Shotcrete!

 

Things went super fast! The builders finish up the shell construction this week. 

They were so fast I didn't have time to update this blog. At one point we were working long hours on weekends and nights to try to keep up with their progress. Mr. Dometastic and I were spending every spare moment running electrical conduit for everything that goes in the exterior shell. It all had to get done after they finished the rebar and before they sprayed concrete. Somehow we did manage to keep up but we were not Road Runner in the race!

Most of the above photos are self explanatory but this last one shows our thermal break for all the openings.

I need to jump backwards in time a bit. This video link wasn't ready when I wrote the last post on insulation. To see the completed insulation and the start of the rebar as a video. CLICK HERE to watch it. Then CLICK HERE to see another video update of the rebar a lot further along in the process. 

We had multiple inspections along the way and passed them all. Each time the inspectors came they brought along another town employee that just wanted to see the weird house. Our build has a bit of a side show vibe. Not only are our friends and acquaintances stopping by for a curious look but the side show vibe continues even with official inspections. 

We don't mind and it is fun to see people experience that first walk though the airlock. We actually felt the same way the first time we walked inside. 

The rebar inspections were broken up in two parts. First 2 of the domes and then the last 2 domes. As soon as they got the thumbs up on the completed areas they started with concrete. They sprayed the concrete in thin layers taking their time building it up in thickness to a minimum of 4 inches. Every day they would do concrete in the morning and the afternoon. During the curing time they would continue with rebar in the other domes until they too were ready for concrete.

CLICK HERE for a video tour of the first few coats of shotcrete.

CLICK HERE for a video that shows the shotcrete being sprayed.

Today is scheduled to be the final spray day! The only things left are the tie beams and wrapping up the project with little things. Stay tuned for the completed shell post. It is really turning out awesome!