Cement Home built on concrete slabs & two photo galleries.
One showing construction pictures, the other shows finished exterior & interior.
“In the six years since we have moved into our double dome home (45′ & 34′) we have only increased our enthusiasm for this structure. There is something about the interior space that is very liberating and imaginative. One of the main reasons we built the Ai domes was its noncombustible concrete exterior. Our home site is surrounded by forests that can burn at any time. So it gives us great comfort knowing their is no roof to burn & no exterior wood framed walls to burn.” (Ron Kaufman & Marti Leicester, happy Ai Dome Owners)
To view an article about their domes published in the Butte Environmental Council’s (BEC) News, click on Chico News.
Photos of Dome Interior Finish
45′ & 34′ Kaufman/Leicester Domes in California
(Click on small images to change picture or use arrows in lower right side)
Assembly Photos California Concrete Dome Home
Forming up of dome slab. Foundation blueprint has radius angles and lengths that form boards are installed to.
Side view of slab being formed up.
Concrete Slab formed up with vertical rebar extending out of slab that will later connect riser, entryway and door dormer panels to the foundation. Standard foundation is a concrete slab. However the Ai dome can be built on a basement, pilings, stem wall, concrete block columns.
Closer view of formed up slab with perimeter footing and interior load bearing wall footings poured. The slab is formed up per radius and dimensions on the foundation sheet within the building plans. Slab is being poured.
Rebar being installed in perimeter footings. Footings and slab work being done.
Slab perimeter footings and interior load bearing wall footings being poured.
Poured slab for 34' dome linked to 45' dome.
45' dome kit being unloaded from Semi-Truck. Your dome kit can be delivered prior to your foundation installation. The kit can be stored on your site 2-3 months (in nonfreezing weather) waiting for your foundation construction. Some boxed items need to be stored inside per Truck Unloading document.
Dome kit being off loaded.
Dome owner on left discussing foundation with Kit Assembly Specialist.
View of stacks of panels with first row of riser panels being assembled. In the blueprints are dimensions from the center of the slab that each riser is installed to. The dimension is from the center of the slab to the interior of the riser panel end.
First row of riser panels are installed prior to temporary wooden rib system being assembled. Galvanized steel mesh extends out all sides of the prefab panel. On site the mesh from panel overlaps and is locked to adjacent panel. First layer of fiber concrete is hand trowelled into seam area between two panels covering some of the mesh and not covering the panel bonding ledges. Prior to hand trowelling fiber concrete, prefab concrete around the area is watered down. After all panels are installed with one layer of seam concrete, the seam area is watered down along with areas around the seam area and bonding agent is applied before second layer of fiber concrete is applied.
In the Kit Assembly Manual that is shipped with each dome kit is a listing of Materials, Tools and Equipment needed on site for dome kit assembly. This picture shows 94 lb bags of Portland Cement (Type 1 or 111 - Ai prefers 111), masonry or stucco sand, mortar mixer and water source. Fibers and liquid admixtures are shipped with your kit....the same ingredients that Ai used to manufacture your prefab panel concrete. On site the cement or mortar is mixed per Concrete Mix Recipe in the Assembly Manual.
45' dome kit: First row of riser panels propped up with temporary wooden rib system being installed for later placement of other rows of panels.
Second row panel being lifted into place.
Starting Second Row of Panel Assembly
Second row of panels being installed.
Panel in Second Row being lifted into place.
Entryway Panels Being Installed.
Third row of panels being installed.
Another view of panel being installed in third row of panels.
45' dome - assembly of third row of panels
Side of view of panel being installed. The panel exterior is 3/4″ concrete reinforced with galvanized steel mesh. After the mesh is overlapped and locked between panels, on site special fiber concrete is mixed and hand trowelled in the seam areas in two applications — bonding agent is applied between the two layers. The seam areas are about 3″ deep by 5″ wide with average of 2″ thick concrete.
Bottom of picture shows installed first floor window dormers. Second floor window dormer side panel being installed.
Second floor window dormer side panel being installed.
Second floor window dormer side panel being installed.
Second floor window dormer top panel being installed.
Dome Kit Assembled with first layer of concrete on entryway panels.
View of 45' dome without second floor window dormer installed and cupola not installed.
View of 45' dome under assembly. Entryway has first layer of concrete on its panels.
First row of 34' dome panels being installed.
Cupola area with beam poured ready to accept top five panels.
Five concrete "legs" are installed under the cupola. Formed areas shown where legs will be poured.
34' dome cupola legs formed up. Window dormers not installed.
45' dome in back ground has cupola top panels installed. Overhang panels not installed. Dome Panels Installed - Window Dormers not installed.
Cupola Overhang panels being Installed.
Priming Dome Exterior Concrete
Priming of exterior concrete. Worker sitting in lull.
Interior Drywall Being Finished.
Second floor joists installed.
Exterior view of High Profile Entryway with doors and fixed glass installed. 45' dome.
(Click on arrows left and right side of picture to view the next picture)
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