Domes

The mission of Robinson Enterprises is to provide affordable housing to the world. To consult and provide the necessary plans, methods, tools, and supplies for DIYers and Contractors to build hempcrete domes around the globe.

We became enamored with domes many years ago due to their ability to survive in natural disasters such as hurricane winds, and tornadoes but also their superior energy efficiencies as compared to standard box construction. Numerous dome homes in Florida have withstood both wind and storm surge making them ideal for all the regions of the world where hurricanes and typhoons have destroyed property throughout history.

We call it the eggshell effect allowing for the reduction in the amount of materials used to create the envelope. With domes, the roof and walls are one single structure, spreading the weight over the entire expanse of the home. Many domes including large commercial buildings, have no interior reinforced walls. With box construction, the roofs are so heavy, that massive highly reinforced exterior and interior walls are required to support them. As the interiors are built out, including the 2nd floors, possible in even smaller domes, this also provides additional structural support to the entire dome envelope. You can literally add as much additional support as either required or desired.

The insulative properties of domes, when adequately insulated, are second to none, both in keeping them cool during the summers and warm during the winters. The reduced surface area which minimizes hot and cold transfer is only part of the lower costs.

Hempcrete block construction also provides the necessary insulative properties without having to add additional insulation, totally eliminating that cost. No more shooting or hand-packed insulation between rafters and studs, as the hempcrete itself, is highly insulative. It also, unlike concrete or wood, dries out totally eliminating the transfer of heat and cold via the moisture that remains over the life of a concrete block or wood-framed walls.

Historically dome homes have not been that much less expensive to build, both in material and labor costs, often times overbuilding them with reinforced concrete, the most typical material used. Hempcrete is not only much less expensive, it is lighter in weight, reducing the needed structural support. Once against an egg shows us a spherical structure’s strength is incredible, despite its thin brittle exterior.