Foundations
All standard foundations can be used under your dome.
These include:
Slab on grade
Concrete stem walls
Concrete block
Post and beam
OPTIONAL PERMANENT WOOD FOUNDATION:
We can make a Permanent Wood Foundation (PWF) for a crawl
space or
full lower floor that is often less expensive than other methods and exceeds
the specs of designer, the American Plywood Association. There’s a lot of
material available on this separately. (link to subscription service)
In addition to our geodesic dome home kits, Domes Northwest offers
pre-assembled foundation wall sections using high quality pressure treated "FDN"
grade stamped lumber. We design well above the minimum design specs of the
American Plywood Association PWF Design Manual.
We can make a crawl space perimeter foundation or a basement/lower floor.
We also offer the new ACQ treated lumber, which is considered to be
environmentally safe, both in the manufacturing process & in its end use. ACQ
is an entirely different preservative process from CCA. Both types of lumber
come with 40+ year warranties.
Our standard structural wall unit uses a 2x8 ACQ/CCA
treated stud spaced 12" or 16" o.c. The structural sheathing is 1/2", 5/8",
3/4" ACQ/CCA treated plywood. Stainless steel nails are used below grade and
special mechanically galvanized nails are used in the remaining areas. Backfill
boards, concrete slab screed boards, and 2x10 footing plates
are included in our PWF system.
