Terra-Dome Earth Shelter Build

[SamWalton]

Sam, how has the house been this winter for warmth and moisture collection? Are your heating coils in the floor working out? I'm sure the heat pump will help with moisture removal. Reducing humidity has always been a slight concern with the earth-shelter design.

We have has issues with moisture or the dew point be met. Since we ran out of cash we have been doing what we can from week to week and we haven't been able to afford to insulate and finish exposed exterior walls so we have some moisture forming on specific wall locations. Using our dehumidifier eliminates most as you move the portable unit to each area. We got by with our regular wood stove again this year and I stalled on the completion of the green wood boiler. The system is complicated and I am not sure if I designed it correctly.

 

[SamWalton]

Did you get any snow? How does the concrete do with it? Can you even tell it's snowing outside when you are inside?

Eddie

We got two snow storms with a few inches. We seal our exterior concrete with a white material that look like the snow. We have many windows so during the daylight hours we know the weather. We and also hear the precipitation hit the windows. I have attached a few pictures. We finally picked up a truck out of Craig's list. We picked up 10 240 watt Up Solar photovoltaic and two outback charge controllers. We have begun stacking silver coins.

 

[brin]

Sam, I will just share this experience of ours ....We built our house about 8 yrs. ago and it has a full basement...As soon as we moved in we noticed moisture on the walls even though our basement had been super waterproofed and foundation drains installed and it was a daylight basement...soon we has the begining of some mold so we bought a dehumidifier and washed all the walls with a bleach and water mix...We had no more moisture or mold and after 2 yrs. we unplugged the dehumidifier and since then all has been well...no moisture...no mold..

My conclusion is ...the concrete was new , full of water - moisture and once it had fully cured...the situation was resolved...So I am suggesting since you are all concrete...lots of it...it has lots of water to dispel...I think given a couple of years...you may find the problem is gone...I hope so. Just our experience...It all looks great Sam, nice job...

 

[jinman]

. . . I stalled on the completion of the green wood boiler. The system is complicated and I am not sure if I designed it correctly.

Wow! That is complicated. It makes my head swim just looking at it. I have a nephew who runs the HVAC plant at the Dallas VA hospital. He could probably do that stuff in his sleep, but it's all spaghetti diagrams to me. I do great with electrical/electronic diagrams, but HVAC is voodoo science to me.

 

[mjncad]

Thanks for the update Sam.

 

[mojoinco]

That last 5-10% is always the hardest part. At least for me. I am usually plum tired of that project, or 27 others are clamoring for my attention. Looking good from this direction. You didn't want a boring life anyhow, did you?!

 

[Bullwinkle20]

I am the owner of a Terra-Dome house near Kansas City, MO. We have lived here for 30 years. I am still learning about the construction of a Terra Dome house and would like to get a copy of your entire thread. I am a new member of tractorbynet and would also be interested in the pictures that were posted during your construction period. I have some issues with outside stucco cracking and pealing off and a leak by our skylight that we want to get repaired. I am particularly interested in what you used for waterproofing on your roof and around a skylight if you have one. Thank you for you help on this mater.
George Ross
bullwinkle20

 

[SamWalton]

The concrete structure will weep moisture until the outside is sealed and a bit beyond. The trick with water proofing is quality installations and redundancy with multiple different systems in layers. Mold can form anywhere and quite likely on the inside concrete walls because of due point. mainly because of poor or no insulation from cold in winters.

 

[SamWalton]

Did you move into one previously built or contract the build? You can copy the thread but as for the photos I was forced to remove for privacy, photo theft and fraud. As I have previously said the trick with water proofing is quality installations and redundancy with multiple different systems in layers.

 

[ruffdog]

This is the type of waterproofing my dad used on his underground house (1980).

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