American Ingenuity 2009

Dome Building Kit & Building Option's Pricing

The Ai dome kit consists of all the triangular and four foot tall riser component panels for the dome shell and panels for one entryway. Your floor plan selection determines how many more entryways (standard, garage or high profile), window dormers, door dormers, skylights, cupola, link, etc. you will need. The link is used to connect two domes together.  The link info is on page three of this file. The building kit does not include any doors or windows (except skylights) and does not contain any interior items (except for the interior shell wall board).

Dome Building Options

The Building Options for the American Ingenuity dome include: Entryways, Cupola, Window Dormers, Door Dormers, Skylights, Garage Domes, Links and 9" thick insulation. These options (except for the skylights, links, garage domes and insulation) allow ways to install standard doors and windows that you purchase locally.

Why do I need entryways and dormers to install windows and doors? At specific locations around the perimeter of the dome, triangles and riser panels can be left out to provide an opening where you or your framer installs your locally purchased doors and windows. To compensate for the triangle and riser panels being left out, entryways and dormers "structural awnings" have to be installed. 

Within the Stock Floor Plan Booklet there are blank floor planners which show the possible locations for first floor entryways, window dormers and door dormers and show the possible locations for second floor window dormers, door dormers or cupolas. 

Ai can email you the blank floor planners. Simply email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it and ask for the blank floor planners.  Or call us at 321-639-8777  Monday through Friday, 9 to 5 eastern time, and Ai staff will answer your questions as to which domes can have which building options.  Plus you can view Ai's basic kit pricing sheet that shows the building options available for each dome size at this link, Building Options.

To view and print out Ai's stock floor plans showing the placement of entryways, window dormers, door dormers, skylights, cupola, etc., click on the following link, Stock Floor Plans, scroll down the page and click on the red hyperlinks.

To view American Ingenuity's Stock Dome Kit and Stock Floor Plan pricing for each of the stock plans, click on this link Stock Kit and Stock Plan Pricing.

Remember the blank floor planners which show the possible locations for the dormers and entryways are in Ai's Stock Floor Plan Booklet.  This 60 page booklet is in the $9 Planning Kit (plus mailing costs) which can be purchased on Ai's shopping cart.  The cart is at this link... Ai Cart.  Or call us at 321-639-8777 Mon thru Fri 9-5 eastern time or email us ( This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it ) and ask for the blank planners to be emailed to you.

The following is a summary of which size domes can have which building options:

• There can be up to five standard entryways on the first floor of Ai's 30’, 34’, 36', 40’, 45’, 48’ and 60’ domes.  Instead of using entryways, you can install first floor window dormers and door dormers in specific locations.

• The 30', 34', 36', 40', 45', 48' and 60' domes can have standard entryways and high profile entryways (where there is no second floor).
• The 22', 27', 30', 34', 36', and 40' domes can have garage entryways.

• There can be up to five window dormers or door dormers on the second floor of Ai's 36', 40’, 45’, and 48’ domes.  Window dormers and door dormers cannot be installed above high profile entryways.

• The 60’ dome can have up to ten second floor window dormers but no second floor door dormers. 

• The 22' and 30’ domes can have first floor window and door dormers but cannot have second floor door dormers or second floor window dormers. 

• The 22' & 27' domes cannot have a cupola.  The 30', 34', 36', 40', 45', 48' and 60' domes can have a cupola.

• The 27’ and 34’ dome can have first floor window and door dormers and second floor window dormers but no second floor door dormers.

• On the second floor of the 36', 40', 45' and 48' domes there can be a combination of up to five second floor door dormers and or window dormers.

• The 22’ and 27’ domes are typically garage domes.  On the first floor of a  22' dome there can be one standard garage entryway (that can contain a 9' wide garage door), one door dormer and up to five window dormers.  On the first floor of the 27' dome there can be one standard entryway (that can contain a 16' wide garage door), one door dormer and up to four window dormers.  If you connect a link to a 22' dome, the link is about 5.5' to 6' wide with a standard length of 5'.  If you connect a link to a 27' dome, the link is about 6.75' wide and has a standard length of 5'.

Building Kit Option's Pricing 2009 **

Screen Dome Kit Pricing Is Approximate

Ai has to call for the current cost of aluminium before we can give definite pricing.

What types of windows and doors are possible? Standard windows and doors can be installed within the entryways, window dormers, door dormers and cupola.  The Ai building kit contains all the panels to assemble the dome shell and the panels for one entryway. The Kit does not include doors and windows. There is such a variety and varying price points, we leave that up to each client to purchase locally. The floor plan you select will determine where you or your builder will install your locally purchased doors and windows.

Where do windows and doors get installed in the Ai building kit? Under the entryways, dormers or cupola. These are structural "awnings" that extend out from the dome. Within the open area under the "awning" a vertical 2x4 or 2x6  frame wall is constructed on site to fit your choice of doors or windows. Ai has designed the entryways and dormers in a manner to allow the owner to select from the wide variety of windows and doors that are locally available rather than purchase them from us and pay to have them shipped to your site. Click on Window Sizes to learn more.

Within the Planning Kit is a 60 page Stock Floor Plan Booklet which contains stock plans for the 22' through 48' domes (60' plans are custom). Also in the back of the booklet are blank floor planners for each size dome. The floor planner for each size dome shows the exact locations where entryways, window dormers and door dormers are possible in the dome shell. To order the Planning Kit click on Visit Our Store. 

Entryways

Entryways in the 3-frequency domes (30', 34', 36', 40', 45' & 48') can be standard, high profile or garage.  A standard entryway is 8' tall and provides an opening where standard 6' 8" doors can be installed.  High profile entryway allow enough height that 8' tall doors can be installed or glass can be installed above standard 6'8" doors.  Garage entryways are used in garage domes.  To view the widths and heights of all the domes entryways, click on Specifications.

Only garage entryways are available in the two frequency domes (22' and 27'). Entryway panels for the 22' and 27' dome consist of 3 1/2" thick E.P.S.   There is no steel mesh or concrete on the 22' or 27' entryway panels.  

Entryway panels for the 30' or larger domes utilize 3 1/2" thick E.P.S. wrapped in steel mesh, are preconcreted on the underside surface and have a precast trough on the outer edge. On site, you place rebar into the trough, fill the trough with concrete and concrete the outside surface. The openings under the entryways are framed in on the site to fit your choice of standard windows and doors that you purchase locally.

Window Dormers

Window dormer panels consist of 3 1/2" thick E.P.S. wrapped with steel mesh ready for on site stucco. The openings under the dormers are framed in on site to fit standard windows that you purchased locally. Click on Window Sizes to learn more.

If I want to install a single window what option do I use? First Floor Window Dormers or Second Floor Window Dormers.

On the first floor of the dome, window dormers are installed above any riser panel in all of the Ai domes. You can place second floor window dormers in any of five locations in the 27', 34', 36', 40', 45', 48'.  In the 60' dome, a second floor window dormer can be in ten locations.

Second floor window dormers are not available in the 22' or 30' domes. To get opening windows on the second floor of the 22'  install other companies opening skylights by cutting a hole in the preconcreted panels & installing the skylight per the manufacturer's directions.  In the 30' dome use a cupola where you can install five standard opening windows and for indirect light use a few skylights.

Can a window dormer or door dormer be installed above a high profile entryway? No.

What do the window dormers consist of? Three panels of precut 3 1/2" E.P.S. wrapped with steel mesh. After the window dormers are installed in the dome shell, concrete is applied on site.

To get a building permit, do I have to have certain size windows in the bedrooms? Depends on your area's building codes. In Florida the building departments require the bedroom window to be at least 44” from the floor. And when the window is open it has to have 5.7 square feet of opening space.  In Florida your building plans have to show the size windows and doors that you will use (if it is not an bedroom egress window, you can later downsize the windows that are shown on the plans...you just cannot increase their size).  In Florida when you submit for your building permit, you have to show the window and door model numbers, manufacturer and provide the manufacturer's spec sheet that shows the windows and doors comply with that area's wind speed requirements.  If your area has 120 mph wind speed, you are required to have impact resistant glass or shutters.

Door Dormers

Where can door dormers be installed? On the first floor of the all the Ai domes and on the second floor of the 36', 40', 45' and 48' domes.

First Floor Door Dormers: are a way to install a single door. The first floor door dormer can replace most riser wall panels on the ground floor of all the domes. Utilize first floor door dormers for single exterior doors such as kitchen or garage exits. Like window dormers, the door dormer panels are precut from 3 1/2" thick E.P.S., wrapped in steel mesh and are stuccoed on site during construction.

Second Floor Door Dormer: Pair a second floor door dormer with a standard entryway for an upstairs balcony in the 36', 40', 45' and 48' domes. Structural door dormers may be located in any of five locations on the second floor of the 36' thru 48' domes.  A second floor door dormer cannot be installed above a high profile entryway.

Second floor door dormers are not available in the 22', 27', 30', 34', or 60' domes.

Cupolas

Ai recommends that you build the cupola only if you want a third floor loft or to have a second floor area to install standard opening windows in the 30' dome. The cupola is a way to add height to the top center of the dome and another way to have opening second floor windows. With the installation of a cupola, there is enough headroom in the 40' and larger domes to have a third floor loft.  Cupolas are not available in the 22' or 27' domes.

Cupolas require three partial days for assembly because the concrete has to have time to cure during each process (this does not include framing  for the windows or the installation of the windows).

• First Partial Day of 5 hours: concrete beam around top opening is formed and poured.
• Second Partial Day of 5 hours: concrete corner columns are framed and poured.
• Third Partial Day of 5 hours: set top five panels, attach overhang panels and apply first coat of concrete in their seams. 
• During the rest of the partial days, workers can complete window dormers and door dormer installations.

 Interior Shell Finishing

Once the Ai dome building kit is assembled, the wall board on the interior of the dome shell is ready to be finished almost identically to the method drywall board seams are finished. There will be a 1/2" gap between the panels that allows you to insert electrical wiring without cutting the interior board. This 1/2" gap is filled with a nonshrinking joint compound like "Gold Bond Pro Form". Then those seams and the other interior shell seams are finished with typical joint compound and fiberglass joint tape. Applying a textured paint will likely hide the board seams and complete the dome shell interior. 

On the left hand side of our Home Page is a menu item titled FAQS.  To view files that cover areas like Electrical/Plumbing, Framing, Fireplaces, AC Heating, Kitchens, Interior Finishing, Window & Door Sizes, Update Windows and Sound Reduction, lay your cursor on FAQS, then lay your cursor on Interior Finishing and then click on the file you want to read.

9" Thick Expanded Bead Polystyrene

(E.P.S.) Insulation

The standard insulation in Ai's dome building kits (27' thru 60') consists of seven inch thick expanded bead polystyrene E.P.S. or R-28 which is comparable to eleven inches of fiberglass batting. You can purchase thicker 9" E.P.S.   The 22' kit has 3 1/2" thick E.P.S. insulation and can be upgraded to 7" thick insulation.  To learn more about E.P.S. as a vapor barrier click on Vapor Barrier.

When do you recommend the 9" thick insulation? Ai only recommends 9" (R-36) thick insulation for areas where the low temperature does not get above zero degrees for 5 days in any given year.  Ai domes with 7" E.P.S. will easily outperform conventional housing with 11" thick fiberglass insulation. If you are not in the zero degree areas instead of purchasing thicker insulation from us, put that money towards double or triple paned windows and insulated doors.   Windows and doors are where your cooled or heated air will escape.

The cost of the 9" E.P.S. is the cost to upgrade the 7" E.P.S. to 9" for the entire component panel kit and in the case of the 22' dome the insulation thickness is upgraded from 3 1/2" to 7". Dormers and Entryways will remain the typical 3 1/2" thickness.

Skylights

Non-opening skylights are preinstalled in triangular component panels (which are preconcreted) and come with clear glass or reflective glass.  The skylight pricing in the Stock Plans & Stock Kit Prices is for clear skylights.  

What do the Ai skylights consist of? The skylight consists of two pieces of ¼” thick tempered glass (like car side window glass) about 33" tall  x 38" wide at the base with ½” air space. Typical window glass is 1/8” thick and is not tempered. Ai manufactures the glass panels at the Ai factory. A triangular hole is cast in the preconcreted component panel where the skylight sits on a ledge. Aluminum strips, stainless steel screws and black weather stripping are used to install the skylight.

Since the founding of American Ingenuity in 1976, Ai has not heard of any Ai skylight breaking due to a storm (this includes hurricanes, tornados and hail). It could be because the skylights sit at an angle and are made from tempered glass.  However if a skylight is broken or moisture appears between the two pieces of glass, it can be removed and repaired locally.

How many skylights can I have in the 30', 34', 36', 40', 45' and 48' domes?
Gosh you could have 10 or 30 skylights, but we do not recommend that many. Three to five are quite sufficient.  The dome shell R value is around R-28. The skylights consist of two panes of ¼” tempered glass which is an R-4 with ½” sealed airspace between the glass. Skylights should be kept to a minimum because they let in cold or hot air into the dome.

Skylights can be installed in "H" panels. These domes utilize 3 frequency geometry. When you use one entryway there are 42 "H" panels; so conceivably you could have 42 skylights. For each regular or high profile entryway you add, subtract 3 "H" panels. For each window dormer subtract one "H" panel.

Riser Panels

American Ingenuity includes a four foot tall riser panel in the building kit at no extra cost.

The four foot tall riser panels allow for more vertical space near the perimeter of the first floor and greater headroom on the second floor.  The first floor ceiling height in the 22', 27', 30', and 34' domes is 7 1/2 feet.  The first floor ceiling height in the 36' and larger domes is 8'.

Link

Domes are connected together with a Link which consists of E.P.S. insulation with steel mesh attached on site and concrete applied on site.  The Link panels consist of precut 3 1/2" or 7" thick E.P.S. with wallboard attached.  American Ingenuity ships the steel mesh and concrete additives with the building kit. On site you assemble the Link E.P.S. panels, cover them with steel mesh and coat them with the fiber concrete.

The Link connects to the adjacent domes in the same locations as an entryway or a door dormer. The thickness of the E.P.S. in a Link is usually 7" when it takes the place of an Entryway and 3 1/2" when it connects at a door dormer. The width of the links depends on the size of the domes and whether the domes are connected at an entryway or door dormer. The length of the Link is usually 5 ft.  Because the riser wall is a standard 4’ high, all domes will match each other despite a difference in diameters.

The link length is usually five feet long. The width of the link that connects to the 22' dome is about 5'5" to 6' wide.  The width of a link that connects to a 27' dome is about 6.75' wide.  If the link connects onto domes 30' or larger the width of the length where it connects to the larger dome varies depending upon whether the link connects to the larger dome at a door dormer or a standard entryway. For example, if the link is connected to a 45' dome at an entryway (taking up two risers) the width of the link where it connects to the 45' dome might be 13'.  These are approximations, the Plans Supervisor will give you a more accurate number, once he sees your plans sketches.

In most cases Ai does not recommend extensions to entryways for the following reasons.  Extensions add exposed surface area faster than they add floor space therefore reducing the energy efficiency. Extensions add to the cost of construction faster than they add floor space therefore increasing the cost per square foot.  American Ingenuity's Assembly Manual does not include extensions although they are assembled much like entryways or links.  In general, domes have inherent advantages because of their shape and deviations away form the dome shape lessons the advantages.

The E.P.S. link panels range in price from $500 to $1,000 depending on the length of the link and the size domes the link connects to.  Remember, Link E.P.S. panels come with wallboard but they are not concreted or wrapped with steel mesh. On site you assemble the Link E.P.S. panels, cover them with steel mesh and coat them with concrete.  Ai ships the link steel mesh with the Building Kit.

Can I use Links to connect domes into a circle with a court yard in the middle?  Yes.  The idea of domes in a circle with a center court yard will work.  Ai would recommend that the 360 circle be filled with five domes.  Although if you don't want the circle completely enclosed you would not have to build all five.  Ai is just suggesting that the geometry be designed around a five dome placement.  The domes would then be connected by links replacing either entryway or door dormer panels in each dome.

 The cost to design such a job and supply full plans would be around $1,650.00 plus the cost of an engineering seal if required (mandatory in Florida).

Garage Dome Kits

Do you have separate garage dome kits available? Yes. Ai has developed two garage dome sizes, 22' and 27'. These garage domes are two frequency icosahedron geometry. This geometry differs from Ai's other domes in that it utilizes fewer but larger panels. By having larger panels Ai can create a wider opening that is needed for a garage door. You can install a 9' wide garage door in the 22'.  The 22' dome can have a second floor of 148 sq.ft.  The 27' garage dome can have a 16' garage door and the 27' dome can have a second floor of 225 sq.ft.

Previously a 34' dome was needed to pull two cars in side by side. Now you can have a two car garage in a 27' dome which is more cost effective. The 22' dome provides an economical one car garage using 3 1/2" E.P.S. insulation (R-14). Either of these garage domes can be connected to another dome or built independently from the house. (You can upgrade the 3 1/2" thick insulation to 7" E.P.S.)

The 34' garage dome is utilized when you want more first floor perimeter room around the vehicles or when you want a second floor above the garage for an apartment or study, etc.  The second floor of the 34' dome can have 614 sq.ft.

You can find the pricing for the garage kits on the bottom of the Stock Floor Plan Price List that is in the Stock Floor Plan Booklet. Or click on Stock Plans & Stock Kit Prices and scroll to the bottom of the chart.