Terra-Dome Home Is Super Efficient
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Terra-Domes are cool in the summer, warm in the winter, and resistant to fire, tornados, hurricanes and earthquakes, says Beth McDonald, who has lived in a home made of three Terra-Domes since 1999. She can’t figure out why more people don’t build with the concrete design by Terra-Dome Corporation in Grain Valley, Mo. (www.terra-dome.com).
“I’m surprised more farms don’t have them. They are strong enough to park heavy vehicles on top of them,” McDonald says. Besides homes, the structures could be used for animal shelter and cold storage for produce.
McDonald, an architectural and environmental design professional, chose Terra-Dome after much research. Since junior high she has been interested in buildings that efficiently use the earth, sun and thermal mass. She discovered Terra-Domes when she was planning her Medway, Mass. home.
The company sells 24 by 24-ft. ($20,000), and 28 by 28-ft. ($25,000) domes as well as half-size units, with additional fees for options. The customer prepares the site. Terra-Dome pours the foundation the first day, sets up the fiberglass and aluminum forms and rebar the second day, and pours the third day.
“People don’t know that underneath the yellow clapboard siding is a bomb shelter,” McDonald laughs, referring to her home’s strength. The solid design allows for big open spaces that don’t require structural walls or beams, and the roof is 20 times stronger than a flat roof. McDonald mixed the domes with timbers to create a spacious 3,800-sq. ft., four-bedroom home on the Charles River.
“I insulated mine on the outside,” McDonald says. “The thermal mass is unbelievable. It absorbs passive solar energy and it’s partially buried so the earth also helps heat it and cool it.”
McDonald thinks Terra-Dome structures make sense for all regions of the country that face natural disasters such as hurricanes, tornadoes and fires. Design possibilities are limitless, she adds, “from caveman to ultra modern.”
Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Beth McDonald, 9 Neelon Lane, Medway, Mass. 02053 (ph 508 523-1838; lmret14@yahoo.com).
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Terra-Dome Home Is Super Efficient BUILDINGS Houses Terra-Domes are cool in the summer warm in the winter and resistant to fire tornados hurricanes and earthquakes says Beth McDonald who has lived in a home made of three Terra-Domes since 1999 She can’t figure out why more people don’t build with the concrete design by Terra-Dome Corporation in Grain Valley Mo www terra-dome com “I’m surprised more farms don’t have them They are strong enough to park heavy vehicles on top of them ” McDonald says Besides homes the structures could be used for animal shelter and cold storage for produce McDonald an architectural and environmental design professional chose Terra-Dome after much research Since junior high she has been interested in buildings that efficiently use the earth sun and thermal mass She discovered Terra-Domes when she was planning her Medway Mass home The company sells 24 by 24-ft $20 000 and 28 by 28-ft $25 000 domes as well as half-size units with additional fees for options The customer prepares the site Terra-Dome pours the foundation the first day sets up the fiberglass and aluminum forms and rebar the second day and pours the third day “People don’t know that underneath the yellow clapboard siding is a bomb shelter ” McDonald laughs referring to her home’s strength The solid design allows for big open spaces that don’t require structural walls or beams and the roof is 20 times stronger than a flat roof McDonald mixed the domes with timbers to create a spacious 3 800-sq ft four-bedroom home on the Charles River “I insulated mine on the outside ” McDonald says “The thermal mass is unbelievable It absorbs passive solar energy and it’s partially buried so the earth also helps heat it and cool it ” McDonald thinks Terra-Dome structures make sense for all regions of the country that face natural disasters such as hurricanes tornadoes and fires Design possibilities are limitless she adds “from caveman to ultra modern ” Contact: FARM SHOW Followup Beth McDonald 9 Neelon Lane Medway Mass 02053 ph 508 523-1838; lmret14@yahoo com
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