Jan 03

Dome Homes the Next Big Thing?

Dome Homes the Next Big Thing?

 

Dome Homes the Next Big Thing? Image courtesy of jannoon028 / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Dome Homes the Next Big Thing? Image courtesy of jannoon028 / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Dome homes may become more popular in the future because of their reputation for holding up well against natural disasters.

Dome homes are reportedly strong enough to withstand the force of an EF5 tornado, a mammoth hurricane, and even a powerful earthquake. They are made of concrete and can deflect flying debris, such as trees and cars, and the roofs won’t blow off in a high-wind storm.

“People feel safer in a dome,” says Nanette South Clark, a design engineer with Monolithic Dome Institute. “Domes have a double curvature like an egg, so they’re very strong. They’re the buildings of the future.”

Gary Clark, vice president of Monolithic sales and marketing, insists that dome homes are the “strongest disaster-preventative shape that can be built for the dollar.”

The company has been building dome homes for residential and commercial use, and it concentrates on natural disaster-prone areas in the U.S. Dome homes cost between $125 and $135 a square foot to build, or about $125,000 to $135,000. That’s comparable to the average cost of a 1,000-square-foot home in Texas, according to Monolithic Dome.

In 2012, the Federal Emergency Management Agency built dome shelters in Texas communities that had been hard-hit by tornadoes.

Meteorologists are predicting more violent weather systems in the future, which may prompt more home owners worried about the safety of their homes to seek alternative structures that can withstand intense storms, dome advocates say.

However, one hindrance to the dome home growing in popularity may come down to aesthetics.

“Domes are very efficient and work well, but the majority of people don’t like them. They don’t fit people’s preconceived notion of what a house should look like,” says Peter von Ahn, a South Carolina architect.

Dome homes have been nicknamed “ball houses,” “igloos,” and “bubbles.”

Source: “Why your next home may look more like a snow globe,” CNBC (Dec. 29, 2013)

 

admin

For all of your Real Estate needs, place yourself in the competent hands of a career Realtor who is a Philadelphia native and Delaware County resident. Skilled, smart and enthusiastic about his work and his life, Anthony DiDonato has the appealing combination of business sense and people skills gives him an edge in an industry that demands both.

Educated at Drexel University with a dual major in accounting and finance and minors in management and psychology Anthony DiDonato offers over 25 years of experience in the real estate industry. He has been a real estate investor since 1985 and a member of H.A.P.C.O. (Landlord Association). He became a licensed Realtor in 1992 and a member of the Local, Pennsylvania and National Associations of Realtors. Anthony DiDonato is also a member of the Computerized Multiple Listings, (MLS) and Internet Marketing Programs. In 1997 Anthony DiDonato became Century 21 All-Elite, Inc. Corporate Secretary.

Anthony DiDonato believes in taking his profession to the highest level of quality service. He is known for finding that “perfect” property in Philadelphia, Delaware County, Chester County, Montgomery County and surrounding areas in Pennsylvania for his buyers and helping his sellers prepare their properties so they sell quickly and efficiently.

When it comes time to negotiate the terms of a contract, Anthony DiDonato has the knowledge, experience, and professionalism applied to meeting – or exceeding – his clients’ expectations. His service to his clients is second to none. His honesty and integrity have been his claim to fame.

For Superior Real Estate Representation in the Delaware Valley, Philadelphia, Delaware County, Chester County, Montgomery County and surrounding areas in Pennsylvania… call Anthony DiDonato.