Monolithic Domes: Money Savings

The initial cost of a Monolithic Dome is usually the same as a custom-built, conventional home of equal interior finish. If you planned on buying a $100,000 house, you will probably have to pay $100,000 for your dome home.

However, the long-term, day-to-day costs of a Monolithic Dome will always be lower. And the true cost of owning a dome home is substantially less.

There are two parties when a home is built: the contractor and the owner. The contractor’s primary goal when building the home is to make a profit. If it were otherwise, s/he could not stay in business. The home owner’s primary goal is to build the best home for the least amount of money.

These two goals, profit and value, are at odds with each other. The profit a contractor wishes to make on a home is usually higher than the actual profit gained. And the owner’s expectations of a home are always much greater than his or her ability to buy one.

But the initial cost is only part of the total cost of the home. Over the life of the home there will be insurance payments, property taxes, utility bills and maintenance. Add it all up and the total cost of a home is substantially more than the original cost of the home.

In an effort to meet the demands of the builders and the owners, each will inadvertently push the total cost of the home into the future. Yes, the initial price is lower, but the ongoing costs are higher. For example, by using the minimum amount of insulation, there will be higher energy bills, every single month.

Home owners who do not take into account the total cost of their home will end up paying dearly in the long run.

Using three inches of polyurethane foam on the outside of three inches of concrete makes the dome extremely energy efficient. Monolithic Domes require only half or less energy to heat and cool. One homeowner moved from a 1400-square-foot conventional home to a 2700-square-foot Monolithic Dome. His energy bill remained the same although the dome was twice as big.

A Monolithic Dome is not susceptible to termites and other creatures. It won’t rot. It won’t get blown away or knocked down. Mold is not a serious problem. These are only some examples of the Monolithic Dome’s advantages.

Compared to a conventional home, the ongoing costs of a dome are substantially lower.

But what about the initial cost? To build a square home with the same materials as a Monolithic Dome would cost substantially more. It is the efficient shape, simple construction process, and low material waste that keeps the dome affordable. I said affordable, not cheap. These are superior structures, built at conventional prices.