Domes are notorious for their echo and sound reverberation. A solution to the dilemma has been found in the Hy-Tech Solutions’ ceramic bead additive. www.ceramicadditive.com
After using Metal-Shield, www.metalshield.com, on the ground floor of the dome, the silence was immediately apparent. What had been filled with aggravating echoes was now solidly silent. The difference in how the dome “felt” was instantaneous.



Another challenge of dome owners is the cosmetic appearance of the exterior surface. Mildew seems to be a particular bane we have noticed on domes. The microspheres found in the ceramic additive form a hard shell that is mildew resistant. Hy-Tech Solutions’ paints and coatings have been tested under the harsh conditions of Florida’s East Coastal region, infamous for its mildew, sulfide gas staining, and hurricane force wind driven rains.
Bob Buchmeier, owner of Ameri-Foam (no longer in business), is using the additive in the outer clear coat of our shell’s exterior, which is comprised of a hard urethane liner, similar to a truck bed liner. We chose this exterior because of its durability and convenient maintenance. Hopefully, a power washer with a mild solution of cleaner should keep the dome’s exterior pristine.

Hy-Tech Solutions provides superior products for any application where a coating is desired. The additive is available to mix into any type of paint or coating. Hy-Tech Solutions also offers several products for a large variety of purposes that have the ceramic microspheres included for easy application. The round beads also aid in the “flowing” of the paint application. After utilizing several of the products, we have found them easy to apply and can personally say, “SIMPLY AMAZING!” .

NASA developed insulating ceramic technology for the space program, creating tiny microspheres or ceramic beads that reflect and dissipate heat. These balls are as tiny as a single grain of flour with a compressive strength of 6500 psi. When all of the gas is removed from inside the spheres, a vacuum is created. In effect, a mini-thermos bottle that resists thermal conductivity and suppresses sound is produced.

Hy-Tech ceramic paint additive looks like talcum powder when in bulk. As the additive is mixed into paint and applied, the ceramic beads shrink down tight as the water and other vehicles evaporate, creating a dense film of the cells.

The ceramic layer created:
· Suppresses sound
· Creates a mildew resistant surface
· Provides a thermal barrier, reflecting up to 92% of the heat
· Improves fire resistance, the microspheres are non-combustible
· Protects against harmful UV rays
· Repels insects, such as termites
· Protects against destructive forces of nature
· Adds a high insulating value to any paint, effective in both hot and cold climates.



The additive, (14oz per gallon), can be added to any interior or exterior medium used to coat a surface. To add to your own paint, the ceramic additive costs approximately 3 cents per square foot. Best results are achieved with two coats of paint to insure an even distribution of the ceramics. The additive is safe, non-toxic, odor free and environmentally friendly.

Because conventional paint pigments are sharp edged and pack down loose, the paint film leaves paths for heat to pass through and makes a rough surface which grabs dirt and soils easily. But, insulating ceramic microspheres create a hard ceramic shell that resists dirt and has minimal paths for heat transfer.

You can use the ceramic additive to paint:

· Dome Structures
Reduces echoes and sound reverberation prevalent in domes

· Interior Ceilings
Add to ceiling paint and reduce the transfer of heat from your attic to the inside of your home

· Interior Walls
Add to paint to reduce the heat that is transferred through your exterior walls

· Attics
Use to reduce the heat that builds up in your attic

· Your Roof
Use to reflect the heat coming in through your roof

· Exterior Stucco / Masonry
Use to reflect the heat before it saturates your exterior walls

· Decks
Use to waterproof decking and protect from UV rays

Hy-Tech Industries offers to consumers an opportunity to change the outdated method of protecting our buildings with conventional paint systems by offering energy-efficient space age paint products that will help preserve our natural resources for future generations.

We strongly suggest you visit Hy-Tech Solutions’ website , www.ceramicadditive.com, for detailed specifications and a full description of the wonderful products that are available. If it can be coated, Hy-Tech Solutions offers a product that will enhance its performance.

An article on our use of the Metal Shield paint www.metalshield.com is forthcoming.

We have used several products to reduce the noise and echo problems that are common in a dome. This makes it difficult to pinpoint exactly how effective the additive was by itself. I do believe it probably helped reduce the problem. However, the most effective and noticeable product to immediately reduce the noise and echo was the cork flooring we installed. www.amcork.com

Even with several storms under our belt, we have not had a mildew problem. I do believe the additive was key in this area, as well as the amazing DENS product sheetrock we purchased from Georgia Pacific. www.gp.com/gypsum

Dodging raindrops and pleading with Mother Nature to give us two consecutive days of sunshine has become a full-time job since Hurricane Isadore came ashore in September. Some days, I almost believe we moved to Seattle instead of the Sunshine State. Thankfully, our rainfall deficit has been eliminated and we continue to make progress.



The concrete has been poured for the second floor. The third-floor master bedroom suite is ready to be poured on the next rain free day. Even using lightweight concrete, the floors will weigh approximately 90 tons. The house definitely feels solid. And the views…..WOW!

With all of the storms slamming us, we are extremely grateful for the weight of the dome (800 tons approximately). The average home weighs approximately 25 tons and many of them washed away. Mark did express his concerns of sinking as Hurricane Ivan, 2004, caused our yard to become a quicksand pit. Fortunately, those fears were not realized.

Two tropical storms in three weeks! Upon a quick perusal between squalls, the dome seems to be fine. We will know more in the next few days as we examine the dome carefully. Clean-up is necessary on the lot, as the water was excessive, but as far as we can tell at this time, there is no structural damage to the dome.



We were scheduled to hang the steel and pour the floors this week, but Mother Nature had other ideas. And who are we to argue with a force like that? We are grateful that we had not completed the repair work around the pool before the storms.

Pictures of the storm damage and the survivability of the dome can be found in the image section of the website. I have included pictures from a conventional home being built to compare with the dome after the winds coursed through the area. I have also included pictures of the elementary school located on the beach. The new charter school is considering a dome for their new building. I am sure it will be helpful for them to see how well the dome of a home weathered the two tropical storms this month.

I know we were relieved to not have our previous home destroyed once again by the rising water. We know all too well what we would be facing had we not made the decision to build the dome home. We expect even more interest to be generated after the recent bout of wind, rain, and surges.

This is a brief report, but I know that most are anxious to see the storm pictures. More later.

Little did we know then that these two tropical storms were just the beginning. 2004 and 2005 brought severe monster size storms to the area. The Dome survived with no structural damage. Although it was difficult to bulldoze our existing home to build the Dome of a Home, with the onslaught of all of these storms, we know we would be building a new house now regardless. Without a doubt, Hurricane Ivan would have washed our other home away. The recent storms confirmed to us that we had made the right decision to proceed with the Dome when we did.

The jack-o-lantern face has been replaced with evocative portals. As the sun progresses across the sky, the apertures in the dome create a sundial effect as the shadows and shapes dance across the decks.



Bob Buchmeier, owner of Ameri-Foam, (no longer in business), and his team have expertly refined the rough-cut openings in the dome. With precision and finesse, this team sprays the areas with foam and gently sands and shapes until the defining art form has been achieved. The flexibility of this process allows a freedom seldom found in home design. Rarely can a building medium keep pace with a dreamer’s imagination, but this jewel of a product is truly amazing in the creative hands of Bob Buchmeier.

Mr. Buchmeier can virtually spray over any shape and form, instantly creating uniqueness in one’s space. Free-form fountains, fireplace mantles, showers, freezers, ponds, landscaping walls and décor set your imagination free. We have had a wonderful experience creating with this team of dedicated artisans.



The Jack O'Lantern face actually made it on the front page of the Pensacola News Journal. I was shocked by the multitude of people who actually believed the dome would stay that way. We did it for the upcoming Halloween as a ha-ha. But, I guess the Dome was so unusual, they had no idea what to expect.
I am sure they are breathing a sigh of relief as the finished product proved to be much different than the "face"

With a sigh of relief, we have become structural! The balloon is up, four inches of foam sprayed, over five miles of rebar placed and five inches of concrete sprayed on the interior. Because we are in the midst hurricane season, relying on the fans for inflation left us in a precarious predicament. Storm surges will annihilate generators.

The balloon was inflated on April 30, 2002. In those twenty minutes, the beach's landscape was irrevocably changed. The dome became the new landmark and the subject of much discussion. The island is home to many walkers, bikers, and 1.4 million visitors each year. Streams of people each day come by to inquire and gaze at the balloon.

The most common questions people ask are: is the home being built underneath the balloon; why aren't they working on the dome, (not realizing that at this stage the work is being done on the interior); how is the balloon removed; and of course, what is the cost. We have conducted numerous tours through the dome to inquisitive passers-by.
EVERYONE we have spoken with has expressed support and excitement for the project. Those who have experienced hurricanes first-hand grasp very quickly the implications and advantages of this structure.



The neighborhood elementary school toured the dome on the last day of school. We were intrigued and encouraged by the thoughtful questions the students asked. One six-year-old boy looked around in awe as he whispered, "When I grow up, I want to have a home like this." Having the opportunity to share this technology with children was a great joy. Field trips to interesting places leave an indelible mark in one's memory. We know these students will be discussing this adventure with their grandchildren. Mark conducted a demonstration comparing conventional fiberglass insulation to the foam being used in the dome. He dipped each one in a bucket of water to simulate the results that occur when a hurricane douses a home. The soaking, soggy fiberglass insulation elicited a resounding "Yuck!" And the unaffected foam received a "Wow!" in response. Many of the children asked if they could take a piece of the foam home as a souvenir. The crew was very helpful in distributing these keepsakes from the field trip to the impressed students. The collection of pictures and thank you notes we received from the children was a wonderful bonus for us.

The local ABC news affiliate is continuing to do dome updates on Sunday evenings. Mollye Barrows has aired five segments to date. The segments generate extensive hits on the website, and several "I saw you on the news. Great house!" responses. Because our desire has always been to educate and increase exposure of dome technology, we are extremely appreciative of Ms. Barrows and her camera crew. They are very interested in the project and are always ready to film the latest achievements. We are also grateful to our local newspaper, The Islander, for distributing information through their articles.

The website has gone global! We have received visitors from all continents in the world. All very exciting for us as we sit on this spit of an island in Florida.

With over 1.4 million visitors to the beach each year, the dome is in a position to generate a tremendous amount of interest. We have been told by the local government to expect a majority of those visiting to make the dome one of their tourist attraction stops.

A unique opportunity awaits future visitors to the sugar white beaches of Pensacola Beach, Florida. VACATIONING IN THE DOME!!! For those who want to experience living in a dome or to vacation in a one-of-a-kind house, the dome will be available for weekly rentals. Visitors can spend a week "living in the round" while they vacation on an island covered in white sand and surrounded by emerald waters.



Our goal is to be ready for the 2002 Christmas and New Year holidays. Anyone interested in renting the dome of a home can contact us at 850-723-5107 or domeofahome@aol.com OPEN SESAME!!! Openings were cut on July 11, 2002, finally allowing passers-by to get a glimpse inside of the structure. Much confusion is exhibited concerning the windows and decks by those stopping to stare at the balloon. We could literally spend twelve hours a day in front of the construction site constantly answering questions. Amazing the amount of curiosity domes create.

We hope by offering scheduled tours and opening the home for weekly rentals to provide a venue for further understanding and acceptance of the incredible advantages of the dome structure.

Since that initial field trip of the elementary school, we have had hundreds tour the Dome of a Home. Most are truly fascinated by the various features and "feeling" inside the Dome. However, my favorite reactions still are from the children. This year I let the kids play a crystal bowl in the master suite. Standing under the sweet spot where the sound reverberates and surrounds you, they took their turns making music. They seemed awestruck at how differently music sounds in the round. Once again, it was a wonderful experience for me and I hope, hurricanes willing, we can offer tours on a more consistent basis in the future.