Terra-Dome Earth Shelter Build

[SamWalton]

Our garage was short a few loader buckets of the 3/4" chip fill gravel. We worked it to level with the footings and vibrated it to a smooth surface before applying the Stego barrier.

 

[SamWalton]

Sam, one day you will have people come to visit and you'll try to explain all this tedious detail and hard work. They won't understand, but everyone in your family will agree. The work must seem endless, but it's good to see your whole family working hard together.:thumbsup:

I agree it is like you had to have been there! Otherwise you won't get it. My family and interested TBN's will understand. I like to think it is all about the journey and if it was easy it probably wouldn't be worth doing. It's these difficulties that provide personnel growth. I believe this is the time to pass on to my sons the experience they can do anything.

 

[SamWalton]

You all have certainly worked hard and it shows Tony

Thanks Tony here at TBN all the creative and motivated people share their experiences to find help and to inspire or assist others on their dreams.

 

[mjncad]

This looks like my last boss.

 

[tommu56]

Sam when you are done this build are you going to quit your day job and become a Terra dome / concrete contractor:laughing:

tom

 

[SamWalton]

Sam when you are done this build are you going to quit your day job and become a Terra dome / concrete contractor:laughing:

tom

I have a great job with the Army and I will retire from this position. I enjoy this house build but I wish I had done it ten years ago when I was more physically capable. I would have preferred to contract most out but the cost was way more than we had saved. As for becoming a contractor I am sure no one could afford my rates and money is scarce. I would enjoy running a crew to design and build the perfect spec house for off the grid completely self sustained. Kind of like the underground home on the SyFi show Eureka.
We got much of the insulation installed and I began sealing the strap holes on the outside with ECOLINE-T and layers of nylon mesh.

 

[tony Cecil]

O sure am glad you are using the mesh, and hope you also do so on the roof area before you cover it with soil....Tony

 

[SamWalton]

O sure am glad you are using the mesh, and hope you also do so on the roof area before you cover it with soil....Tony

We recently recoated the cold joints on the roof using the ECOLINE-T and the nylon mesh. This was effective for the most part. We still have two small leaks we will repair later after we order in some more ECOLINE-T. This is a learning process and we get better as we go.

 

[mjncad]

Kind of like the underground home on the SyFi show Eureka.

That's one of my favorite houses, and shows.

 

[tony Cecil]

In really important areas, a double application is worthwhile....and the membrane is critical....I already feel better about your sealing abilities Tony