Aircrete - Everything you need to know before you start

Aircrete is an amazing material to build with when it's used correctly. In this video, we answer all your questions and give you detailed information about the properties and issues when building with Aircrete. Leave a comment below if you have any other questions that don't get answered in this video.
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0:06 What is Aircrete
1:32 Unique Properties
2:06 Benefits
2:50 Downsides
3:27 What is the R-value
5:22 Thermal mass
6:01 Making Aircrete Flip-up Walls
6:18 Using Slip Forms
6:32 Additives
7:25 What Not to Build with Aircrete
9:00 Common Problems
10:18 Conclusion

[@KyleHatch21]

Incredible video. Soooo much quality information with no filler. Right to the point. Specific, clear, accurate. Bravo.

[@pompeiusmagnus3263]

You should set up shop in Hawaii to help replace the homes that burned, get them going before winter.

[@billysunday7507]

No...those people need to move away from that area. They are poor and mostly uneducated

[@williamrodriguezmswlcsw8119]

That is a wonderful idea. Unfortunately, it's not very feasible especially considering the lack of commercial real estate in the area following the disaster. With that said, setting up a 14 day "training" workshop that benefits the local community would be much easier to put together than a permanent presence. Even if that isn't possible for DomeGaia specifically, Thankfully the Islands are home to a lot of other experts in the use of "alternative" building materials which I know are already on the ground doing their part to aid in the reconstruction efforts. Unfortunately, from what I've heard from those on the ground, that despite the desperate need, some local officials are making the permitting process difficult for those looking to use aircrete and similar materials. The objections by some permitting officials doesn't just apply to permanent housing projects either. In some locations Builders try to Construct Sheds, Workshops, Garages and the like, are also running into issues. Needless to say, This is extremely frustrating for many residents looking for low cost alternatives to expensive more traditional building materials. This is just one more area where the Personal Freedoms of American Citizens is being replaced by bureaucratic nonsense that is for our own good, I'm sure! 🤯🤦🏻🤬

[@Shudog99]

then paint them blue..

[@blessed7fold583]

N.E. Texas as well, and all the towns midwest & central-* hit hard with tornadoes past few weeks as well.

[@brainsmoothy]

if you basically offset this ridiculus, unaffordable, "why did we leave Cali?" cost of everything in New England, and/or NY, I'd say, "Dude, you can just chill for a while, you know? Don't have to get going. Or anything. Heck, we'll freekin' actually cook for someone else in our new House That Aircrete Built."

[@adventurousloner]

I saw quick crete also on a van. Just another name... I like what Dome Gaia provides. It's more than about concrete.

[@davepennington3573]

What is the compression strength of your standard (22 lbs/cu ft) formula?

[@MissJCarriacou]

Would this material be too light to withstand a hurricane/tropical storms? I live on Carriacou which got totally flatten of hurricane Beryl. 95% av all buildings destroyed or roofs gone. Including my food places which was surrounded in a growing lush garden. I'm now searching for alternativ, low budget...

[@Superliegebeest0]

Ive seen people. Buy an old ship. Like single hull oiltankers those cant be used anymore. So their relatively cheap. And they fill the hull with aircreate so even if the hull is to thin and rusted through it will stay afloat. To make it into a houseboat.

[@hornet224]

It's low tensile and compressive strength makes it easy to break in or blow away in a storm.

[@domegaia]

This is true on it's own but when you add the fiberglass reinforced stucco on the inside and outside surfaces that is when it becomes very strong.

[@mondavou9408]

Oh my gosh! Honest discussion about Aircrete? Thank you!

[@wulfclaw4921]

I used aircrete as a primary form. Then a bonding agent and a finish layer of concrete. I built a huge 1800sq ft house. Steel reinfirced roof with natuaral look on the outside, and external walls are all 14" thick earthbag with reinforced rebar every 4 feet. Concrete covered outer and plaster interior. It matches the natural very large boulders on my property ! Turned out beautiful, with post and beam interior from round wood I harvested here. It was a lot of work with it just being me building it. My suffestion is find people who are like minded and help each other on your builds. Mine has wuth stood a 6 1 and a 5.9 earthquake as well as several fires in the area. One fire took out 250 structures. People underestimate the strength of this type of building. My house will be standing 100 years longer than these stick- built homes. It looks beautiful and Everyone that has seen it thinks it is great. Built into the side of the mountain, it is about 15°F cooler in the summer than anything else around here - naturally !!😊

[@cindeebahr4136]

I would love to see pictures of your place!

[@thomasraywood679]

Yeah, you really shouldn't say all this without providing a link to photographs you stored online.

[@akilaholu]

I’m very interested to see your process and finished work would you be willing to share??

[@firstname-qq3xp]

concrete doesn't last as long as you think. And the rust from the metal will make the metal expand causing cracking. Look up Roman concrete, and you will see that our cement doesn't last a fraction of what theirs lasted. there is a reason there has been research into the roman way of making concrete. Plus you're using a novel way to make concrete that hasn't been tested over the ages. So to say that it will last 100+ years is a stretch. Warning to others.

[@tryscience]

@@firstname-qq3xp I appreciate those cautions, I've thought about those issues for some time. I'm considering basalt rebar for my future projects because it does not corrode and expand like rusting iron rebar. Also, the Romans hot mixed their concrete according to the published articles, this is a bit hazardous but it creates lime clasts which allow for self-healing explaining the durability of Roman concrete.

[@jessefra1553]

Could you Barry the Domes under earth to make a hobbit house ?

[@sb_1389]

😂

[@Hood.Housekeeping]

This is exactly what I’m going for. Increase r-value, no siding, no roofing, grass on roof, and just hidden house. Plus a hobbit door come on

[@domegaia]

In theory you could, but you'd definitely want to get it engineered and would likely require a lot of extra reenforcement than our standard design.

[@pixelspring]

My answer would be no. too difficult to trust with the top and side load that an underground structure is required to withstand. By the time you have included the steel you actually NEED building under earth and add the full water proofing you need I do not believe aircrete would be useful. Aircrete alone is very porous and allows water ingress easily. A free standing dome in air is handling gravity and wind load only.

[@HallyVee]

Unfortunately there are TONS of excellent reasons we don't build much underground.

[@speelvinger4629]

Wow great vid, really brings clearity and very honest !

[@beneversage8699]

If you built a conventional square or rectangle house with vertical walls rather than dome walls, could the aircrete walls support the weight of a conventional roof (rafters, sheathing, shingles or metal)? Given the previous scenario, if you had rafters and sheathing, could you pour an aircrete roof? Lastly, where I live in Maine, building codes require cement walls go to the frost line below a slab. Could you trench the perimeter of a slab down to frost line and pour aircrete into the trench and then when hardened pour an aircrete slab on top of the perimeter aircrete walls?

[@denysmelnychuk7396]

Hi! I saw your comment and decided to give a quick explanation😅. I live in Ukraine, Kyiv suburbs, I guess 9 of 10 new houses are built with aircrete. I live in a townhouse with walls built from air concrete, they have extra insulation layer of polystyrol to make houses more energy efficient. Here is a huge industry of manufacturing aircrete. Standard blocks for walls are 60 cm length X 30cm width X 20 cm height . For walls inside buildings 10cm width blocks are usually used. These blocks are very lightweight. Their weight is a great advantage, as for such buildings strip foundation is used - it is from standard concrete and rebars. So basically such strip foundation should be around 80 cm in under ground and 10-20 cm above the ground. Also constructing walls from aircrete, each third row usually is enforced with rebar. Average price of one 60-20-30 block is 3,5-4 USD. Professionally manufactured they have perfect shape and expected behaviour. In Kyiv we normally have -15 -20 Celcium in winter Hope that gave some answers for your question

[@beneversage8699]

@@denysmelnychuk7396 Thanks Denys; very helpful

[@TimArchambaultme]

Fellow Mainer here. DId you ever get this figured out? I was hoping to build on top of an all ready poured slab but based on your comment. Likely not doable.

[@beneversage8699]

@@TimArchambaultme I think it is doable Tim. The State code wants you to go down below frost line with your walls and then pour the slab on top of the walls. However, in my town of Northport, that is only a recommendation and not the law. People pour slabs on top of the ground all the time without the walls. However, if I were to do that I would first put down 2 to 6 inches of insulation board and pour the slab on top of that. That said, if you didn't do that and just poured the slab on the ground without insulation then that should be fine too. Mainers for years have poured slabs on ground for their garages, sheds, etc. The weight of the aircrete walls is going to be much less heavy than regular concrete so the stress on the slab will be less. I wouldn't worry about it. Build the aircrete walls on top of the slab. They should carry the roof weight as well. However, I'd put a metal roof on the lighten the load and allow for snow to slide off easily. Hope this helps.

[@annieroberts2148]

Would love to know - is it possible to build a dome with a 30ft diameter with aircrete? My partner and I are starting to research dome style houses but I think we are leaning towards 1-2 big ones instead of grouping smaller ones together.

[@marlinda6851]

Absolutely it can be done, but not with aircrew, for that you'd probability need a system (you can find videos) that uses vinyl firm the size and shape of the house you're building, sprayed with foam insulation on the inside, rebar throughout and then sprayed with concrete on the inside. It sounds much more expensive, it probably is, but I've seen videos of structures of that size and larger.

[@domegaia]

You can build 30ft domes with aircrete just fine but it will be easier and faster for you to build several smaller domes all clustered together rather than one very large one.

[@willm5814]

Well explained! Thank you!

[@chrislowrance1207]

High heat areas that regularly have 30 to 90 days triple digit temps; would the thermal value result in heating the interior more, thereby reducing the cooling efficiency? Also, do you use a raised floor or trough system in the foundation for running electrical and water lines or do you form the bricks around conduits?

[@domegaia]

If it get's cool at night then the thermal mass will help even things out and lessen your cooling load. If it stays the same temperature through out the day then you are just relying on the insulation value and the thermal mass will have little affect either way other than it could take longer to initially cool it down.

[@dennismoisescastillo5040]

Hello, I have a question, can we mix the aicrete with wheat straw? Have you tried using clay instead of cement? Thank you so much

[@domegaia]

You can not mix anything cement with organic matter so no to the wheat straw. Clay will not work it will just crumble as it doesn't bondy to itself very well. Cement forms a very strong bond to itself.

[@noahriding5780]

If you coat the outermost part of the aircrete that's exposed to the elements with something will that help it last better and give it more strength to counter the brittle traits?

[@holgermessner851]

Like I said before. It is nice if you do not need a building permit. If you need one and have to show some documentation of its strength, structural integrity, aircrete is not the way to go. Steven Areen’s dome house wasn’t made with aircrete. It was built with 4” concrete blocks and some earth blocks (ladrillos) . And if you like to build “cheap” - the Domgaia tool set is already $1,500 plus shipping. For $1,500 I got all my 6” concrete blocks I needed. I have to build on a budget. My house will be around $15,000 - $20,000. Depending how crazy I want to go.

[@pintiliecatalin]

This is a 70 year old technology in Europe. It is called Autoclaved aerated concrete. While the recipe for it is a little different as it also contains gypsum (making it more white), it is the same basic thing.

[@domegaia]

AAC is quite different than DIY aircrete. AAC is made via a chemical process and cured in a kiln. It is a lot harder which makes it harder to work with but still a good option if you can purchase and have them shipped to you cost effectively.

[@pintiliecatalin]

@@domegaia What do you mean a lot harder? I have no experience with aircrete but AAC is quite soft. I would say AAC is a little harder then chalk. Basically you can brake a 10cm block of AAC by using your hands and knee like you would brake a branch.

[@domegaia]

I'm not an expert in all kinds of AAC bricks. Just the one's we can get in the USA are harder to cut with a saw but they are still a lot softer than concrete. They are a great option but often the shipping makes them unaffordable and they need to be made in a fairly hard factory, not something you can do yourself.

[@pintiliecatalin]

@@domegaia They are the cheapest building material you can get in Europe. But it's true that they need to be done in a factory. It is not something you can do yourself. And they are extremely easy to work with due to their low weight and big size.

[@frenkenberg]

insulation alone is worth using it. Also you don't have to have TWO floors. Therefore it's perfect for bungalow type of home. It doesn't have to be small. It can be 3 bdrm or more. Just go horizontally. Perfect for farms, homesteads.

[@jeffwindrim975]

I remember seeing a home similar to these being built along the highway on the way to the cottage. I only know of this one they look cool to bad it never became popular and I’m going back 40+ years

[@RonnieStanley-tc6vi]

I have used a product called Rapidset a few times for varying projects. Every time i come across an aircrete video, i start wondering if this product could improve the mix being that Rapidset is much stronger and sets faster than normal concrete. They also make a plasticizer product called Flow Control that changes the consistency when being mixed and poured. I have considered building a small bubble generator myself to try, but im wondering if anyone else has tried it first.

[@domegaia]

Let us know how it goes!

[@kristinmeyer489]

I'm asking this question as a complete novice, so keep that in mind, but if you shredded aluminum foil, or recycled aluminum pressed into thin sheets and added this to the mixture in the right amount, would this increase the strength, as well as perhaps improve water permeability issues prior to sealing, or might there be an unpleasant effect from this combination, if not immediately known, over time?

[@domegaia]

I don't think there would be any advantage and just create a lot of extra work for you. It's already strong enough and there are great ways to make it waterproof that make more sense.

[@kristinmeyer489]

@@domegaia Actually I found someone who adds aluminum powder.

[@builtnotboughtmadeinphilip3955]

I think you could build the shape of your dome from a compacted pile of sand, wetted and packed. Cover the sand with wet cardboard or other. Stack all your blocks going round n round to the top. When your done you remove the sand. Its how I build my wood fired domed ovens

[@domegaia]

That sounds like way more work than the way we teach it with the compass arm. It's just one poll in the center that pivots and is use to place each block in the perfect place. You also end with a perfect curve.

[@builtnotboughtmadeinphilip3955]

@domegaia I ve done it in small-scale building wood fired ovens, and my friends or other you tubers have done it the way you're doing on a small scale. Maybe just give both a try and build a wood fired oven. The pizza and bread are amazing, so there's no failure. There's no ladder werk. there's no singular block werk. Its safe, but im not having any experience on the large or with my suggestion. I have built tho an awful lot of concrete the hard way in Philippines, they do everything the hard way but verry well. We make our own blocks we mix everything by hand and use buckets to transport the material. I've got 8 inch solid concrete walls, 6 inch poured floors, and 6 inch poured flat deck ceilings all by hand. My place we have built all the same and its 20,000 sq ft Mansion on the beach. Im from the USA andvadopted new techniques I did not think would prove better than the Western way. But hey, Man enjoyed your video and its just a thought

[@builtnotboughtmadeinphilip3955]

@domegaia But are you waiting for each block to cure in place while tied with a small rope, I thought I noticed that. In my way I could lay 50-100 blocks a day on the sand pile

[@christinemancuso3337]

Can you put cobb or some earthen material over it, To decorate & finish the inside?

[@phillipalder9045]

I was hoping you could comment on my idea. I plan to build my exterior walls with two materials; 8” hempcrete blocks with 6” of foamcrete on the exterior. I am also planning on cladding the exterior with sandstone or limestone veneer. How does foamcrete hold up to direct fire? Any issues you see with my thoughts/ideas

[@sulblazer]

What do you think about using aircrete as a construction material for trailer campers? Considering it's brittle nature, I wonder if it'd be appropriate structures that are on the move...like a camper.

[@domegaia]

Probably not a good idea. Also too heavy for that application.

[@jaredcolahan759]

Have you built a quonset hut style yet? Thats my goal, but about 30 feet wide and 50 long.

[@paul-d-mann]

You don’t need to buy a foam generator to create foam for aerated concrete. A simple compressor and air stone (like used in an aquarium) works totally fine.

[@eztvlight1202]

Was thinking this

[@Accumulator1]

Have you tried injecting air bubbles that way with satisfactory results?

[@bjrock1235]

I’m curious about how you add ventilation and electricity and if this can be used as a mobile home.

[@tommysanford586]

got an idea The idea behind blocks is that they can be handled and placed in a variety of shapes and sizes so that they can be placed simply by nearly everybody. I see that you almost singularly use block, not cast in place. I prefer cast in place, as your video shows a 6 CF mix, and if I were to build a form, it would contain exactly 6 CF multiples. The greater the size of a form, the fewer shapes it will build. The smaller the form, the greater the labor in placement and patching. I dislike domes as they are hard to find finishes for as ready-made products are almost exclusively designed for straight and plumb surfaces. Very hard to build multiple stories with limited ground space, city blocks are not round but rectangles. Domes look very unusual. If I were to design a form using the correct amount of mix, it might be unstable for men to lift and place. IT needs reinforcing. My thinking is Polypropylene Baler Twine, pre-tensioned slightly. IT is so cheap that lots could be used. $.02 for 3M. My form would be 9' tall and 8' long, mostly 2.5" thick. I would place an electrical conduit in the form to run the wire from the top later. Place windows/doors in the form and cast around them. At each end, and the top I would cast a "U" to fill with reinforced concrete, making posts and a top beam. [I would fill slowly as not to burst the post form.] Installation would be 4 guys lifting the form and new cast into place, then compressed air to delaminate the form, abandoning the new cast in the finished position over a footing to be mudded in. 1 cast/day. This could be the lowest-cost housing structure on earth. Great for places where rock and sand is hard to find cheaply. A quality form could make hundreds of casts at a cost of less than $20 a cast. Finished walls at $.40 sf in the undeveloped world. I have already built the lowest cost housing structure on earth. kzbin.info/www/bejne/imenZ2ZsZ9GNqM0 Please tell me where I am in error. [tommy_sanford2000(at)yahoo.com]

[@greenergenes]

At 4:39 square footage was mentioned ... did you mean to say cubit footage? volume = 4/3(pi)r^3

[@domegaia]

No, square footage was corrrect. Domes enclose the most amount of floor space with the least amount of cubic foot of airspace would be another way to say it.

[@pauldaystar]

What do you Think 12 to 24 inch Wall in Alaska for Insulation...??? Can you Pl😂ase Answer?

[@domegaia]

12" would be around R-24 and 23" would be around R-28. It depends on the size of the structure. If it's a very small structure you could get away with less insulation but if it's large you have a bigger payoff of more insulation

[@martinkreuger7330]

Hi, great video. What about building a boat in Aircrete? There are many sailboats being built in concrete, reinforced by chicken wire steel structures. That's a durable and attractive material for homebuilders, but heavy. I'm thinking Aircrete with layers of glass fibre sounds more compelling; lightweight, easy to handle and probably cheaper than Divinycell foam plus epoxy. Do you have any experience or thoughts?

[@domegaia]

I don't think this would be a good idea. If you are just looking for the strongest material, I don't think aircrete would be your best choice. For building domes its a great balance between insulation and strength.

[@martinkreuger7330]

@@domegaia Thanks for your reply!

[@Jeff-gt2xu]

What about building a canoe with outriggers?

[@NashLaoShi]

How about leaving a 2" gap between two four inch walls? Like a double-paned window. Would this greatly increase the R value?

[@festivetosho7376]

Can glass fibers be added to aircrete (to increase strength)?

[@annmilacayabyab6130]

Ist possible in Philippines which is hot and at the same time raining with flood?

[@domegaia]

Yes, it's perfect for this type of climate.

[@rgnewlife6622]

how does aircrew do in a place that has a aircompressor attached to it!!!???? will it shake apart??,

[@OrlandoNeus]

Will it work on an rusty roof corulated sheet metal those metal roofs are an pain every ten years you have to replace them

[@Shudog99]

Important question for people interested in building domes in areas that are prone to hurricanes: (We know that aircrete is not as strong as concrete) (and we know that you then cover the aircrete with fiberglass to make it stronger..) but the big question is... (after it is covered with fiberglass..) How strong IS it then? Does it become as strong as traditional concrete (or magnesium cement), after it is covered with fiberglass? If it is still not as strong.. then how much weaker IS it? (Yes I know the dome-shape will help with hurricanes as well, but I'm trying to compare a cement dome with an aircrete dome, thanks.)

[@domegaia]

These are good questions, but they are hard to quantify. In basic terms, a steel / concrete dome will always be stronger than an aircrete dome if the wall thickness is the same. I think the question is about how strong do you need it to be? What wind speeds, snow loads, and seismic activity are in the area you want to build. When building with Aircrete or pure concrete you would engineer to those requirements.

[@Shudog99]

@@domegaia Fair enough. however, For health reasons, I'd prefer a dome that would breathe and to achieve this it would need to NOT have fiberglass over the top of it.. If I were to do this, and if I were to make the walls extremely thick.. Could it still withstand a hurricane without the fiberglass coating?

[@RWA98255]

There is no information anywhere on your site as to how to create the Domegaia shells, only a picture with layer names. It is unclear to me how to make those layers, like "surface bonded fiber reinforced cement" and "surface bonded fiber reinforced cement stucco with silicone roof coating". I can guess, but a short glimpse in the video makes me cautious. Where is that information? Also, I emailed the team but nobody answered as to what shapes and dimensions are ok, and what are not. How can one obtain it, there is no guide to purchase on the site. Thank you.

[@domegaia]

We host workshops where we teach all of this but we should also have an online course available soon?

[@AshleyVHoney]

Probably a dumb question but could you build an aircrete structure that was mobile?

[@jaygee2116]

If you're planning a main dome to be 40 ft in diameter, is there a better material to use? What about multiple levels in a home? Could these domes be combined to a shipping container home?

[@tommybutler2454]

My wife wants me to do this so bad ! Thanks !

[@Anti_puilo]

Make her to help you )) Then it will be fun for both of you, guys ))

[@edwinmoore4560]

Can we build me a home out of aircrete along the ocean for hurricane proof? Reason is there is no lift issues with roofs and porches. But it will need to be water proof

[@russmoore3917]

I'd like to know the same.

[@timoblake5689]

In my understanding of basic construction, first-time seeing this system, and having been in the military Civil Engineering Squadron. The key to the waterproofing would be at ground contact, and the outer shell. An expensive option could be gunite pool paints(high chemical resistance, uv stabilized, ect..) The biggest issue with sealing to that level is black mold if and when the water gets in, worked in a Katrina hit home in Mississippi all brick required it to be tented for treatment. Just my thoughts.

[@pat-a-rattat8094]

Ask china it’s not working out too good for them

[@domegaia]

There are several water proofing products you can use to completely seal the outside.

[@brainsmoothy]

Using the 12 inch bricks for winters like in NY and NEng, would you recommend any exterior treatments to resist such weather damage with aircrete? Thanks for your time and hope all is well, good sir.

[@kingmasterlord]

how about that hemp fiberglass Henry Ford was doing 0 dmg on for that shell? hempcrete load skeleton? just stacked pavers to make pillars.

[@nameberry220]

The structural integrity comes from the fibreglass, the insulation comes from the aircrete. seems like it would be better to build with foam blocks and then fibreglass that.

[@domegaia]

The aircrete give far more compression strenght than most foam insulation and it is an important part of the structure. The fiberglass alone will not offer much without the aircrete. The beauty is in how they work together.

[@MsLolly-music]

can an aircrete dome be covered almost entirely with earth?

[@domegaia]

In theory you could, but you'd definitely want to get it engineered and would likely require a lot of extra reenforcement than our standard design.

[@ziggy22shell]

Could Aircrete be used in Earthship applications?

[@domegaia]

Yes, for any of the above ground parts.

[@jacobhartsfield30]

Could you mix All of these together

[@nole86]

Hi, I began researching alternative construction methods for a tiny house and came across your channel. I love it, Airecrete seems to solve many of my problems. I'm thinking about making wood frames for a zome (or maybe a geodesic dome) and then filling them with Aircrete for the paneling. Do you think that might work?

[@lizhyink5636]

^Also just thinking about this idea. There might be some more tensile strength that way, right? For the outer coating, I also wonder if cob and lime plaster makes any sense. The brick/ tiles of aircrete wood need to be really secure to withstand added weight.

[@domegaia]

I think this is an interesting idea but I can't really say how easy it will be to pull off. Aircrete is quite brittal which is why it's so great in the dome shape. A geodesic dome is made of many flat panels which could be an issue.

[@harijotkhalsa9496]

I'm very curious if you're idea would work...

[@harijotkhalsa9496]

I thought that triangles are the strongest geometric shape structurally. If aircrete bricks where make into triangles it might be stronger than the dome style.

[@preciousplasticph]

Hi, i have a micro fiber plastic i am interested in using as a aircrete additive. Do you know if anyone is using plastic fiber to reinforce the aircrete?

[@colourful64able]

If you built a zome out of 2x6 could i spray it with aircrete

[@alvaroeguzman]

Please consider recording these valuable videos without the annoying background music that is so loud and distracting.

[@yusufmohammed9839]

The 6 days house 😂

[@RichardRandall-h5l]

Are breeze blocks same as aircrete?

[@domegaia]

No, very different.

[@jacobhartsfield30]

What is the cost of this material

[@chrisking8353]

I'm curious. Can you build a rebar/mesh shell and just spray on the aircrete? Or, would that just not be thick enough as blocks? Thanks

[@domegaia]

Aircrete is to runny to do this.

[@brentstafford6289]

What’s it like getting a permit ?

[@NashLaoShi]

Could I use it to build an inground swimming pool? I'd anchor the pool with some piliings, so I'm really asking about the walls. Wouldn't the dirt around the pool serve as the real reinforcement for the walls?

[@domegaia]

I don't think there is any advantage for using aircrete in this way

[@posmoo9790]

aerated concrete has been around a long time & now buildings all across the uk are failing from it.

[@raulandasalibby4975]

How well does the aircrete dome hold up to hurricanes.

[@domegaia]

There is no simple answer to this but it's a well known fact that domes hold up to hurricanes very well. Much better than normal houses with roofs to be lifed off.

[@jamesferrell3846]

I like to know more about your company I want to put a dome house on my property in northern California, but it have to be no smaller than 600 square feet

[@domegaia]

You can easily build a dome house larger than 600 sf

[@RobLineberger]

Thanks for this informative video! I have questions about sandwiching the aircrete in fabric. Is it a good idea to incorporate the fabric during the pouring stage? For example, creating an arch form, draping the fabric over it, and pouring the aircrete directly onto the membrane fabric. Or, for a straight wall, tensioning the inner and outer fabrics, supporting them with forms, and pouring the interior. Would doing that help the membrane fabrics adhere to the airecrete? I live in a textile-producing city so I have access to lots of surplus fabric at $1/square meter. The bolt sizes I have access to are typically 60 inch (1.5m) x 200 meters long. There are many material choices but I'd say the three main options are 100% polyester, 60% poly/40% cotton, or 100% woven polyethylene. Are any of those options suitable for the sandwiching fabric? I appreciate your great videos with applied knowledge, it's been really inspirational.

[@domegaia]

This is a very interesting idea. If you can get drop stiched fabric then I think it could work very well.

[@ajitkumarmore405]

Useful information

[@stcstwwlove]

I'm planning to build in Arizona; what would it cost to build a 10', 15', or 20' dome?

[@patriciaellinghausen4365]

where are you in AZ? I have been wondering about building depts allowing me to use this.

[@grant9841]

I would like to build my own dome home and the aircrete material sounds good. How can I get an aircrete machine? On another note I have an idea for a very large dome to turn it into a restaurant however I'm going to need about 200 acres for the project idea that I have. So I can use all the help that I can get.

[@domegaia]

start at domegaia.com!

[@yusufmohammed9839]

I guess it's maybe the perfect building material in north Africa?

[@nightcruiser6331]

I am in portugal and want to start a company making it. Any support or advise?

[@domegaia]

Come to one of our workshops or you can hire us for some consulting but there is lots you can learn online for free.

[@nightcruiser6331]

Where can I find about your workshops?@@domegaia

[@darwinjina]

In China, they call it Tofu-concrete. There are videos were it was used in some buildings

[@brokenrecord3523]

The Chinese gave it a Japanese name?

[@darwinjina]

@@brokenrecord3523 beats me. Thats the name often used. Basically, they thinned it so much that the strength diminished over time, vulnerable to the elements, and people were breaking it with their hands. plenty of vids. Not to be confused with roman cement. lol

[@brokenrecord3523]

@@darwinjina I think that is why a lot of novel building methods get bad reputations. Someone is out there doing it wrong, it fails and then people think aircrete doesn't work.

[@darwinjina]

@@brokenrecord3523 agreed. I'm hoping that the validated methods are well documented and shared.

[@mrkleinhond]

Correction @4:10 12R for a 6 inch wall and not 12R per inc "according to your own calculation of R value per inch...

[@brokenrecord3523]

Does aircrete meet local building codes? Earthquake, hurricane, tornado, snow load... That kind of stuff.

[@donnaoz5502]

Great video thanks... a little typo at 6:00 RECCOMENDED = recommended

[@domegaia]

Oops. Thanks for that! Unfortunately you can't correct videos once they are posted.

[@geerux]

Can you use it to replace conctrete slabs used for walling in south africa we call it vibacrete?

[@domegaia]

It does not replace concrete slabs although you can use it as a subfloor in some cases.

[@myrjarosado9265]

Have you ever try it using 3D printing to build the dome instead of separate blocks?

[@domegaia]

No, we've thought about it. Aircrete is very liquidy when wet so I'm not sure how that would work with a 3D printer.

[@AndreaAdams-c6s]

I want to use Hempcrete for a dome house shell.....

[@silverbackag9790]

Some of those FAQs...anyone asking those questions probably need to stick to single wides.

[@wendystewart5665]

I wonder if you could mix it with hemp powder to strengthen the product ?

[@domegaia]

You could but you don't need to if you build the way we do. Adding fibers into the aircrete does make it stronger but you don't need it and it makes it harder to work with. The strenght comes from the outer layers which is where you want your fiber.

[@donalexander1933]

How about .7% by metric volume of graphene can I add that would it change the Rvalue and tensile strength?

[@pallasade1807]

How do you cut the windows to fit those odd shapes? Im so curious as to how that works. Where to get the glass?

[@domegaia]

You can get glass but at a lot of places. You can get half circle windows at home depot for example. It depends on the climate and type of windows you need.

[@mkogrady6078]

Aircrete over a quonsut hut looks intersting. Is aircrete fireproof?

[@domegaia]

Aircrete does not burn.

[@longsleevethong1457]

I wonder if food based foaming agents would help?

[@swoondrones]

What about insulation from damp?

[@andrewdevore]

Very interesting video. Question. My land requires a building of at least 600 square feet of livable space. That’s a pretty huge dome, although I’m not opposed to a dome if I could build it basically myself within a year as an amateur. Domes are quite cool, but whether I go with a dome or a more traditional single story rectangular home, you didn’t cover internal walls to create rooms of different types which for obvious reasons have benefits and would be desirable for my family. Firstly, can internal walls be built safely and effectively using aircrete? Secondly, if yes, can one do this in both a dome and rectangular structure? And lastly, are domes and one story rectangular homes about the same in difficulty and time it takes per square foot or significantly different? Thanks.

[@domegaia]

These are great questions. If you are an amateur builder it's much easier to learn how to build a Aircrete Dome than a traditional house. It is easier to build multiple smaller connected domes than one large dome. For that reason our designs are all single story although you could go larger. You can do internal walls from aircrete for both domes and traditional buildings. In a dome they are not structural so it's a bit simpler. In a trandtional building if they are structural its a whole other level of engineering. We have classes to learn our dome building system you can check out here: domegaia.com/pages/workshops

[@andrewdevore]

@@domegaia this is a great answer, thank you and God bless

[@divinelight144]

What are the lowest temperatures these could stand? You said they can be built anywhere in the world, but will they work if the temperatures go to -35°C in the winter? Would they need some kind of insulation added then, or just thicker bricks?

[@sino_diogenes]

Disclaimer: I am guessing. I don't think there would be any real "minimum temperature" that the bricks could withstand. I see no reason that even extremely low temperatures would cause the bricks to fail or degrade in any way. Unless there are gaps in your aircrete construction I guess, in which case water could infiltrate and break it apart with freeze thaw cycles. You would certainly need more insulation, but that could be in the form of dedicated insulation such as Styrofoam, or it could just be more/thicker aircrete bricks.

[@domegaia]

I would agree with this answer :)

[@InJusticeAustralia]

can it be used to make paths?

[@domegaia]

I would not recommend it for that use-case.

[@sharperone8237]

I have this idea floating in my head of air crete bricks or slabs over a steel frame for a one story 2bdrm/2.5 ba house. Im thinking i could have a house in less than 90 days.

[@satefutingatgoogle]

is this the same methode that fails in the Uk in all schools and now they are spending a lot of money to replace it?

[@domegaia]

No, totally different :)

[@satefutingatgoogle]

:)) ofc@@domegaia

[@demo6tro777]

Would this be good in places like Washington State and how much is the cost compared to other homes

[@domegaia]

Yes, these work well in any climate. Cost depends greatly so you first need a design and can then do estimates based on that.

[@unicornadrian1358]

Adding graphene powder would significantly increase the strength.

[@sino_diogenes]

How?

[@user-dr2pg8fk2i]

Aren't all the buildings in the UK made with this method now falling apart?

[@domegaia]

That is a very different use of aircrete and not the same thing as what we are doing.

[@stcstwwlove]

How do I make it desert ready?

[@domegaia]

Aircrete loves the Desert :)

[@yusufmohammed9839]

​@@domegaiaoh this is very good news 🎉

[@akilaholu]

Does anyone know any contractors/builders who work with aircrete and would work with individuals on builds in ga?

[@domegaia]

You can post in circle.domegaia.com/c/find-a-builder/

[@richiesinclair4731]

Dear Dome Gaia,is it possible to use hempcrete to build Domes.i am doing a project in the carribean and looking for construction company that could do this.thanks for any info or advice for this project.

[@domegaia]

I'm sure you could but it's not something we have any experience with.

[@readebarber2904]

is it the same as shotcrete?

[@domegaia]

No, shotcrete is very different.

[@rounakrizvi2915]

Is this ACC blocks

[@domegaia]

No that is a factory process to make something similar.

[@Azertyy-k2y]

Hey congratulations! Really nice how can Iearn?

[@domegaia]

Check out domegaia.com

[@Juan_Hernandez_Jr.]

Love this! Who is your point of contact here in Thailand? I'd like a home built in Udon Thani. Thanks in advance!

[@domegaia]

We don't have anyone in Thailand at the moment.

[@raymondpeters9186]

Pumicecrete is by far the best building material on the planet