It is SO valuable when people update with failures or repairs. Thank you, it's great content. It's sad to find a fault that you could have been warned about when making your own version at home.
@TheRebelmanone
2 жыл бұрын
Yea, like being warned about not painting or staining the struts, then this will happen to you too after only 5 years. Also, put new tape on the joints outside every year, just over top of any old tape that won't peel up. Peel off what comes off, then tape over the seam again.
@soccerox817
3 жыл бұрын
I remember you building the dome initially. Watching the process genuinely influenced my decision to become a mechanical engineer. Regardless of your decision, it still was quite an inspiration.
@jamessorensen7277
3 жыл бұрын
Where did you go to school? My son is a 4th year ME student and is very interested in sustainability
@sandwich2473
3 жыл бұрын
Dang, I remember watching the videos as they were released. To see that it's falling to bits is heartbraking
@jeffsullivan3362
3 жыл бұрын
Same here. Was instrumental to me starting aquaponics and gardening in general. But we all learn as we go. I've actually dropped aquaponics for hydroponics and soil.
@fleaniswerkhardt4647
3 жыл бұрын
“The law that entropy always increases holds, I think, the supreme position among the laws of Nature.” - Sir Arthur Eddington, English astronomer, physicist, and mathematician.
@yxcvmk
3 жыл бұрын
Second that! Was a nice journey, however ;-)
@TheRebelmanone
2 жыл бұрын
It is not a loss because you learned, the lesson is the gold. Now you know to stain or paint the struts before assembling, and you know to keep good tape on the joints yearly. Paint all six sides of each strut before assembling.
@justincaseudid
3 жыл бұрын
Thank you for this follow-up! It's very rare to see how some ideas turn out a decade later. Sorry to see the deterioration, but the information is worth thousands!
@schwinn434
3 жыл бұрын
Thanks for the update - which I think is really valuable to know what problems you can expect with this type of build. Very important to have long-term follow-ups on projects, like this. Again, thanks for this honest update.
@danielhalsey2679
Жыл бұрын
Thank you so much for doing this video. I really appreciate the realistic transparency of your experience. I have been building geodesic dome greenhouses for a number of years now using pipe since I anticipated many problems coming from using wood. I have always wondered why people don't paint or protect the wood when they use this in very high humidity growing spaces. Plus having lived in a log home I know the seasonal maintenance required in order to maintain the wood in good condition and what to look for when things start to go south. Probably because of the time constraints and distraction like we all have, a lot of the signs of maintenance that was needed was either not seen or ignored. A lot of these issues didn't just start in the last six months, of course. Again, excellent that you are doing all these videos. It is obviously helping many people understand the process and the work involved.
@Bigelowbrook
3 жыл бұрын
I knew this video would get some attention. 😉 Feel free to leave a comment with what you would do!
@bradleyakulov3618
3 жыл бұрын
It would be a shame to tear it down. It's one of the things I've gotten to know and love on the interwebs, and to see it go down would suck. The rocket mass heater on steroids is when I first started watching, just checked, that's 7 years ago!!!!! Whatever makes financial sense to you on the medium to long term is what I suggest primarily.
@jasrobsny
3 жыл бұрын
I would replace the dome struts with aluminum and greenhouse glass panels.
@RASDB7
3 жыл бұрын
@@jasrobsny after replacing with galvanized or aluminum two layers of plastic would work better than polycarbonate like your greenhouse.
@svyarreh
3 жыл бұрын
we have the same issues with our dome in terms of debris and moisture getting into the polycarbonate, and leaking inbetween panels when tape deteriorates. To fix the leaking between panels we used 3m 4000UV (designed for the marine industry to take water and UV) also its flexible so can expand and contract to some extent. However....all in all, greenhouse domes leak and will continue to leak. We purchased a kit for quite some $$ and the company itself has not solved the issues either.... Domes are cool , but maintenance is high to keep them going.... Ive spoken with people that live in geodesic domes, but they are built much different. The panels are put on starting on the bottom, and overlaying each as you go up to cancel the leakage if you dont repair the leaks, the wood rots. vicsous cycle from my experience so far.... I'd probably build one of glass and proper joints if we made one from scratch going forward Steph
@Bigelowbrook
3 жыл бұрын
@@svyarreh I agree. The dome is cool, but is a leaking maintenance nightmare.
@elmonik
3 жыл бұрын
When good things end, new ones begin. it would be really cool to see it transformed into a functional workspace.
@rowgler1
3 жыл бұрын
You could use the dome as a form and spray a thin shell of ferrocement on the exterior. Real glass window panes could be inserted into some of the facets. There is a product called spider lathe that is stronger, lighter and less expensive than expanded metal lathe and it will never rust out. It has to be cut to fit and attached to itself with small zip ties. A hand held mortar sprayer requires a good size air compressor but it will do the job fairly quickly. That would make the shell permanent and the old dome could be removed or probably left in place to provide an interior finished surface. Stone veneer mortar works well in the sprayer and is acrylic fortified for superior strength and durability. If you started at the base and worked upward, after a few days the old work would support the weight of a ladder or makeshift scaffold. It wouldn't have to be done all at once. It would not require any rebar, but two layers of spider lathe over the ribs (separated by 1/2") would be a good idea. Spider Lathe can be purchased with foam spacer strips that hold it off the surface so the mortar can blow through it and pack solid behind it. It works great, I've used it on various projects.
@marctorrades1760
Жыл бұрын
I like the update and the different proposal to fix it. Good luck with it . What ever decision you choose, it will be good to watch .
@rokadamlje5365
3 жыл бұрын
Had to be expected, high humidity and wood.
@geo.33
3 жыл бұрын
Which material would you have used?
@dylanmccallister1888
2 жыл бұрын
@@geo.33 abs/pvc piping, conduit to hold the pipe ends instead of rectangular tabs fastened onto wood on the brackets the sheets can be mounted with bolts and holes through the piping, with silicon sandwiched between the pipe and the sheets. you could also use bailing wire or self tapping screws. everything would be water resistant and it would still be strong. with the price of 2x4 I bet cheaper too. that's how I plan on doing it. idk the price of conduit vs pvc but I would use emt if it was economical. one day I might have the money to build one using fabricated aluminum pieces for awesome strength.
@Thee-_-Outlier
Жыл бұрын
@@dylanmccallister1888 yea??? so how are you gonna screw the solid greenhouse panels to the pvc? That's not plastic stretched over a dome ya know, it's rigid greenhouse panels. The dome design allows for a flat rigid panel as opposed to hoop style greenhouses that uses poly. His issue is not the humidity anyways, it the fact it leaks and soaks up rain water which is exasperated by the fact it doesn't really dry due to humidity. The wood without getting wet from rain water would not be soaked like it is in the video. There are companies that make commercial domes.like this from wood and this is not an issue. That said they also use cypress which holds up in humidity. Black locust would be even better imo, but whatever. Anyways what he needs to really do is seal the dome from the outside so the wood doesn't soak up rain water.
@DonMallicoat
3 жыл бұрын
Wow, can't believe it's been a decade since I watched you put this done together. While it's obvious that the struts need to be replaced and proper weather stripping applied to the building. It seems like the poly could just be cleaned up and retaped. Is that not the case?
@Bigelowbrook
3 жыл бұрын
Most of it could be but it is starting to degrade from the UV. the poly has a 10 year warranty so that's basically done. I'd hate to go through the trouble of cleaning it all up and have to replace it in a couple more years anyway. I'm also not sure if I can get the old tape residue off. It's a polyethylene tape so maybe acetone would remove it, but I know acetone also etches into polycarb. I don't think there is an ideal solution for it.
@8Jory
3 жыл бұрын
@@Bigelowbrook Some of the panels in better condition could get cleaned and saved for other projects. Though I can't think of any projects off the top of my head that could make use of giant triangles of double wall poly. Make little pyramids and place them around the property to confuse the neighbours maybe?
@JebGardener
3 жыл бұрын
Planning on setting up a planetarium on your new workshop?
@BruceBrandt59
3 жыл бұрын
I hate to see the Dome go away, but whatever is fiscally sound. 😢
@HaroldLloyd69
3 жыл бұрын
In my opinion, I think you should convert it into a workshop. My first reaction was that you should salvage what you can and just tear it down, but since you've already got the structure and you're looking to build a workshop, that would be a good middle ground. I just hope it won't end up being a burden and you regret not going the polebarn workshop route.
@KayItForward
3 жыл бұрын
Hey, I have been researching domes for purchase and this is so important. Reading your comments everyone loves the dome. ... In a channel content kind of way, what I would do as an entertainer is rebuild it with materials you think will outlast anyone. Marine sealants and flaching and metal part or however. There are metal versions of the domes out there and glass and just straight plastic and fabric wrapped. If its going to be 5 k to haul out, think maybe of keeping it successful. Teaching people, educating and uplifting others and helping them make choices is so invaluable and kind of why edutainers do what we do. Youd have to crunch numbers yes, and do the best for you and your family always. :) but thanks for posting I was thinking of getting a big box kit now im searching for somthing not-wood still :)
@MrJanaRobi
3 жыл бұрын
I enjoyed that building series .It's a cool structure .what about clear shrink wrap ?
@derrick_builds
2 жыл бұрын
Bummer. Loved seeing you build this up. Hate to see it failing. Hope you find a great solution.
@kekkoukedarake110
2 жыл бұрын
Whenever I drive on Westford Rd, your dome looks good and attractive. Now I am very surprised to watch this video. Too bad. Your dome was one of the influences before I built my own and now working on my second. Actually I used pressure treated lumber and do not worry mine go through the same fate. Hope you can rebuild yours.
@obeybay
3 жыл бұрын
Please make a video going over everything you would have done differently if you remade your dome
@RetreatfarmFarmvilleVirginia
3 жыл бұрын
I'd take the cheap route and just buy a new sheet of film and cover the whole thing and silicone the overlaps to seal them on the side of least sun exposure. The sunlight loss from the added layer couldn't be that significant. And plant a crop with less light requirements etc,.
@simonphillips1654
3 жыл бұрын
Hi, Well done on your builds! I'd suggest you could try to get aluminium extrusion in the same dimensions as the timber (2"x4"ect) and try to replace a couple of triangles at a time. I'd then use glass for the triangles and a urethane sealant to hold them in place(a bit like an automotive windscreen seal). This way, you could do a few at a time as funds permit and it would have no chance of water ingress. I think you have put too much into it to let it go to waste! Well done and thanks for your videos
@mihaiilie8808
3 жыл бұрын
What type of tape did you used ? It looks bad. I also have a wood dome similar in size with yours and the aluminum tape started to fail after 3 years. Now im replacing the old aluminum tape with butyl rubber tape thats guaranteed for 25 years. Check the butyl aluminum tape. For the polycarbonate you can use a substance to protect it from UV.You find it in auto repair shops and thats used to protect the plastic headlights from UV yellowing. If i were you,id cover the dome in 2 sheets of flat ,fully transparent polycarbonate( with the thickness of the struts having a sealed space) and butyl tape.
@FinnBearOfficial
3 жыл бұрын
Thanks for sharing this. Now it's easier to plan what to build in my yard come next summer.
@tomahawkpermaculture6917
3 жыл бұрын
ugh! I watched you build this thing in the beginning and back in the harbor freight greenhouse days. crushing man.
@markseifried3959
2 жыл бұрын
That's a great name and cute opening.
@WHATISIT5000
3 жыл бұрын
10 Years is a pretty good run for duct tape seams. I would make it into a workshop if it were mine.
@koningbolo4700
Жыл бұрын
Yeah a dome workshop...sounds really cool... I would say go for that idea... Maybe shingles is not the best, probably metal roofing sounds better still...just a thought... In any case good to see the dome is still around...
@halcobb1627
3 жыл бұрын
Maybe check out the heat shrink film they use to winterize boats as a short term outer covering. Stop using to grow inside so humidity is reduced. It costs about 7 cents a square foot.
@sirhenrycurtis2220
7 ай бұрын
Thank you for showing what all the greenhouse builder videos don't.
@Novashadow115
3 жыл бұрын
Damn man, been a a wild ride following you through the years
@aarondonaldson4164
3 жыл бұрын
I vote to replace the struts. (Shouldn't be too much for the 2x4s, and then sheet it with plywood and make a barn out of it. For anyone else considering this, I might suggest butyl taping all the joints, and fixing the panels down with a strip of aluminum that will compress the butyl tape and seal the edges. This wouldn't do anything to stop the interior sweating from high humidity, but maybe the interior could be fitted with poly film to keep the moisture inside the poly and not let it contact the wooden struts. Good luck with whatever you decide. The geodome was an inspiration, and I really appreciate the honest follow up.
@NaughtyGoatFarm
3 жыл бұрын
Nature reclaims everything in the end.
@dmolldude
3 жыл бұрын
If you take down everything but put a cap over the foundation, does that count as a demo for purposes of meeting code? I think that's the route I'd go, put off doing any building for another year when hopefully things are closer to normal.
@Bigelowbrook
3 жыл бұрын
technically it would be a new building but he wouldn't give me a hard time about it. I already check with him about changing it from a greenhouse to a workshop and he said it's classified as an auxiliary building so I wouldn't need any new permits.
@dmolldude
3 жыл бұрын
@@Bigelowbrook So I think I'd take down the poly and geodome structure now, cap the foundation, and shore up the rest of the structure to prevent further water and moisture damage. Put off any further building until after you assess what you have at that point. It's sad, but realize it had a good run.
@ElohssArehtonAtsuj
3 жыл бұрын
i agree with many that it would be sad to see the growing greenhouse go. but as a workspace, that would be a new and wonderfull stage of its life. To still provide and live longer then ever. it would still be a dome. Just not life growing inside, but skills and creations, build, repair. etc. or another opion is to rent it out to a group who can use it as a growing dome classroom. Of all ages. Poeple want to learn bout green houses and growing food. well hands on is the best route. (-: .
@cookybanana
2 жыл бұрын
Horticulture student here and weighing in on different structures I might one day grow in. I've been very moved by other videos on geodesic domes primarily due to its stability when it comes to snow load and strong winds. I haven't done enough research on the panels vs. Standard poly plastic used in hoop tunnels and such. Do you think you would have had the same issues with the poly panels and debris if they were turned such a way that the internal channels would not run the same direction as the run off? Its disappointing when something we craft comes to the end of its lifecycle. 10 yrs seems standard especially given thats the material warranty. I know the 6ml poly we use for hoop tunnels has about half that life cycle. That said, we are only replacing the poly and maybe some wiggly wire, not the structural frame. I really appreciate you sharing your learnings. I saw in another comment you said you wouldn't grow commercially in a grow dome - is that because of the space (for movement of humans) and growing space? Or have you found there to be greater issues with ventilation, lighting or IPM?
@Bigelowbrook
2 жыл бұрын
The panels need to be somewhat vertical so the condensate can drain out of them. The dome is nice for a hobby by for commercial use it's difficult to have long square beds in a round shape.
@russellzavala8093
3 жыл бұрын
I put my Geodome up about the same time as you and have same problems ; It Leaks and rotted my wood. My solution to problem was 4" Aluminum Tape as used in the Heating / Cooling Industry. The tape takes the cold weather and sheds moisture. However, it's a little late in the game and I will have to replace a lot ot wood. I was considering re-building with a Vertical Circular Wall and a Peaked Roof; using the same Lucite panels on Roof & Verticals.
@davidschmidt270
2 жыл бұрын
I think ...in my humble opinion, pointing things out that maybe went wrong or flaws or just things that can go wrong are important so that people can get a general idea of what they're getting into before they commit to such projects...thank you Sir!
@dragnardrake8633
3 жыл бұрын
If this was up to a vote I'd vote to redo it to a workshop However that really depends on the damage. How much would it end up running if you had to redo all of the wood? If it ends up being needing all the wood being replaced maybe just let it sit a year to get a better idea on cost of materials once the thing has passed.
@Bigelowbrook
3 жыл бұрын
From my latest inspection, only a few pieces need replacement. It's the cost of the exterior sheathing and shingles that's a big pill to swallow. Building materials have skyrocketed in price this year!
@resolutekravmaga651
3 жыл бұрын
I would definitely convert it to a shop. However, consider removing each polycarbonate panel and clean them. If you replace them with plywood, good. If not, it's a window. But, either way, use silicon caulking between the joints, not tape. This was a real great build, no matter what you decide so I think it will be awesome.
@TheRebelmanone
2 жыл бұрын
This is the outcome from no paint, no stain, and no yearly application of tape. It is not that a dome itself is a fail, but using weather sensitive material in the weather without protecting it is a certain fail in around 5 years. If he made a workshop out of it then it would be an ideal to fiberglass the outside instead of using shingles, shingles on this structure will most likely leak. The fiberglass will make it stronger at the same time waterproof it and have it looking nice. Then just paint it every 5-10 years, it is like a boat now.
@kentGrey
2 жыл бұрын
Thanks for sharing. Considering what you paid to build it; and the very short amount of time that it held up, I will avoid these types of dome like the plague. I'm surprised that no one advised you to treat that wood given that it would be inundated with moisture. Likewise with using tape for the seams.
@torjones1701
3 жыл бұрын
And how old is the dome now? about 9.5 years? That's pretty good for wood and high humidity! Of course we all want it to last 100 years if not longer, but it did really well!
@TheChodewarrior
3 жыл бұрын
Any chance I could snag the old polycarbonate for an upcoming dome project I have going on? I'd come to get it and could spare a day of labor to help deconstruct... ?
@Bigelowbrook
3 жыл бұрын
sounds good. Send me a private message through FB or on my discord server discord.gg/n46UrP
@paramashantadharma5676
3 жыл бұрын
Try treating the wood with cheap vegetable oil and paint thinner one part to one dilution. And flex seal the joints possibly will keep the water out.
@imagicination
3 жыл бұрын
Omg, you`ve put so much work in it and now that`s so sad. The best method to protect wood from everything is fire impregnation: Shou Sugi Ban :)
@ariesdrake2926
3 жыл бұрын
Hi there! This build is super inspiring, even after 10 years. I really want to make my own. If you did it all over again, do you think instead of using tape to seal the edges, using 100% silicone or butyl rubber caulk would work since they are UV resistant and flexible?
@Bigelowbrook
3 жыл бұрын
the silicone won't stick to the polycarb. I'm not sure about the caulk but I would doubt it would be any better.
@pikadroo
3 жыл бұрын
awe, I feel ya. You build a thing and you think it will be around for generations long after you're gone and it becomes obsolete within your life time, it's hard to know what to do. I am still running my first PVC pipe hydroponic system, everything points to dismantling it and making a better system based on what I have learned from it but every year I just can't bring myself to do it.
@Bigelowbrook
3 жыл бұрын
My grandfather built is 1st greenhouse in the 60's with cedar...it lasted about 50 years when it collapsed under a snow storm...it was still in decent condition.
@ElohssArehtonAtsuj
3 жыл бұрын
but that was probably glass not poly...........
@Patrake555
2 жыл бұрын
Tank you for the infos. It need maintenance of the tape on joints when 5 years passe.😶👍
@paulf1177
2 жыл бұрын
Your dome looks much like one I have been watching. Beautiful greenhouses but expensive. I'm surprised to hear that yours barely got half the life that the company states. I did look into the type that you have in the background. I'm in upstate NY and would like to start growing through out the year with trees as well. Sounds like the workshop might be your best option. Hope it works for the best
@GrowingSpacesGreenhouses
2 жыл бұрын
Paul, please note that this dome is NOT a Growing Spaces dome. We use a UV protected aircraft tape to seal the dome which has a useful life of 10 years. If this tape is replaced every 10 years, and with adequate ventilation inside the dome, your struts will not rot out. We have also increased our polycarbonate warranty to 15 years.
@JohnGuest45
8 ай бұрын
@@GrowingSpacesGreenhouses Quote from your website: Our full crew installation warranty covers any major leaks that are caused by missing tape, the tape not adhering properly, or not being applied in the correct locations. This warranty is good for 30 days from the installation completion date and the customer must be able to provide Growing Spaces with proper documentation of the issue. The warranty does not cover minor leaks around the edge of the vents, around fan hoods, hubs, above door, or manufacturer indents in the polycarbonate. These can be easily repaired with a small patch of tape over the affected area. Your Growing Spaces installer will leave you with extra tape and explain how to properly patch small leaks. Be aware that condensation build-up inside the Growing Dome can occur and may present the same way as a small leak would. The fact is condensation will occur in any greenhouse and in the specific case of a dome greenhouse, struts that are angled back towards the glazing effectively create a trough that traps water which will eventually lead to mold and rot.
@tmmiller64
3 жыл бұрын
I would solve the leak problem you have at the seams. Is there an alternative to the tape such as some type of caulk? Since the wood still has some life you would improve the life span by eliminating moisture from the outside. Do you have dehumidifiers on the inside to cut down on the moisture problem? Wish you the best and look forward to future updates.
@mihaiilie8808
3 жыл бұрын
Aluminum butyl tape ,1mm thick ,on the exterior.
@avhuf
3 жыл бұрын
In hindsight, you should probably have coated and painted the cedar struts.
@utubeape
3 жыл бұрын
yes some oil based coating to soak in because it takes a hammering under greenhouse conditions, and anytime you put metal through it makes it worse funneling moisture insdie the wood
@yxcvmk
3 жыл бұрын
Yeah. Oiling might have been the solution (linseed plus a thinner to make it go deeper). Still, the long term leak-proofing from the outside remains an issue and might be a reason, why a greenhouse dome is not so attractive after all...
@hootsmin
3 жыл бұрын
Got a 3d printer? If I was doing your dome I think I might make the joints out of 3d printed plastic, probably something tough and UV stable. I might make the struts out aluminium profile if it was cheap enough or maybe plastic pipes or whatever. I would 3d print flexible material for weather proofing it. I definately fancy making one now you have reminded me about it. I hope its gets repaired and renewed, but its your money bud, spend it wisely.
@8Jory
3 жыл бұрын
In the spirit of "reduce reuse recycle" I hope you can find another use for the structure. Either the workshop space or even an air bnb rental if you're into that. It's a quirky dome shaped building and people would be drawn to that to rent. Just a thought, rentals come with their own nonsense to deal with.
@adamstestanimations
3 жыл бұрын
If you could do it again, what would you do differently? Or, just skip it and jump right to hoop houses?
@Bigelowbrook
3 жыл бұрын
for commercial use, hoop houses are the only way to go.
@michaeldornhausen8807
3 жыл бұрын
Sad to hear after all the work.
@reidkirkpatrick997
3 жыл бұрын
I remember you fabricating all those metal connection plates. You may as well pull it down. If wait it’ll just cost more down the road.
@theturcanstribe3684
3 жыл бұрын
Time flies, I still remember when you testing the 5 points connection ,been following since 10x12 greenhouse,wonder if still standing ✌🏻
@Bigelowbrook
3 жыл бұрын
The 10x12 is long gone. Victim of a snow storm.
@philipsoo
3 жыл бұрын
If you decide to use polycarbonate again maybe use 3M aerospace tape (UV and temperature stable) for the joints if you didn't use it before. That's what we used on our geodesic dome although it is only 2 years old. I'm thinking of hydroponics but maybe not a good idea with all the moisture.
@Bigelowbrook
3 жыл бұрын
that's exactly what I used. give it a couple more years and it will start to fall apart. ;-)
@philipsoo
3 жыл бұрын
@@Bigelowbrook good to know. The 3M tape is made from polyurethane, and you mentioned using polyethylene in another comment. Regardless, I suppose 10 years will take its toll on any tape. Maybe we need to preemptively replace it every few years? I think we have the same issue with moisture building up in certain places, but the wood is not deteriorating yet. Hoping our use of cedar and eco safe lifetime wood treatment helps; time will tell. Part of the fun in building your own structure is that everything you do is part of one big experiment!
@JohnGuest45
3 жыл бұрын
@@Bigelowbrook Use ETFE repair tape, its designed to stick to ETFE (teflon) so it wont let go of polycarb. Its not affected by uv, heat or cold. Only downside will be the price.
@francoismoutou2303
3 жыл бұрын
Go for the workshop barn!!!
@esthermarcen7587
2 жыл бұрын
If you fix it with new wood maybe you could put paraffin oil on top, as we do in our Sauna in Finland to prevent that, saunas here get very hot inside while is very cold outside and very wet and moist as well inside while can be very dry outside, and by doing that it takes a very long time that they get rotten. very long time. only an idea.
@thawolf5921
3 жыл бұрын
I hope you can remake these with better material. Still, a wonderful job putting this together. I hope you keep at it because you are super talented my friend.
@Mister_Stork
3 жыл бұрын
I think that’s just the problem with wood... you can work with it easily, but it will rot over time, especially with higher humidity like in a greenhouse. It would be a pity, if you would tear it down. I just love the shape of domes...
@thomasvega2323
2 жыл бұрын
Thank you for share this.
@frododavis9082
3 жыл бұрын
you did not use treated lumber? brass hardware? why?
@macromicrodragon
2 жыл бұрын
Duct tape along the wood under outer panels would have prevented the rot for a decent time, that clear airframe tape for the outer panel seems too. Id just repair the wood and then do it right. Geodomes are awesome efficient if you get the geothermal heating with a water tank absorbing southern light in the winter. As well as tap into the ground geothermal temp with a walipini style dug down below the frost line.
@mattolsson8816
3 жыл бұрын
It sucks and I am having similar experience with my fish shed flooring.. Treated wood and it's rotting and being eaten by termites.. 5 years old.. Good times..
@ttocs15
3 жыл бұрын
I have been working on a 20ft dia one myself with your videos as inspiration! This is definitely a bummer. Any advice before I finish mine up? I am about half way done putting up the polycarb sheets. I made my frame out of cedar 2x4s, are yours cedar?
@Bigelowbrook
3 жыл бұрын
Western red cedar...it was supposed to last longer than me. ;-)
@russellzavala8093
3 жыл бұрын
Very important to have perfectly sealed wood to polycarb connections Look into 4- 5" Aluminum Rolls to center on the joint for added water = tight seal. Get heating / cooling type duct tape made with Aluminum so it will not weather or freeze off. Get the cold tolerant type; you will need a case of it.
@danijeldankic5320
3 жыл бұрын
Burn the wood, lasts for a millennia 😉
@mihaiilie8808
3 жыл бұрын
Use aluminum tape but not the cheap one.Aluminum butyl tape wich is thick ,1 mm and the glue its grey.Black tar aluminum tape doesnt work on polycarbonate. Regular ,cheap aluminum tape( not butylic) its good for interior use if you have double walls like my dome but doesnt withstand the UV . Seal the ends of the polycarbonate with cheap and thinest possible( i mean 1,5 cm tape that you can make it yourself by cutting from 5cm tape) cheap aluminum tape. You can protect the polycarbonate on the most afected sites,with automotive solution for plastic headlights wich give UV protection.
@markseifried3959
2 жыл бұрын
Ok, but how old is it and what kind of wood is it?
@enriquegarciacota3914
3 жыл бұрын
Hello, it would be sad to tear it down. If you decide to repair, I would recommend giving a look at what they did in the Dome of Visions ( domeofvisions.com/architecture/ ). Instead of every layer of PC sitting "next" to the other, they made the upper layers overlap the ones underneath, so water would naturally "flow out" - like you would do with regular roofing tiles on a regular sloped ceiling. The other thing they did is that the PC never touched the wood underneath - the screws have "spacers" so if water or humidity manages to get in, it can still flow out relatively easy. And it is easier to do maintenance on the wood as well.
@enriquegarciacota3914
3 жыл бұрын
Oh I almost forgot: on their last iteration they cut the PC sheets in rhomboids instead of in triangles/hexagons, taking advantage of the pliability of the material. This made optimal use of the rectangular sheets, and minimized the seams.
@utubeape
3 жыл бұрын
how about remove all the plants and things that cause moisture, let it dry out then rot treat timbers to shore it up, thin ply or OSB the inside to make into a workshop then just put huge sheets of damp proof membrane over the structure, taping and folding as you go. Won't look great but will water proof it, no need to remove the polycarb, you would even leave out boarding some of the inside to let daylight in and cut and tape around on the outside. Investigate longer lasting tapes. Bitumin backed roof repair tapes last many years. the double skin of plastic / polycarb and wood inside will give some insulation
@1mtstewart
3 жыл бұрын
Any more progress on the dome?
@Bigelowbrook
3 жыл бұрын
It's sitting there unused. Have had the time to do anything with it.
@bradmaas6875
3 жыл бұрын
Clean it, delay it's demise, and use it for a couple of more years. Gives you time to plan on your next move and hope C-19 goes away along with the increased prices. My thoughts
@tbradtbrad
3 жыл бұрын
And good thoughts they are...
@getprobed838
3 жыл бұрын
i'd use bleach to attempt to clean inside the flutes.....use a polyurethane caulk to reseal all the gaps....with masking tape and polyurethane caulk...apply the caulk...smooth it down and pull the tape....should leave a nice caulk job behind....i think you could refurbish it for cheap....maybe even apply some fungicide to the inside of the fluting....replace any totally rotten pieces of wood....and dry out the rest.....maybe use boracare or timbor on all wood....
@SM-wx9dn
3 жыл бұрын
Make it an observatory with a big telescope!
@drmosfet
3 жыл бұрын
Might actually be a good idea, keep with the engineering theme, we might be getting close to seeing large orbital platforms being constructed in the not so distant future, the start of space mining and manufacturing, ship yards? If the human race doesn't do something stupid.
@markseifried3959
2 жыл бұрын
Do you live in a wet climate like Seatle?
@MrCt88zzz
Жыл бұрын
yea man i hate that water it goes everywhere i used bitum band but it fails
@rond5323
3 жыл бұрын
Very helpful! Thankyou.
@jasrobsny
3 жыл бұрын
Were the struts treated? and what type of wood? Pine?
@Bigelowbrook
3 жыл бұрын
Western red cedar...supposed to last for decades untreated.
@jasrobsny
3 жыл бұрын
@@Bigelowbrook I wouldn't suspect in damp / humid conditions.
@ArtOfHealth
2 жыл бұрын
Why don’t you just build a Zip Tie Dome. They are not expensive. They are built out of PVC. John Hurt and his wife Carolyn will help you. Very good support. Every dome made of wood I have ever seen was torn down as they were all like yours. Good luck. They are on KZitem as well.
@jay90374
3 жыл бұрын
So all you really need is a better quality of tape, check out the stuff they use for RV's
@Bigelowbrook
3 жыл бұрын
This was basically the best stuff I could get at the time. It's called "leading edge" tape and is used on aircraft!
@EarthshipFreedom
3 жыл бұрын
@@Bigelowbrook that was expensive tape. Please let us know if you find a better alternative. Maybe you can power wash the flutes on the panels??
@Bigelowbrook
3 жыл бұрын
@@EarthshipFreedom I think there was about $1000 worth of tape.... I may hit the poly with a power washer...we'll see what kind of condition it's in what I get into it a little more
@bergonius
3 жыл бұрын
I never clicked so fast before, and i'm experienced FPS player.
@cricketol
3 жыл бұрын
what about the plastic wood in place of what you have it should keep better then the regulars wood
@Bigelowbrook
3 жыл бұрын
I'm not even sure if they make a 2x4 in plastic but I bet it would be expensive looking at how expensive plastic decking can be! Thanks for the suggestion.
@JohnGuest45
3 жыл бұрын
@@Bigelowbrook I used a non toxic 2 part epoxy paint on my struts, it wasnt cheap but after 11 years the wood is still sound and rot free. I`d sell the polycarb as a job lot to someone who wants to build a dome, it will save them a bunch of time not having to cut the triangles
@danijeldankic5320
3 жыл бұрын
This update makes me wanna go with conduit😋
@tongtaweeforbes4663
3 жыл бұрын
Where did you get your dome?
@Bigelowbrook
3 жыл бұрын
I built it from scratch. I did an entire video series about it a several years ago.
@tongtaweeforbes4663
3 жыл бұрын
I actually sell the monitoring system that controls water,temperature and air remotely
@krzychol83
3 жыл бұрын
u made my dreams man
@larscw74
3 жыл бұрын
I was teaching myself how to draw this type of structure when I found your channel. The dome as a workshop would be a great idea, it's just crazy that you have to apply for permits for doing such stuff on your own land.
@robertmcdonald4591
3 жыл бұрын
Holy crap it's John Malkovich!
@Bigelowbrook
3 жыл бұрын
If I had a nickel for every comment like this....
@Coatomc
3 жыл бұрын
I think you should operate it as a greenhouse. Spend 10k, it’ll last another 10yrs
@lokanoda
3 жыл бұрын
5000 just to tear down the dome? Incredible...
@Bigelowbrook
3 жыл бұрын
permits and disposal fees
@andrewdaniels7076
3 жыл бұрын
Is that US dollars? Because every dollar amount you quoted seems insanely high.
@Desert2GardenLV
3 жыл бұрын
150k Barn wow
@FrancisoDoncona
2 жыл бұрын
Dry it out and repair the rot, cover it in 6 mil plastic and vent it to be a dry environment Shop.
@David-oy6ck
3 жыл бұрын
Why use wood when there is aluminum? 🥸
@herbert633
3 жыл бұрын
Take it down, build a more traditionally framed structure for ease of maintenance on the foundation
@JoshRabinowitzIRL
3 жыл бұрын
workshop!
@Arnthorg
3 жыл бұрын
bah, has it really been 10 years??
@jasrobsny
3 жыл бұрын
a permit to demolish on your own land. 'Home of the fee and land of the slave.'
@Bigelowbrook
3 жыл бұрын
yup. At least there's no charge for the permit and it then is sent to the tax assessor's office so the building would be removed from taxes.
@jasrobsny
3 жыл бұрын
@@Bigelowbrook There are quite exorbitant charges for building permits but the fact that your land or anything on it is taxed proves that no one actually owns land. I think there was a declaration that spoke of useless officials that eat up substance of people's labor.
@Maxim.Teleguz
3 жыл бұрын
Lessons learned. Don’t use wood.
@brothertyler
3 жыл бұрын
shoulda coated everything in motor oil
@JohnGuest45
3 жыл бұрын
I used pond shield 2 part epoxy paint on my dome 12 years ago and no rot so far. Folks use it to waterproof the inside of plywood aquariums. Its non toxic and safe for fish and plants.
@brothertyler
3 жыл бұрын
@@JohnGuest45 motor oil is free, and once it absorbs into the wood grain it doesn't really go anywhere unless you're using it underwater.
@JohnGuest45
3 жыл бұрын
@@brothertyler Used motor oil is free but its also full of contaminants. The condensate dripping from the strructure will carry anything soluble to the plants and fish if you have any. If you have a fire the structure will go up like a roman candle :)
@brothertyler
3 жыл бұрын
@@JohnGuest45 well it's a case of assessing the risk, like anything
@JohnGuest45
3 жыл бұрын
@@brothertyler The only thing going for used motor oil is the cost, i personally wouldnt use it. I went with encapsulating the timber in epoxy as it can handle being completely submerged without any trouble. It comes in a range of colours too. My frame is white which keeps it cool in full sun. If you have an IR gun you`d be surprised how hot plain wood gets in the sun compared to some painted white. If the dark wood is covered by twin wall polycarb it will become even hotter
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