Wednesday, December 4, 2013

General Techniques People Use When Building A Geodesic Dome Greenhouse

By Patrick James


It is a well known fact that people as a whole enjoy raising their own gardens. There is something special about planting your seed in the earth and a few months later eating the fruits of your labor. In some colder climates people are recently rediscovering the benefits of greenhouses to help extend the growing period. Knowing the assorted construction methods for building a simple geodesic dome greenhouse may be beneficial should you try to build one.

After deciding on building one generally the following question is regarding how are they built or what materials can I use. There is not a simple answer to these questions. There are several different methods people use that will range from quite inexpensive materials which go up in about a day, to much more expensive materials which take longer to build. There are also prefabricated models which you can find on the internet that have everything cut and marked to build.

Some people like the inexpensive flattened conduit method. It is probably the easiest. You flatten out the ends of metal tubing you buy at the store. Then you drill a hole at both ends for a bolt to go through and bend it just a little. After construction it is generally covered with light weight plastic. Domes like this can generally go up in under a day.

Some use the hub and tube method. Using this rather than bolting all your flattened pipes together you use a larger pipe with several holes drilled inside it. Your studs are carefully bolted to it rather than each other. Finally light weight plastic is then used to cover it. This type is typically stronger while still being inexpensively priced.

Some people like using the beam and hub plan. This is slightly more complex and more expensive because it has specially cut angled beams and hubs which are fastened together to form the framework for a dome. Permanent domes are typically constructed this way.

One of the more expensive ways is the paneled timber framed methods. This is generally the method that most prefab companies use that you can find on the internet. This way uses pre-cut wooden timbers that are made to connect smoothly along the edges. They also generally have some outside material attached to them to help make them stronger.

One of the longest lasting and strongest forms is called the monolithic dome. These have been known to out live many house built next to them. They are generally built with layers of concrete sprayed over balloon forms. They use sprayed polyurethane foam on their interior to help insulate and water proof them. After it all dries all the windows and doors are installed in them.

You do not always have to use only one technique when building your geodesic dome greenhouse. When you understand how each method is used this opens the possibilities of combining parts from each type to make something that will work for you. Remember they are not only for greenhouses, they also make good sun rooms to relax inside.




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