Concrete Slab for American Ingenuity's

Geodesic Domes

 American Ingenuity’s stock building plans include drawings for a concrete slab foundation. Plans for raised wood floors or basements or pilings with platforms are available.  For a complete summary of the foundations that can be utilized with the American Ingenuity dome, click on Foundation Summary.

We can do a concrete wall to support the dome and a wood first floor.

We can replace a concrete slab with raised wood floor and design the first floor joist. The cost depends on the complexity, please call our office for pricing.  The garage dome would need a concrete slab.

How is the concrete slab insulated? As far as insulating the slab, it is the customer's choice. The insulating of the slab is listed on the building plans as an option. If the earth is cold then using 2" thick E.P.S. would be beneficial. Insulate the exterior of the slab by placing 3/4" E.P.S. insulation on the inside of the forms using finishing nails. Insulation thicker than ¾” should be placed against the outside of the slab/foundation after the forms are removed. Use finishing nails to secure the E.P.S. insulation to the form boards. This will allow the E.P.S. to remain in place against the slab without being damaged when you remove the form boards.

Q: Are there any special requirements for the foundation?
A: The only thing unusual about A.I.’s dome foundation is its shape. The multiple sided foundation is made up of flat sides to match the riser panels. Because A.I.’s dome is lighter than most other buildings, it has less loading on the foundation. Reinforcing bars connect the riser walls to the foundation at the vertical seams.

Q: Will the foundation for the dome cost more to build than a conventional shaped foundation?
A: Probably. The multiple sided foundation for our dome is only slightly more difficult than a conventional house and should not affect the cost more than 10% at most 20%. If you would mark the corners of the foundation, this will help remove a lot of the fear from the subcontractor. You will find that they will give you a better price. The tolerance on the foundation is very forgiving. You can be off one to two inches in any dimension without any significant consequences.

Q: How deep will the footings be?
A: The footing depth is determined by the building department in each area.

Q: How many yards of concrete is needed for the foundation and how many bags of cement will be needed to concrete the seams?
A: The number of bags of Portland cement needed to finish the shell varies depending on the number of entryways and dormers and whether you have a cupola or a link. The following is a Portland Cement bag estimate to concrete the seams.