Occupy The Land with Attainable Housing

Written by Ernest Hancock Date: 07-19-2022 Subject: Housing

Aircrete Structure - 1 Sq Foot of Portland Cement Mix is expanded to 6 SqFt via foam (Floats in Water)

For you "Skip to The End" people here are some numbers for the building of a 30' Dome Workshop.

123 - 10 foot 3/4" EMT Conduit sticks @ $13 Each = $1599.00

I convert all of the measurements to Metric (35.33 cm is a hell of a lot easier than figuring out what .67 of an inch is) The calculator below is for a 30 foot Dome. The Radius (measurement from the center to the outer edge) is 15 feet that converts to 457.2 Centimeters. So the "A" strut is 115cm and 7 millimeters. Much easier.

IMPORTANT: 1.5" (3.81cm) must be added to the length of the Struts when cutting them (Chop saw with a cut off wheel for cutting metal, that can cut bundles of 10 at a time). The required measurements are from Hole Center to the Hole Center at the other end of the strut.

Hub Connections use 5/16" x 1.5" long Bolts
Bolts - Washers - locking Nuts for 91 Connection Hubs = $218.73
www.McMaster.com
Bolts #91255A587

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07PPTQBXZ?psc=1&ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_product_details $328.98
Farm Plastic Supply - White Greenhouse Plastic Sheeting - 6 mil - (50' x 50') - 4 Year UV Resistant Poly Greenhouse Film, 55% Light Transmission Hoop House Cover for Gardening, Agriculture

Visit the Farm Plastic Supply Store

4.6 out of 5 stars 113 ratings

Misc - Anchors, Tiedown Straps etc. = $150

$2296.71 (30' 4 Mil 55% Opaque White Plastic Covering WORKSHOP) with bare ground/Sand/Grass/WoodChip whatever floor.

==============================

30 Foot Diameter Monolithic 8 inch thick Aircrete Dome with Rebar on Reinforced 4" Slab

Now if we added a 30 foot 4" slab with 20 foot 1/2" rebar in a 12" grid (about 50 x 20' 1/2" Rebar Sticks @ $9.34 = $467) and the 10 yards of Concrete @ about $155 a yard = $1550

30 foot Slab 4" thick = $1550 + Rebar @ $467 = $2017
8 inch thick Aircrete 30' Dome needs About 180 x 94 lbs bags of Portland Cement @ $15 a bag = $2700 - FM-160 Foaming agent - $1000

Total Below
Slab = $2017
Aircrete Mix = $2700

FOAMING AGENTS:
FM-160 Foaming Agent from manufacturer Drexel (Amazon Link) = $1000
Seventh Generation Dish Liquid Soap =

Shrink Wrap Boat/Industrial Shrink Wrap Boat Shrink Wrap 50' x 100' 9 Mil (will make 2 30' Domes) = $760.64 x .5 = $380.32
30' EMT Conduit = $1599 (REUSED with this Method)

https://biolime.com/ Allows the structure to breath so condensation and other sources of moisture is eliminated while providing water proofing.

First, a coating of the BioLime is sprayed onto Shrink Wrap and the mesh layer is applied to the Biolime covered shrink wrap and another thin coat of BioLime seals in the mesh.

Rebar above that before shooting AirCrete for thermal mass and insulation. After final aircrete application the final layer of Mesh is applied and sealed with a skim coat of Stucco mix or BioLime. Lime mixes are much more flexible and do not tend to crack as much as Portland/Stucco mixes.
Then the EMT Stuts are dismantled from the inside after curing of the Structure.

This provides a much more finished interior and allows for the placement of window and door framing. The geodesic framing can be reused and the Shrink wrap is peeled off and likely thrown away (maybe reused on smaller domes... we'll see)

(Basalt is Lava Rock made into fibers and rebar. It is much lighter than steel, strong and can be made into fiber like fiberglass. It also has the same expansion and contraction features as cement, does not rust and unlike poly meshes it will not melt in a fire)
BASTECH® Basalt Rebar #3(10mm), 300' Length, 48" Diameter Coil (for Dome Exterior Grid) $108 a Roll x 6 Rolls = $648
https://www.basalt-usa.com/product/basalt-rebar-310mm-300-length-coiled/
1/2" Rebar = 12.7 mm -- 3/4" = 19.05mm -- 1" = 25.4mm
Description of Basalt vs. Steel - https://www.basalt-usa.com/#Product

Exterior Coating Suggestions - https://biolime.com/

Another Source - https://www.smarter-building-systems.com/
Basalt Mesh
$394.90 164'x39.4" = 50Sq Meters (56 sq yrds.) Coated (so it doesn't come apart) with 10mm grid mesh

Basalt Rebar

12mm = 100 Meter coil (328 ft) = $653

10mm = $430

8 mm = $297

Rope $148 = 1000 ft.
2 Rolls = $286

An alternative to the Basalt Mesh is Fiberglass.

Self Adhesive EIFS Stucco Mesh Tape 38" x 150' Fiberglass Drywall Joint Tape.
(38" x 150') - $59.99

Slab - $2017
Aircrete Mix = $2700
FM-160 Foaming Agent = $1000
Boat Shrink Wrap = $380.32
30' EMT Conduit = (REUSED)
Basalt Rebar #3(10mm) = $648
Basalt Mesh = $2000
$8745.32 = Total for a 30' Reinforced 8" thick Aircrete Dome on a 4" Concrete Slab

If you desire a rounder look you can use an airbag but this size starts at an additional $8000+

Basalt Mesh on AirBag form

Basalt Mesh sealing and Binding Aircrete Blocks

Fast Application of Material...

Putzmeister SP 11 - Fully Equipt and shipped $50,000
Mixer Hydrolically lifts to auto load Hopper that pumps via Hose/Sprayer to job area. Air Compressor and Power Washer include and powered by Diesel engine. Invoice PDF

https://duckduckgo.com/?t=lm&q=Putzmeister+SP+11&atb=v278-1&iax=videos&ia=videos
=================================

"Occupy The Land with Attainable Housing"

I'll use this article to walk you through our experiences with various options of Dome Construction, use cases, construction methods and Costs.

The cover graphic is a sample of Architect Sean Holman's work (a supportive friend and show listener) that has caught the Dome Bug. I'll include some more of his work here along with a WebPage that he is starting to develop with his work. The designs for our ultimate home is after consultation with Donna and I and some footprint requirements that address the best parts of previous homes we have lived in. Nothing is finalized, but the primary requirement is the ability to construct monolithic domes that are from 30-40 feet in diameter, a connecting hallway and a shaded entry (along with some specialty features). Our prototyping has been to develop the least expensive (material and labor) method of enclosing the maximum amount of living space with the most efficient use of quality material... thus, the Dome.

Guest Room

Sean has begun 3d Printing

There are many methods being tested to complete the desired task of a quality enclosure... but we must first define what it is that we are looking to accomplish.

Moderated temperature with the least amount of energy and long term protection from the elements. The rest of the requirements are to make for a happy life by making sure I have a happy wife. Donna requires a pleasant design with lots of natural lighting, quality plumbing and electrical service (we already purchased our Solar Panels, 40KW of batteries, Inverters and wiring). I wish I had also purchased in early 2020 all of our plumbing needs. If I had the money and the storage space I would have purchased the Portland Cement as well.

In Arizona the ability to use HyperAdobe Earth Bags or Rammed Earth is a quality option but requires an enormous amount of labor and is limited to where there is the type of soil that can be used for such building ( good examples: https://www.youtube.com/TinyShinyHome & Green Dream Project https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC_7n21RGpsAo9i2N7hN_uAA )

Our experience started in the mid 90's with the experimentation with PaperCrete https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=papercrete . We were excited by the possibilities and there are specific use cases for this tech. Also the addition of shredded used styrofoam is a favorite of many.

We have gravitated towards the use of Airated Cement (aka Aircrete). The only material required is Soap and Portland Cement. FM-160 is a farm product that stands for Farm Marker - 1 Gallon Soap to 160 gallons water for use on a farm to mark fields for crop dusting or to provide guidance for harvesting equipment. It creates a dense long lasting foam that doesn't harm crops. There are many versions of Aircrete but they follow the same basic mixture... Portland Cement & Foam. A Square Foot of Portland Cement is expanded to over 6 Square Feet... it's very light and even floats. It is very strong in compression but has little strength in tension (thus making it very useful for a dome structure). Tensile strength is accomplished with the exterior and interior coated with a fiber mesh and cemented over. This provides a strong and hard waterproof surface that is long lasting. Aircrete can be easily shaped with expanded metal or wire 1/4" screen wrapped over a trowl

This is the finished surface. The stucco mix can have color added or be painted or polished during application for a very smooth finish.

Domegaia builds eco-elegant, low-cost structures using a special form ...

In February of 2007 we open the first Ron Paul r3VOLution workshop in a 3500 sq. ft. sign production workshop in Phoenix, Arizona. Before closing that workshop we used the space to test the assembly of Geodesic Domes. As libertarian activists we were very much aware of the inevitability of economic destruction due to fiscal policies and a targeted attack on the American Economy.

Supporters of libertarian philosophy were willing to act on their beliefs and had a great deal in common with many other people that desired a more secure life raising their families and enjoying their retirements. The beginning of the Tiny House Movement quickly evolved into expensive dwellings with all of the problems that many of us wished to avoid,... Expensive materials and high labor costs would mean needed financing for many young families that would once again support a banking system we wished to escape.

We'll start at the beginning of our Journey and share how we built our domes, why and what we've learned along the way. We are taking the effort to a new level of capability to provide quality living spaces at the lowest costs so that families and even individuals can provide for their life long Shelter, Power, Food & Water. We have also been heavily involved in robust Communication, Transportation, Health Solutions, Education and Automation of many tasks on a small farm.

We have been inspired by many efforts and some of them will also be detailed in our coverage for this project.

"Intentional Communities" of like minded people have been the primary subject of discussion during our www.LoveBusLibertyTour.com as my wife Donna and I have been traveling back and forth across America since May of 2020 with our radio show and using our promotional skills in opposition of Vaccine Mandates. The common subject of discussion at every festival and liberty event has been the escape from the Big Cities to live a healthier life for both the mind and body.... but where and in what?

Where is a personal choice with many variable to consider. For Donna and me, we are heavily motivated by our 4 children and 12 grandchildren living in the Phoenix Metro area of Arizona. Fortunately there is a lot of open desert within an hour of Grandchildren. The area also provides many benefits. But the 3 months of high heat must be considered in our construction. What we propose as a building method can be adapted to any climate and we are getting ready to demonstrate this in Washington State near the Canadian border, In Maine, New Hampshire, West Virginia, South Carolina, Texas and Colorado (it didn't take long for word to get around and orders to pile up).

As you continue to read this introductory article with graphics and video, you will understand our motivations and willingness to be of service in support of individual families and communities with the desire to live a peaceful and productive life while raising Generation Next in a happy and healthy environment.

Our family's benefit is the experience gained, the equipment accumulated and the networking of like minded people while educating others on the need and ability to "Occupy The Land"

DesertDomes.com Dome Calculator is a great place to start. http://www.desertdomes.com/domecalc.html

The Strut material used is EMT Electrical Steel Conduit used to encase electrical wiring, primarily in commercial buildings. This material comes in several sizes with the most common 1/2', 3/4" AND 1" Diameters. At you local Home Improvement Big Box stores they can be purchased in 10 foot lengths and come in packs of 10 steel tubes.

In 2012 we would pay about $1 for 1/2" Sticks and now in 2022 they are $8. The 3/4" Conduit was under $2 a stick and now is $14. 1 inch EMT Conduit is $24 per stick. What this means is that a 16 foot diameter dome with Conduit frame and Nuts and Bolts would be about $200.

In the Spring of 2008 we conducted our first experiment with Domes and constructed a 16' 1/2" EMT Conduit 3V Geodesic Dome with hand tools and years later we added a Stamp Press to speed up the process.

The "MoneyDome"

Written by Ernest Hancock Date: 05-11-2012 Subject: Events: America

We're Getting ready for Porcfest2012

(Building Party for 3 more domes - May 2013)

Drew - Ernie - Keith - Dean

Bob Anderson and Donna Hancock