or door openings you should desire. These frames will not be filled with shotcrete and will be removed after the concrete has cured to allow for the placement of window and door hardware.
- 4
  Lay out a matrix of reinforcing bars inside the dome, offset from the interior wall surface by half the distance of the planned dome thickness. The quantity and spacing of the rebar will determine the tensile strength of the monolithic dome.
- 5
  Spray the interior of the inflated airform with shotcrete, beginning at the bottom, along the ring footing, and slowly building and spraying upward. Depending on the thickness you wish to have the wall segments, 6 to 8 inches thick is more than sufficient.
- 6
  Leave the airform in place permanently to act as a vapor barrier. The exterior of the dome and airform may now be coated, painted, tiled, or covered in earth as you desire.

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