08-26-2013, 01:20 AM
Jyoti,
I have built domes that size. It is wise to have few, if any, interior walls touch the exterior shell. You will not find any contractors here with experience on the subject. I would suggest you buy a kit for the shell and that the kit price should include engineering calcs stamped (preferably) by an Hawaii licensed engineer. Most out of state engineers can pick up a Hawaii license for a couple hundred dollars.... you would likely have to pay that.
While geodesic domes have a reputation for covering the most space with the least material they are very inefficient in material use. They are made of triangles and all sheathing material is produced in rectangles. So the frequency of the dome needs to be calculated in a way to minimize waste if a sheathed frame is chosen. Done wrong there will be a lot of waste. Waste is money thrown away.
The best designs I have seen are made of foam panels with a monolithic spray on water-proof membrane. The only company I know of doing this is in Virginia (though there may be others).... a lot of shipping. http://www.commonwealthsolar.com/cwdome.htm Containers are costly. Foam panels are light and bulky. Wood frame designs are a bad bet in this climate. Every joint in a wood frame design is a potential point of leakage. Domes are also complicated to gain water for catchment.
A 40' dome can be a challenge. A series of smaller connected domes is worth considering. White is a difficult color to maintain here.
Lastly, you should be aware that the resale value is tough. Your resale is a niche market... hard to find buyers.
Good luck.
I have built domes that size. It is wise to have few, if any, interior walls touch the exterior shell. You will not find any contractors here with experience on the subject. I would suggest you buy a kit for the shell and that the kit price should include engineering calcs stamped (preferably) by an Hawaii licensed engineer. Most out of state engineers can pick up a Hawaii license for a couple hundred dollars.... you would likely have to pay that.
While geodesic domes have a reputation for covering the most space with the least material they are very inefficient in material use. They are made of triangles and all sheathing material is produced in rectangles. So the frequency of the dome needs to be calculated in a way to minimize waste if a sheathed frame is chosen. Done wrong there will be a lot of waste. Waste is money thrown away.
The best designs I have seen are made of foam panels with a monolithic spray on water-proof membrane. The only company I know of doing this is in Virginia (though there may be others).... a lot of shipping. http://www.commonwealthsolar.com/cwdome.htm Containers are costly. Foam panels are light and bulky. Wood frame designs are a bad bet in this climate. Every joint in a wood frame design is a potential point of leakage. Domes are also complicated to gain water for catchment.
A 40' dome can be a challenge. A series of smaller connected domes is worth considering. White is a difficult color to maintain here.
Lastly, you should be aware that the resale value is tough. Your resale is a niche market... hard to find buyers.
Good luck.
Assume the best and ask questions.
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Punaweb moderator