Cold climate dome thickness
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Could anyone tell how thick air-crete bricks should be to give good insulation
in really cold winters?
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We need more info - in Vermont I've seen winters with weeks of below zero F. In Alaska that could be mild. In Mississippi that would be unheard of.
So - Where?
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@gemniii do you have a structure of air-crete in Vermont? I'm in Missouri so we get wind, cold and wet in winter and wind, very hot and wet in summer. I did read about not putting vapor barriers on both sides. Looks like this could limit four season use. Opinion? Thank you.
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@gemniii I'm in easternTN. Don't think it gets as cold as Vermont.
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As far as I have read, aircrete has an insulation rating of 3.9 per inch. Is this true? Can someone confirm this please?
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Please see What is AirCrete's R-Value? on the DomeGaia website. It's the very last question on the page.
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@zander Hi Zander,
I wasn't able to get through the article as it seems to want to skirt the answer with there is no answer....maybe you can summarize it better?
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What I got from the article is that the concept of R-value is not actually helpful. R-value is helpful if you are comparing different types of fiberglass insulation, because that is what R-value was designed to do. I think this video does a great job of demonstrating the insulative value of aircrete.
Youtube Video – [00:00..]
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@medcare651 I am in Missouri and would be interested in sharing ideas and/or looking at each others projects. I have not begun anything yet. JW
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@JWboing - I have been doing a lot of research - I am building next year in KY Mountains. - Research your area / state for frostline for your base. I am also doing this alone. So I am looking for a easy but very well built dome. I have taken Ideas from Domegia and AIDomes.com site. Also check out Domerama.com - You can find a lot of great detail we all need to help us build and plan. I hope this helps.
I am building a 2V Geodesic Dome 22ft so I have shelter asap then building on to it from there. forms will be 4" thick however I have calculated apx. 1 1/2 -2" additional concrete added when product is finish so it will give me a comfortable 6" thickness for the cold. If you think I can give you some more ideas let me know and God Bless you.
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@Jenw I have been looking in to Frost Protected Shallow Foundation. Google that term.
They do this much further north than Missouri or Kentucky. I will let your search explain it, but very worth looking in to. Keep in touch, you are close! JW
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@Jenw hi and hopefully you are safe and warm! in your dome home.
Would you have any tips and/or suggestions to building a dome home in a colder climate? I'm in the planning stages to build a multi-dome home in Vermont and not seeing much detail on this site for helpers.
Thanks in advance!!
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Thank you for updating us with the outcome!
