Illinois-based designer and builder Wil Fidroeff has been helping people build their own dome homes for the past 30 years. His company, Faze Change Produx, creates six models of 10-sided DIY dome home building kits utilizing wood and thermoplastic polyolefin, a type of single-ply roofing material that is low-cost and highly durable. The EconOdome frame and triangle panel kits come pre-cut and partially assembled with detailed instructions; the company even offers personal consultation if necessary.
According to Fidroeff, EconOdome homes are built similarly to conventional homes, starting with the foundation and main floor. Next, the vertical walls are constructed, followed by the roof frame. Once the walls are up, 130 triangular roofing elements connect to form the domed top. The dome’s 10 equally sized sides make it easier to keep everything organized.
Related: Permaculture design expert Matthew Prosser builds a family dome home
“Our two most popular frame kit types are the ‘T-Beam’ frame kit, which features an exposed wood interior, and, the more economical ‘Basic’ frame kit. The third type of frame kit is called the ‘Double Dome,'” Fidroeff told Inhabiat. “A Double Dome frame kit can consist of two 2×4 Basic EconOdome frame kits (one dome inside a larger dome). Or, a Double Dome can consist of a 2×4 exterior Basic EconOdome frame kit plus an interior T-Beam EconOdome frame kit. EconOdome frame kits are most often used to build a two-story home above a 10-sided perimeter riser wall.”
Parts in the frame kit are precisely cut to fit exactly and minimize construction waste. The wood includes pre-drilled holes for stainless steel screws and caps.
A 26-foot fully insulated model runs about $18,000, although the company also offers cheaper options with its smaller models. The 26-foot model spans just over 800 square feet, featuring two stories with a fully equipped kitchen on the first floor as well as a bedroom on the top. The top floor has room for a half-bath and space for an office or storage. Available colors range from white, tan and light gray, while the interiors are finished with exposed wood.
A smaller option, the 13-foot Little Dome, keeps the signature, 10-sided design but cuts down the number of rooftop triangles to 40. People who live in tropical climates can opt for hurricane panels made with three layers of 3/4-inch plywood and an apex vent to ventilate heat and moisture.
Via Tiny House Talk
Images via Wil Fidroeff
