FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Is polystyrene foam safe for health?
Can I live permanently in a house with a mortgage?
Yes, you can live there permanently. Its walls and roof are 20cm thick, which is enough to guarantee the warmth and airtightness of the apartment.
The main building material of the dome is polystyrene foam. It is dust-proof (like stone wool or glass wool) and non-allergenic.
Isn't a dome house a fire hazard?
The dome house is made of polystyrene foam manufactured in Lithuania, which is produced in accordance with EU safety requirements. The material is non-combustible, so the house is safe. The polystyrene foam itself does not burn. Numerous tests have been carried out which confirm that the foam will burn out if an open flame source is passed.
Are supports inside the dome necessary?
Are there any domes built in Lithuania using this technology?
Yes, there are already many dome houses in Lithuania, where people live permanently, and there is also a dome that you can see, sit in, and feel its atmosphere.
If you want to come to Švenčionys district and spend time in this extraordinary space, you need to arrange your arrival time in advance by phone: +37061188091
Video: Building dome houses
Are building permits required?
Building permits are only required for construction in protected areas (a reserve, a park, a conservation area, etc.). Building permits are also required if the name of the structure will be “Dwelling House”, but if the name will be “Garden House”, “Guest House” or “Ancillary Building”, then building permits are not required.
Link to article on building permits: here
Can strong winds blow the house down, because it is light?
The dome is made of polystyrene foam and is relatively lightweight, but the shape itself is aerodynamic and sleek, so that even the strongest gust of wind won’t blow the house away, as the wind will simply have nothing to “catch” on. In addition, the house itself is fixed to the foundation.
Where can I see the design of a dome house?
Cupola house designs are made individually. But designs are only required if the house is to be called a “Dwelling House”, and if it is called a “Garden House”, “Guest House” or similar, building permits are not required. The internal layout can be designed without a project, as there are no supporting structures that restrict the layout of rooms or areas. If the partitions and rooms need to be changed over time, they can be freely redesigned and the dome will not change its stability.
The 3D designs of the domed houses can be seen by clicking on HERE
Is it difficult to build a dome house yourself using ready-made parts?
The construction of the dome is simple, the dome is assembled like a construction kit. We provide full information on the construction of the dome, instructions and drawings to every buyer of our production parts (dome house parts kit).
The instructions for building the dome can be viewed by clicking Dome construction instructions
You can see the dome formation process by clicking here.
A description of the nodes and elements of the dome building can be seen by clicking on here.
A plan – drawing of the dome house can be seen by clicking here.
What does "Building Kit" mean?
The dome house kit consists of parts made of EPS200 polystyrene foam.
Windows, doors and finishing materials are not included in the definition of a set.
Which ventilation is best?
If the dome house is not to be used permanently, e.g. as a summer house or guest house, natural ventilation, i.e. an open window, is sufficient. However, if the dome house is to be lived in permanently, it is recommended to install a ‘recuperator’. The recuperator is selected individually according to the number of inhabitants and prices start from ~€250 or less.
Will the snow cap break the dome?
The shape of the dome is such that the snow is carried by the wind and does not stay on the dome. Even if a layer of snow builds up, the weight is distributed evenly over the entire dome structure.
A good example is with an egg: try squeezing an egg (uncooked) in the palm of your hand, with one end resting on the palm and the other on your fingers. This way you will see that the egg is really solid. A dome is just like an egg, solid.
Do rodents chew on such a domed house?
A dome house is made of polystyrene foam, in other words, porous plastic, and plastic is not food for rodents. Yes, plastic is not a major obstacle for rodents, so they can burrow through it if they need to, but they can only do so in search of food. But there is one very important point to note: a dome house is reinforced with reinforcing mesh and reinforcing cement, so that the polystyrene is locked in from the outside and from the inside, and the cement-concrete is not gnawed on by rodents. The dome house is therefore protected against rodents.
How big can we build dome houses?
When you’re preparing to build your dream home, you need to decide how big it will be. The table below lists the most common dome sizes:
Diameter of the dome | Ø6m | Ø7m | Ø8m | Ø9m | Ø10m | Ø11m |
Floor area | 28,27m² | 38,48m² | 50,26m² | 63,62m² | 78,54m² | 95,03m² |
A dome of 5 metres in diameter or less is more suitable as an extra room than as a complete house. A dome with a floor area of more than 80 square metres shall be built with building permits and all necessary designs.
Can I buy a dome house in instalments?
For today so far There is no hire purchase option for the dome, but you can apply to a credit company to get a loan.
How tall can a dome house be?
The height of the dome is calculated very simply. Let’s take a dome with a diameter of Ø8m as an example. 8m/2=4m (this is the radius). The radius is the distance from the centre in all directions, and therefore upwards. In this case, the highest point of the ceiling will be 4m. But technology allows the highest point of the ceiling to be raised up to 1.2m in height, additionally. When the dome is raised, the bending of the sphere itself would not start from the base on which the dome is built, but above, from the raised zero level. For our example dome, the highest point of the ceiling could be 5,2m.
The height of any dome can be calculated in this way. Optionally, 1,2m-0,3m can be added to the radius of the dome.
Which finish is most suitable?
The exterior finish of a dome house can have several variations:
- Reinforcement (with cementitious mix with facade mesh) + Waterproofing + Painting.
- Reinforcement (with cementitious mixture with facade mesh) + Waterproofing + Decorative plaster.
- Reinforcement (cementitious mix with facade mesh) + Waterproofing + Bituminous flakes
Interior finishing of a domed house:
- Reinforcement (with cementitious mixture with facade grid) + Plastering + Painting
What kind of heating can be installed? And which cannot?
The heating system for a dome house can be one that is available on the Lithuanian market. There are no specific restrictions, it can be installed:
- Heat pump (air-to-air; air-to-water)
- Solid fuel boiler
- Gas boiler
- Fireplace
- Other …
The most important thing is to comply with fire safety requirements.
How much can the interior fittings (partitions, partitioning, plumbing) cost?
Everyone has their own needs, worldviews and habits, which makes us all special and unique. Some of us feel cosy in open spaces, while others find peace in a small room. Some need to keep up with the latest technology, while others prefer simplicity. That’s why it’s interesting to live in a colourful world.
There is no clear-cut answer to this question. What may be right for one person is completely unacceptable for another.
In order to be able to give even a rough idea of how much an interior fit-out would cost (wiring, plumbing, ventilation, partition walls with slab), it is necessary to get to know the client and their world, and this can only be done during a live meeting.
How is the dome attached to the foundation?
Attaching the dome house to the foundation is very simple, once the dome box has been formed, it is simply glued in place by filling the technological gaps with glue.
What do slab foundations look like?
A document showing the schematic representation of , the installation of the substructure foundations of , can be viewed by clicking on “here”.
Or watch our video:
Can the dome walls be thicker? than that "standartinis"
Thicker polystyrene foam can be. We can make it as thick as you need. To achieve Class A, a thickness of 20cm is sufficient, to achieve Class A+ (in terms of energy efficiency) the wall thickness must be at least 28cm. However, when choosing the thickness of the dome wall, it is necessary to consider not only the energy class you want to achieve, but also the diameter of the desired dome. The larger the dome, the thicker the walls.
Diametras | Wall thickness |
Ø6m | 28cm |
Ø7m | 28cm |
Ø8m | 28cm |
Ø9m | 28cm |
Ø10m | 30cm |
Ø11m | 35cm |
UAB "Sferos"
Pušų g., 7, Trūdai,
Švenčionys raj.
LT-18225
A.s.:LT707300010153229502
Inc. 304645503
VAT code: LT10001307171