Monolithic - News

Protect Your Potatoes

2013-05-17T15:34:15Z

While they’re not wheeled down a Dublin street by Molly Malone singing “Alive! Alive Oh!” staying alive is as important for potatoes as it was for the cockles and mussels Molly did wheel. In fact, keeping those spuds alive while they sleep in storage is the one vital goal of a potato-storage facility. That’s because a potato is a living organism, that can stay asleep and alive for a long time if it’s properly stored. But if it’s not, it will die and rot very quickly. (Continued…)

Goals and the Big Picture

2013-05-03T16:11:14Z

Goals are like road maps. If you reach for a goal and get side tracked, it is no more serious than driving for a destination and missing a turn. On the other hand, very few people ever get anywhere by wandering aimlessly. (Continued…)

Letter from: Jeff and Sarah Kamin

2013-05-01T19:23:53Z

I just wanted to write you a note of thanks for the Dome Builder Institute Workshop that I attended April 9-13, 2113. What a great week! You and your delightful staff really made us feel welcome and a part of the Monolithic family. (Continued…)

Monolithic Newsletter — April 2013

2013-04-29T18:48:34Z

The Roundup – presenting the latest Monolithic News – April 2013

(Continued…)

Going Up: Three Monolithic Fertilizer Storages in Estonia

2013-04-24T18:44:18Z

Monolithic Constructors Poland (MCP) has started construction on three large fertilizer storage domes in Estonia, a former Soviet state in the Baltic region of Northern Europe that, unlike many countries in that area, has a high-income economy. Jan Pregowski, chief executive of MCP, signed the contract for these Monolithic Domes last year, but due to a severe winter, MCP had to wait until now to inflate and start construction. (Continued…)

“Just Water, Complete Bucket System” does good job in Africa

2013-04-10T14:55:47Z

Rod Russell, a project manager working in South Africa, sent us an email saying, “Just want to let you know how much we appreciate the water filter you sent. It works so well, and the water tastes so good.” (Continued…)

Cost to cool your building

2013-04-09T19:50:18Z

Like many traditional schools, this building has a line of 20 air conditioning units along its back wall. The companion building has another 20 units along its back wall. That’s 40 AC units at just one school! Consider what it costs to install 20 units. How much electrical do those 20 units require? How much copper? How much just plain expense does it take to install and run 20 units? (Continued…)

“Green” Blogger touts the benefits of the Monolithic Dome

2013-04-04T15:09:28Z

In the Huffington post article titled, “Buildings, Energy, & Transportation Choices in Tourism: A Key to protecting coastal habitat and marine environments,” Dr. Reese Halter (broadcaster, biologist and author) touts the benefits of the Monolithic Dome in coastal regions. In the blog Dr. Halter expands on the “Blue Community Initiative,” 12 strategies for coastal habitat and marine environment protection for the tourism industry and the Monolithic Dome is a key component. (Continued…)

Fire destroys contents but Monolithic Dome only needs washing

2013-04-04T14:28:40Z

In 1999, David and Donna Kinsey purchased a Monoquad for equipment storage on their acre in Weatherford, Texas. They then completed two 20-foot domes: a laundry facility and an office. They also began planning four interconnected 20-foot domes and a 28-foot Orion. In 2011, Donna launched her new quilting business “Kinsey Quilts” in a 20-foot Monolithic Dome. Fire broke out in that dome on March 25, 2013. (Continued…)

Monolithic’s Pond Liners: A Quality Product

2013-04-05T18:37:13Z

How do you keep water in a pond, canal or reservoir from seeping away? Or, how do you keep contaminants such as oil, industrial chemicals, even arsenic from seeping into the water? “Pond liners are the answer – provided they are made of quality material and manufactured and installed properly,” says David South, president of Monolithic. David points out that Monolithic Airforms, one of the company’s divisions, manufactures pond liners using reinforced PVC (polyvinyl chloride) geomembranes*, in virtually any size and thickness needed. (Continued…)

Smithville School’s dome construction makes the news

2013-04-04T14:34:24Z

Construction is in full swing at the new Smithville School, with ongoing work on a number of projects that all stem from the deadly EF-5 tornado that swept through the town in April 2011. (Continued…)

The Monolithic Pillow Tank

2013-03-27T19:28:35Z

Monolithic has been building products, such as pillow tanks, with architectural-grade fabrics for more than 20 years. To date we’ve built these tanks for ourselves but not for the public. Now we’re introducing two sizes: 1200 gallons and 450 gallons. But custom sizes can also be built to order. These tanks can hold anything from potable water to various caustic materials. (Continued…)

Highland Growers: New Fertilizer Blend Plant

2013-03-06T18:55:50Z

When I asked Don Smith, manager of Highland Growers in DeRidder, Louisiana, how they like the dome they’ve been using since October 2011, he said, “We like it – very much.” In particular, he added, “We like it because it’s climate controlled. It doesn’t get the moisture in there that our old, wood plant did. At the old plant, we used to have probably 15 to 20 ton of ruined fertilizer in a year. That’s a lot of money. We don’t have waste in the dome. It stays dry and cool.” (Continued…)

Locust Grove, Oklahoma: Sold on Monolithic Domes

2013-04-03T15:19:07Z

Locust Grove, Oklahoma may not be big and it may not be famous and it may not be wealthy, but it is wise. In 2007, this community of just 1200 residents passed a bond to build an arena for its high school. On the advice of School Superintendent David Cash, they went Monolithic. (Continued…)

Rosa Banksiae grows over dome garage at Charca Casa

2013-04-03T14:59:51Z

Monolithic’s founding guru, David South, wanted to share with the Monolithic Dome community his blooming Rosa Banksiae flowers, often referred to as Lady Bank’s Rosa, that have completely covered his dome-shaped, two-car garage. (Continued…)

Monolithic Newsletter — March 2013

2013-03-29T16:37:57Z

The Roundup – presenting the latest Monolithic News – March 2013

(Continued…)

David South at Wicked Weather Weekend

2013-03-25T13:47:40Z

Terrible Tuesday happened on April 10, 1979 when a monster EF4 tornado hit Wichita Falls, Texas. This most-damaging tornado in American history killed 45 people and injured hundreds more. Wicked Weather Weekend commemorates Terrible Tuesday and presents plans for coping with and successfully surviving future natural disasters. (Continued…)

How much does a Monolithic Dome home cost?

2013-03-19T19:22:40Z

Monolithic Dome homes come in all shapes and sizes, so giving exact costs are something that is done project-by-project. That said, we do have a standard, square-foot price that we use for budgetary purposes. This price can go up or down based on any number of factors. (Continued…)

Fortified fences and planters that enhance as well as withstand the test of time

2013-03-07T21:44:53Z

Monolithic Constructors, Inc. is offering durable concrete fencing that defies ever-changing soil conditions, is fire proof and withstands the force of straight-line winds. (Continued…)

Rentals and Ecoshells: a good first step for your dome building business

2013-02-20T17:00:03Z

People go through one of our Workshops to learn about and actually experience the construction of a Monolithic Dome. Some actually want to start a dome-building business of their own. But what should they start with? What’s their first product – a Monolithic Dome home? That sounds far too complicated for most beginners. (Continued…)

Monolithic Fertilizer Blend Plants

2013-01-16T17:43:42Z

What’s a fertilizer blend plant’s number-one enemy? Moisture! If water gets into or condensation forms inside a storage unit, it quite quickly begins degrading the fertilizer and forming rust. But Monolithic uses a technology that keeps that troublesome process to a minimum. (Continued…)

A Mural for a Monolithic Dome

2013-02-13T20:29:58Z

During the past 30 years, Pat Rawlings of Dripping Springs, Texas (www.patrawlings.com) has done much of his artwork for NASA and aerospace clients around the world. But one of his more recent murals was done for Woodsboro ISD’s new, 20,000-square-foot, Monolithic Dome gym/auditorium/activity center that doubles as the community disaster shelter. (Continued…)

Video: The Safest House

2013-02-27T15:02:56Z

This video is a five-minute preview of a work-in-progress. Produced by Eric Williams of 40 Point Productions, The Safest House is an exciting, new documentary that asks: After a horrific natural disaster, why do the victims insist on recreating their vulnerability by rebuilding the conventional home they just lost? Monolithic is a far wiser and SAFER alternative. The documentary illustrates that with stories of successful disaster-survivors: Monolithic Dome homes. (Continued…)

To Architects and Designers: Tax Rebate 179-D

2013-02-21T17:46:19Z

Many people do not know that there are some serious tax implications for designers of public-funded structures. Such buildings include schools, city halls – anything paid for with public monies. I urge architects and designers to review Section 179-D of the tax code. You as a designer can get a tax rebate of up to a $1.80 per square foot when you design these publicly financed buildings. (Continued…)

Students of Sustainable Architecture comment on Monolithic Domes

2013-02-19T17:02:30Z

Monolithic’s president, David B. South, recently received an email from Dr. David W. Randle, Managing Director of the International Ocean Institute Waves of Change campaign. According to its website, the Waves of Change mission is “To empower and mobilize a broad range of stakeholders to protect the oceans and promote ocean sustainability." In his email, Dr. Randle wrote, “Thought you would enjoy these comments from a few students in my class this Semester. I think I told you that we are teaching the Monolithic Dome as a best practice in sustainable building construction. Thanks for the good work you and your Monolithic team do.” (Continued…)

Monolithic Newsletter — January 2013

2013-01-28T01:56:26Z

The Roundup — presenting the latest Monolithic News — January 2013 (Continued…)

Spring time SALE of Monolithic Cabins

2013-01-17T19:57:32Z

Monolithic Constructors, Inc. is happy to offer constructed Monolithic Cabins* at spectacular sale prices! We have 14 ready to ship to your site. (Continued…)

Fire: An unfortunate but convincing experience

2013-01-22T17:38:45Z

“You can bet the (next) house will be a dome. I only get burned once…. Pun intended.” So said Frank Figueroa, who works with Monolithic Constructors, Inc., and whose small, brick home in Italy, Texas burned on the afternoon of January 15. (Continued…)

An Attractive, New Augment

2013-01-21T15:03:33Z

When I decided to build a dome behind my house, I wanted to do something a little different. So we built a tilted-out augment onto the dome. The augment provides good protection from the elements. It keeps the doors and windows out of the rain, and it should make them last longer. (Continued…)

2011 and 2012 Energy Use for our Monolithic Dome

2013-01-18T19:52:24Z

In 2012 our total energy costs were just under $950! That’s just under the average energy cost per household of $962 for a one-person household in 1997! (Continued…)

The Shocking Truth about Lightning and Monolithic Domes

2013-01-08T16:44:32Z

The ancient Greeks believed that lightning was the wrath of Zeus. The Vikings thought it was produced by Thor riding through the clouds. Some Native American tribes credited lightning to a mystical bird with flashing feathers. Of course we know better. Science has defined lightning for us. More importantly, it’s estimated that lightning strikes the earth’s surface about 100 times every second. So what will lightning do to a Monolithic Dome? (Continued…)

Spur, Texas: Highlighting Its Domes

2012-12-04T19:25:00Z

Just another small, rural Texas town? Not really! Spur may be small and in a rural area that’s about 60 miles east of Lubbock, but its 1,088 residents take pride in its history and accomplishments. (Continued…)

Monolithic Dome Frac Sand Storage now at State-of-the-Science Facility

2012-08-29T16:35:48Z

Voca, Texas is one of those towns that you might have missed if you blinked while driving through on State Highway 71. The 2010 census counted just 126 residents in Voca. But while it’s small, it’s not so easily missed these days. Voca now has three, new, very visible Monolithic Domes that Cadre, the largest single-line proppant plant in Texas, will use for storing frac-sand. (Continued…)

Monolithic Newsletter — December 2012

2012-12-17T15:02:34Z

The Roundup — presenting the latest Monolithic News – November 2012 (Continued…)

Leoti, Kansas: Monolithic Domes with a Vintage Look

2012-12-03T20:42:14Z

How do you get spanking new Monolithic Domes to look like they belong next to traditional structures built in 1928 and added to in 1954? That was one of the challenges that Architect Lee A. Gray of Salt Lake City, Utah faced in designing three Monolithic Domes for schools in Leoti, Kansas. (Continued…)

Saving on Energy Costs by Using Proper Insulation

2012-11-30T20:42:50Z

To those that are in the designing of buildings and the calculating of energy cost, I suggest you look at the following website: www.energy-design-tools.aud.ucla.edu/heed/. (Continued…)

Beautiful Monolithic Dome Home in the Netherlands

2012-11-28T17:00:22Z

In April 1999, Hans van der Sman traveled from Denmark to Italy, Texas just to take Monolithic’s five-day, hands-on Workshop. During his stay, he told us that he had “a long-standing interest in Monolithic Domes.” It stemmed from his attempts to get the approval of the Danish government to build domes in Denmark. (Continued…)

Monolithic Dome Cafeteria at Dale, Oklahoma

2012-11-05T16:31:31Z

Dale, Oklahoma is a very small community 30 miles east of Oklahoma City. It doesn’t include many people nor much land area. But thanks to Frank Dale, the legendary territorial chief justice that it’s named after, since about 1893 Dale has had somewhat of an eyebrow-raising history. But now Dale has yet another, surprising feature: their Monolithic Dome school cafeteria. (Continued…)

EXPO Display Leads to Better Understanding of Monolithic Domes

2012-11-28T16:19:00Z

Maddy and Chris Ecker, the owners of Serenity Dome, Galax, Virginia recently set up a Monolithic Dome information display at the 3rd annual Save Green Expo at the Crossroads Institute in Galax. This year’s EXPO theme was “Personal and Planetary Wellness,” and the event hosted some 35 exhibits and vendors. (Continued…)

Liquefaction and Earthquakes

2012-10-31T15:22:21Z

We have a customer who wants to build a retirement home on one of the San Juan Islands in northwest Washington state. His land is subject to liquefaction during an earthquake. He asked us to help him design a building that would survive both earthquakes and liquefaction. (Continued…)

Tiny Houses: Monolithic Cabins and Homes

2012-11-20T16:36:50Z

When we talk about tiny houses, we are really talking about living an entirely different lifestyle. (Continued…)

Monolithic Newsletter — November 2012

2012-11-20T14:35:47Z

The Roundup — presenting the latest Monolithic News – November 2012 (Continued…)

Monolithic’s 2012 International Dome Tour Recap

2012-11-09T19:28:36Z

On October 19 and 20, Monolithic held its annual, international dome tour. The owners of 20 dome-homes and the managers of eight commercial domes generously gave of their time and energy to participate in the tour. Thank you very much! (Continued…)

Dome enhanced with Monolithic Stucco

2012-11-09T19:16:26Z

In 2008, Monolithic Constructors, Inc. completed work on a 50′ × 25′ central dome, flanked by two 36′ × 16′ side domes for Wayne Brannon of Decatur, Texas. About four years later, we were asked to coat the domes, that had rock applied to their bottom sections, with Monolithic Stucco. (Continued…)

Video: Using Basalt Rope in Building a Monolithic EcoShell

2012-08-27T17:36:02Z

David South, president of Monolithic Constructors, Inc., narrates this easy-to-understand, enjoyable, and informative video. In it, David describes the qualities of basalt rope and demonstrates the step-by-step process of using it when building a Monolithic EcoShell. (Continued…)

Best Water Filter in the World – Available to your NGO!

2012-09-12T22:44:11Z

This water filter cleans water of virtually every known bacteria and virus. That means that virtually any water – whether from a pond, ditch or gutter – can be run through this filter and safely consumed. (Continued…)

Monolithic Newsletter — October 2012

2012-10-29T17:07:06Z

The Roundup — presenting the latest Monolithic News – October 2012 (Continued…)

Whiteacre Residence: College Station, Texas- Dome in Progress

2012-10-17T14:12:24Z

This dome is available for tour on October 20, 2012. See entire list of homes available for 2012 National Monolithic Dome Tour. (Continued…)

Claddagh Dome: Azle, Texas

2010-08-26T16:05:16Z

This dome is available for tour on October 20, 2012. See entire list of homes available for 2012 National Monolithic Dome Tour. (Continued…)

Plans Approved for Monolithic Dome Fashioned after Rome’s Pantheon

2012-10-09T16:08:45Z

The Belleville Zoning Board of Adjustment unanimously approved the new Coptic Youth Center for St. Mary and St. Mercurius Coptic Orthodox Church proposed by Egyptian Architect Ralph Nashed, the founder and president of NASH, a design/build company in New Jersey. The new Coptic Youth Center incorporates a Monolithic Dome, fashioned after the Pantheon of Rome. That will make it the first such building in the state. (Continued…)