Sure you can build it yourself. We built our last house. We submitted the plans to the township for approval. After starting to build there was different inspections along the way. Foundation, framing, before closing up the walls there was an inspection for the electric, plumbing, hvac, etc. We had to have a registered master plumber and electrician sign off on the work. Then after closed up there was another inspection on the electrical and a finial building inspection before we got the occupation permit

Check with your local zoning office and building department office for their requirements.

No one here will know what they are.

We don't even know where you are. Tennessee is a fairly large place.

If you don't have a structural engineer on board, time to start looking. Not many building departments are going to be comfortable with aircrete domes. This being a wise building forum, let me be the first to suggest an architect and builder as well. At least for consultation if possible.

I agree with all of your comments! it's a fairly intimidating project. but that's part of the reason I want to do it. I've built several traditional homes and rly want to try something new. I live in the middle of West TN. Very backwater lol. I manage a construction company now so I have access to a building contactor which will help.

contact the Dome home company in Italy, TX - they will provide plans for you as this is exactly the type home they do.

In my experience it is not the permits that will be a problem it is the funding. Banks do not like to fund self builds unless you are a licensed builder yourself. If you need bank funding, you may need to get the contractor you work for on board as being the "builder" for the purpose of paperwork.

well the funding shouldn't be too big of a problem. we have been saving for a while so we won't have to deal with a mortgage. I wonder if that company in TX could work with my basic layout?

Is resale and recapture of funds an important issue?

"I've built several traditional homes and I want to try something different..."

Is home building a hobby?

we aren't terribly concerned about selling in the future. We both have careers here that we love and our families are here. I grew up moving a lot, so for me, the idea of one home for life is what I've always dreamed of. I wouldn't call home building a hobby because it has always been with work but it is a process I enjoy. This is a very tornado prone area and we have had a fire tragedy in my family so the saftey benefits of an aircrete dome are very appealing.

In real estate, these types of homes are known as ”follies”, after the English term for a whimsical structure constructed for mere pleasure, and not primarily as a home. It also connotes the foolishness of the large personal taste expense with very poor resale value. Follies are built for some type of personal belief or conviction reason, as a HOBBY, with zero expectation of ever being able to sell. Cave houses. Berm houses. Tree houses. Dome houses. None have any conventional appeal, or any expectations of recouping even 1/4 of what it costs to build them.

Everything in the furniture and furnishings worlds is square based. Square pegs do not fit in a round hole. If you think 45 degree angles in a home build waste useful space? You’ve never visited or lived in something round. There’s a massive amount of wasted space for the actual enclosed square footage. Many many things will need to be full custom to deal with this issue. That adds to the cost, but not to the utility. It’s the same with your building material of choice. It’s more costly than conventional construction techniques for a reason. Invisible “upgrades” typically are great for the evangelicals adopting them, because it feeds their belief systems. But they never really pay off in any other manner than in personal satisfaction.

It’s interesting as an academic exercise. As a real world pour massive money into a hole and set it on fire? It’s really unlikely that anyone who has the money to really do this is that foolish with how they spend it. No one wants to spend 400K on something that can’t sell for 100K. Even if they think they will “never” move? Never always comes along.

I am in SW TN and there are already a few dome houses around. People typically pick them up at bargain prices, hold on to them for a few years, and then sell them again at fire sale prices compared to the comps. They don’t live well in hot humid climates because moisture migrates directly through the porous material and you get condensation and moisture issues.

you asked whether or not the company in TX would use your plans. They have a ton of already done plans, and most likely could modify your plans to something they have already done. They even have a book of plans for sale (Amazon maybe?). https://www.monolithic.org/monolithic-open-house/commercial-dome-tour/monolithic-headquarters-italy-texas They also provide classes/training for folks wanting to 'build it themself'. https://www.monolithic.org/homes/floorplans

I think "foolish" is a little unwarranted but I respect your opinion. to address your concerns: The housing market is rapidly changing and more and more people see being tied to a 30 year mortgage the worst financial choice. plus there is finally starting to be more focus on how we can reduce our footprint and make more eco-friendly sustainable housing. Most of the furniture in my home now I have made myself and I have no issue doing it again. Aircrete is naturally insulated, bug proof, fire proof, and rot proof. But just in case, the accepted method of construction is to reinforce it with fiber to add tensile strength and then cover it with water proof crack resistant stucco. The cost to build an aircrete home is about 1/4 the cost to build a standard home so I guess that balances well. The average cost per sq/ft. is $9.05 so I could arguably build an 1,800 sq/ft foundation and shell for $16,290. Which is less than the cost of a new single wide trailer.

thank you for those links!

There's an old saying about sailboats: they are a black hole in the water into which enormous sums of money are tossed, never to be retreived.

May be applicable in this scenario as well.

Totally applicable.

Traditional building methods remain popular because they are lower cost, not because they are 3x the cost. The cheapest builder on the planet would rush to adopt if that were the case. Builders are all about the best profit on investment. If they could quadruple their profit? Every single tract house build would be aircrete. Don’t buy into the unsubstantiated hype.

withstands tornados - withstands hurricanes - probably fairly well at withstanding fire.

OK...take the posted floor plan at the top of the thread and try to lay out all the desired furnishings at the proper scale. Lay out the full kitchen and all the bath. Add all of the HVAC equipment and duct runs and return.

Show us a fully furnished floor plan...if you can.

I have a strange feeling that it's not possible to make the illustrated plan work...

If he uses Monolithic the lower four ft of the walls can 'lose the inward curve' if so desired. Walls will still be 'circular', but the lower four feet won't curve inward. Thus much easier to have furniture, lower cabinets, etc.

ok, I'm meeting with an architect who has some experience with non traditional housing next week and I will update the plans when we work it out. the aircrete can be made on site with fairly portable equipment. I think the main mixer is called the "little dragon". Sounds hippie but it's truly incredible!

Keep us posted. I know you've gotten a lot of negative feedback, but that doesn't mean people here aren't interested in how this plays out. Good luck.

thank you! and negative feedback just means I need to educate myself more on the topic because I don't know how to address it. constructive criticism is always good.

Chaste, So I know this post is from last year but how has it been going? I am in NW TN and looking at building an aircrete home. Could use your experience! Thanks 😊

Really hoping to hear back from him on hiw its going also want ro build like this…