The Dome

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Although many people do their own roofing, we hired this out. With the dormers and extensions, plus the extra height created by the drive-in basement, not to mention doing the work in winter, we would either need professional help or a quick cure for vertigo.

The siding is vinyl with a stamped pattern that makes it look like cedar shakes. We mixed gray square bottom panels, white round panels and conventional wood grain panels to create special effects around windows, dormers and extensions. Here, too, we used contractors. They are used to the intricacies of siding and covering soffits and could do it much faster (photo 8).

We also hired professionals to insulate the inside of the shell with Icynene spray foam. It expands into all of the spaces behind the hubs, is nontoxic and seals everything tight as a drum (photo 9). The manufacturer recommends no vapor barrier on the inside, and do-it-yourself insulators should take note that Icynene is only available as a professionally installed product. We heated our dome that first (and very cold) winter, maintaining a cozy 65°F inside, using only the gas fireplace.

One of the major advantages of a dome is efficiency. A dome structure requires about 30% less material to enclose than a square home of equal floor space, resulting in 30% less exterior surface exposed to the weather. The curved shell gives less resistance to winter winds and creates a natural circulation inside that keeps all levels at a fairly even temperature. Our design includes open space from the main level to the cupola, but the temperature in the cupola is not much higher than that in the kitchen. In the summer, we can alter the air flow by opening the cupola windows and venting the warmer air out of the house to keep it cool.

With the roof on and insulation in place, we turned on the heat and moved in-or, more accurately, camped in. We framed the inside walls next (photo 10). In a Timberline dome, the second floor hangs from the metal hubs of the shell and rests on interior walls. You actually complete the shell before you have a second floor deck.

At this point wiring and plumbing were in full swing. Installing these in a dome home is not very different from wiring or plumbing a conventional square home. You just need to plan the vent pipe runs carefully. Adam was chief wire puller. He pulled over a mile of wire.

After trimming the foam level with the studs, we applied conventional dry wall. Although the material is conventional, the application was anything but. Including interior walls, we used 350 sheets (4' x 8') of dry wall; only seven of them didn't need to be cut before hanging. We hired a professional taper to put the finish on the wall joints. Folded into the joint between the triangles in the shell, the tape provides a crisp, clean line (photo 12). Even with his experience, it took the taper quite a while to deal with all the angles and seams. Amanda and Adam spent their summer vacation painting the interior-can't begin to put a dollar value on that time.

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