Do you know that dome homes use about 60% less lumber and are 5% to 15% more affordable than a conventional house? A dome is a structure that looks like half of a sphere, mostly used for roofing or ceilings. Domes provide a design that inspires architects and builders to use them as a smarter building choice. They have a distinct look and are well-known for their strength and beauty.
These spectacular buildings are not only acknowledged by the way they look but also by the fact that they are cost-effective. Increasing environmental awareness and high construction project prices have in the past made this a preferred choice of many project owners for their structures. Not only are they long-lasting and extremely resistant to severe weather, but they are also cost-effective since fewer materials are needed.
So, they sure do have many advantages, but there are some drawbacks also. In this blog, we’ll cover everything about dome construction, including its advantages and disadvantages.
What is a Dome in Construction?
Dome Definition: A dome is a self-supporting structure with a curved roof or ceiling. A typical dome is similar to the top half of a sphere or has a circular base, constructed to cover large spaces without any internal columns.
They are very durable and strong. The dome of the Pantheon in Rome, Italy, which was completed around 126 AD, almost 2000 years ago, is about 142 feet in diameter. You would be shocked to know that this Roman dome architecture is still unsupported by any modern reinforcement. From this alone, you can imagine the strength it possesses if built the right way.
But the question comes to mind: how does the building support it? Its architectural and structural designs work by distributing its weight evenly across the surface. This allows the dome to cover large spaces without even needing any internal support columns. By columns, we mean a vertical support such as pillars or posts. There are several types of domes, which we will discuss further.
Advantages of Dome Construction
Domes are used for various kinds of projects. Such projects include religious buildings, shrines, legislative buildings, sports arenas, shopping centers, greenhouses, observatories, shelters, and other projects. You would find them in various industries. From residential, commercial, to industry-level projects. So, now we are going to talk about the reasons why it is being used and the benefits it provides.
Structural Strength and Durability
One of the biggest benefits a dorm provides you with in construction is its enhanced and superior strength. The weight of the elements, the walls, the windows, the columns, etc., is evenly spread over the dome surface. This contributes to its attainment of durability, strength, and longevity. In other simple words, a dome is strong in its design. Its shape distributes stress and weight evenly across the structure.
Domes are used as they are highly resistant to any kind of natural disaster, such as tornadoes, hurricanes, storms, and earthquakes. A study shows that composite domes outperform thin-shell domes in earthquakes. So, in case your project is located in regions where there is a tendency to earthquakes, then earthquake-resistant domes are the way to go.
Energy Efficiency
Research shows that as domes consume lower amounts of energy, they keep heat in better during the winter season compared to flat or sloped roof buildings, making them more energy efficient. Energy-efficient domes allow project owners to save up to 50% on heating and cooling. According to Business Insider, more than 30% lower utility bills were also reported by the dome structure owners.
But how does this happen? The solution is easy: dome insulation allows you to keep the interior temperature conditions of your building. The shape of a dome is curved or spherical, which helps to reduce the heat loss (winter) and decreases the heat absorption (summer). That is, you do not have to install cooling or heating systems that are of high quality or cost.
Material Efficiency and Sustainability
A study shows that a fully constructed dome is about 15% less expensive and requires about 60% less lumber, compared to a standard home of the same size. When we talk about dome construction materials, it takes very few materials compared to a conventional structure. Domes enclose a large volume in a smaller footprint, which reduces the amount of material required. These are some of the main reasons why eco-friendly domes use fewer materials.
⦁ It possesses good surface-area-volume ratios. The consequence of this is that less surface is involved and hence fewer walls, roofing, and external components.
⦁ Unlike rectangular structures, domes can use thinner shells or internal support while ensuring good strength.
⦁ Fewer corners, joints, and framing lead to less material usage, saving you a lot on materials.
Not only are these buildings low-cost and robust, but they also require less maintenance. As an instance, any rain, snow, or debris would simply roll off, and the likelihood of leaking roofs, damage on the surface, accumulation of moisture, cracks, moulds, corrosion, decay, etc. would be diminished.
Aesthetic and Historical Appeal
Domes themselves are tens of thousands of years old; they date back 19280-11700 BC. The Soltaniyeh Dome is approximately 712 years old, and it has survived numerous earthquakes. Many iconic domes still exist today. Not only architects from the previous era, but also modern constructors use domed architecture due to its artistic appeal, historical legacy, and its stability and strength properties.
Disadvantages of Dome Construction
While there are multiple benefits of using a dome for your project, such as being easy to build, eco-friendly, disaster-resistant, cost-effective, strong, etc. It does come with some disadvantages and drawbacks that we can’t just ignore. Here are some of the cons of using a dome in construction.
Higher Initial Costs
Research shows that in 2025, conventional residential homes in Pakistan cost about PKR 4,800 to PKR 7,700 per square foot. Domes sure are cost-effective, but they have a higher initial cost. Dome cost depends upon various factors such as size, design, complexity, foundation, labour costs, features, etc.
Preparing a design for a dome is not a simple process. It requires skills and experience. If you go with traditional houses, they use standard blueprints, but with domes, you would need special architectural plans, expert skills, and custom-made components.
The higher initial dome construction price mainly comes from whether you need customisations, required materials, and the availability of specialised contractors, especially for fabrication methods. You would also require advanced equipment and machinery to conduct the tasks, resulting in higher initial costs.
Design and Layout Limitations
It surely provides aesthetic appeal, but when it comes to designing and interior, it can be a bit challenging. The process of dome framing is already a little tricky, but the round shape of the structure also restricts interior customization options. Building owners find it difficult to manage the dome interior. Such problems occur when you are doing furniture placement, like closets, shelves, etc, or installing MEP(mechanical, electrical, plumbing) systems.
These problems are not common in your traditional house designs, where you can customize the interior however you like. These problems with domes lead to increased labor costs, more customisation, and alternative solutions.
Permit and Regulatory Issues
You can face dome house zoning, regulatory hurdles, and permit-related challenges. Domes have an unconventional shape, making it difficult to obtain building permits.
Expect permit delays when working with dome projects. Getting dome building permits and verifying documents can also take a long time. Additionally, compliance with these local building codes and standards is complicated. Design complexity adds up to project timelines and overall costs.
Some people also face issues with their neighbours or fellow residents who object to the design. A dome design is not that common for residential purposes. However, if constructed properly, your hard work will be well worth it.
Acoustic and Maintenance Issues
A conventional structure, often with flat walls and ceilings, can easily absorb and diffuse sounds. Unlike a conventional building, domes sometimes face problems with echoes and acoustics. It is mostly because their curved interior structure reflects sound waves in multiple directions, leading to echoes and amplification effects. So, if you want to play music, you would have to deal with dome acoustics.
Although efforts for dome maintenance are significantly lower compared to a standard conventional building. As snow, rainwater, and debris fall off naturally. But if you want to clean it by yourself? Well, that can be a hassle. Specialized equipment and labor are required as steep curves and sloped roofs make the cleaning, repairing, and replacement tasks difficult.
Dome Framing and Construction Process
Dome framing is a type of technique that is used to create a spherical or curved-shaped roof or ceiling. The construction process includes creating a series of triangular or polygonal panels that can form the shape of a dome. The panels are then joined at a central spot. This is also known as the compression ring, which carries and supports the weight of the dome.
There are multiple dome framing methods, such as geodesic, monolithic, thin-shell concrete, CSIP, and wooden framing.
Geodesic Framing: Geodesic dorms are primarily made of interlocking triangle frames. These triangle frames spread weight uniformly, resulting in a lightweight yet strong structure. They can be applied in housing projects, greenhouses, conference rooms, glamping, emergency shelters, and storage.
Monolithic Framing: In this, an inflatable airform is used. Polyurethane foam insulation is sprayed evenly on the inside of the airform. Then a rebar grid is attached to the foam. Ultimately, layers of sprayed concrete, commonly referred to as shotcrete, are applied over the rebar and foam. This created a continuous and seamless monolithic dome.
Thin-Shell Concrete Framing: This is the process of constructing the dome with a very thin layer of concrete that is then poured onto curved moulds with steel support. Its shape, which is a dome roof format, is a three-dimensional geometric framework that enables it to support itself and gives it the power to cover a long distance. You don’t need any internal columns or external buttresses.
CSIP Framing: Do you know that CSIP domes often outperform thin-shell domes in seismic performance? Composite structural Insulated panels framing method often includes prefabricated insulated panels. These panels, made from outer composite skins such as fibreglass or cement boards with insulation in the middle, are locked together.
Wooden Framing: Timber or wooden framing includes utilising curved wooden ribs or laminated beams. These ribs or beams are used for the dome’s skeleton, while lighter materials such as plywood, shingles, plastic, aluminium, etc, cover the exterior of the dome.
Domes in Modern Architecture
Domes play a vital role when it comes to modern architecture. They provide structural strength, durability, and resistance, allowing large, column-free interiors to gain an advantage against any seismic forces or natural disasters. You can find modern domes almost everywhere.
For example, Epcot Center uses the design of geodesic domes. The church of Christ, located in Texas, USA, is a good example of a Monolithic dome. Another big example includes the United Nations headquarters in New York. Do you know that they use a saucer dome design for their structure?
We have more examples; Natural Spaces Domes are actively building in Minnesota. Moreover, the majority of soccer stadiums utilize an Umbrella dome structure. London’s Wembley Stadium is well known for its umbrella dome design.
So, it is safe to say that domes are playing a critical role in modern architecture. From dome house design to large stadiums, they are almost everywhere.
Conclusion
We have discussed domes in detail, the pros and cons of domes, and a full dome building guide, in which we discussed the construction process of different types of domes. This blog is infused with detail and fully researched data. We discussed that more than 30-50% energy is saved with domes, 60% less lumber, and they are also earthquake resistant. This blog covers all your queries and questions.
FAQs About Dome Homes
What is a dome home, and why is it different from a regular house?
A structure with a spherical or circular shape. It is a self-supporting structure with enhanced durability and strength. Unlike traditional, conventional, or rectangular homes, it’s unique in shape. In traditional houses, you have columns, walls, and a box-type shape. Domes, on the other hand, usually do not need any pillars or columns; the shape supports all the weight and stress uniformly.
How much does it cost to build a dome house in 2025?
The price of building a dome is determined by the type of dome, the complexity of the design, the workforce, and construction materials, among others. In Pakistan, the average price of a conventional house is between PKR 2,800 and PKR 7,700 per square foot, with the overall price of a house being between 67 lakh and 92 lakh. Domes require 25% less material, and maintenance is also low; you can expect about 15% cheaper compared to traditional houses.
Are dome homes energy efficient?
Yes, domes are highly energy efficient. The design provides a low surface area-to-volume ratio, so it reduces the amount of external wall exposure to outside temperature. This makes up for good insulation. It also smoothens air circulation. You don’t have to rely on expensive heating or cooling systems.
Can dome houses survive earthquakes and hurricanes?
Indeed, domes are very impervious to natural catastrophes like tornadoes, hurricanes, storms, and earthquakes. Studies indicate that composite domes are, in fact, superior to the thin-shell domes during earthquakes. Domes are very robust, solid, and versatile, hence good to be used in places that are susceptible to such natural calamities.
What are the disadvantages of dome houses?
Domes have many benefits, but they still lack in a few places. First of all, the design makes it difficult for interior management. Designing rooms, placing furniture, shelves, and losets can be a hassle. It has a high initial cost, and permits for dome houses can take a long time. Some neighbourhoods and places also discourage the idea of dome houses.
