Trillium Domes - How to build a Zome cabin

Build this Zome yourself! - trilliumdomes....
More Dome and Zome Plans! - trilliumdomes....
"What is a Zome??" • What is a zome? #woodw...
Music by Ryan Viscito
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Hello, everyone! I apologize in advance for being a worse KZbinr than a builder. Here's my attempt to showcase this build that we absolutely flew through in record time with no shop, no special tools, and all while travelling.
20' diameter, 300 sq ft, 12' tall
7k USD in material costs (including alot of Hawai'i-specific costs)
Could be done for much cheaper!
Is it strong? Holy crap yes.
Please let me know if you have any questions!
Thanks for the love and support as always.
Johnny and Milla

[@phillipdavidhaskett7513]

As a union construction worker since the 1970's, I've usually been amused by how incompetent most "home builders" tend to be, but plainly you are in the opposite camp. Everything you've shown here is a fine example of how a professional builder would do things right. I'm impressed.

[@trilliumdomes]

I appreciate you saying so!

[@phillipdavidhaskett7513]

@@trilliumdomes It doesn't take a general contractor long to tell if someone can walk the walk, or can only talk the talk. This unit is so aesthetically pleasing, I'm considering using your plans for a couple of AirBnB rentals on my land near the Grand Canyon.

[@asherasky8147]

Go back to 10:08 dangerous way to cut your lumber with a chop saw

[@11mr.niceguy11]

@@asherasky8147 I noticed that as well but I'm also guilty of that as well.

[@thomasdemaio53]

Agreed, brother. Much, much less incompetence in commercial. Local 276

[@HealedBySpirit]

You've reinforced a dream I've had ever since I saw the dome a dear friend in Austin, TX, built in the 1970s. Solid as a rock, suspended from an anchored side on a hill, supported underneath with the entire building becoming a roof for the patio and garden space below. I SOOOO want save the money to do this on some land I'm eying in NM. THANK YOU SOOOOO MUCH FOR YOUR LOVE and shared wisdom!

[@todpatn9782]

Love that deck layout plan. With just one panel. Block placement was an ease. Each piece pre made then all put in place. Awesome, I watched this video before and never noticed it.. great job with all the inconveniences of not having a shop. On top of a time crunch I love it.

[@scottcates]

An impressively stable build without complex bevels. Making a lot of the parts identical looks very helpful!

[@trilliumdomes]

Thanks, Scott! Yes I am really impressed with the Zomes ofrm and function.

[@markhedquist9597]

Over the years, I've helped a builder friend of mine put together a number of geodesic dome he designed. They are made from SIP (structural insulated panels) and are super cool. Your done here is very intriguing. $7,000 is a very reasonable cost. And the sky light? Amazing! This is a beautiful structure!

[@davefletch3063]

That skylight is gorgeous

[@MessyTimes]

Thanks for walking us through the process. I'm thinking of putting one of these on my land and now I am even more confident it is do-able.

[@woodandwaveskayaks]

Most beautiful and unique design so far! Love the shape and flower shaped window

[@trilliumdomes]

Thank you! I love the skylight

[@oldreprobate2748]

Insulation and a mini- split you have a space for a number of four season activities, including a guest house.

[@Faesharlyn]

I'm super looking forward to seeing the greenhouse, this is such a beautiful design it deserves to be showcased at every opportunity ❤️

[@bryangelb507]

You guys are impressive artists and true masters in your abilities to create with wood. I'm 45 a craftsmen and a mason, I've had dome fever for half my life and never have been able to convince anyone to let me try and build one for them. Keep living the dream that all us condo handyman wish we had.❤

[@paulalee4195]

Hi Johnny, Thanks for putting the video together and posting it. My favourite part was picking up the tip about how to set a reliable stop without a permanent workbench. I always pick something up in your videos. I'd say there is a good chance I will try a zome once I have finished the current dome. Outbuildings are making the project drag on....

[@trilliumdomes]

Things tend to drag on more than we hope don't they? Thank you for the kind words, Paula!

[@JOHNW2999]

Would love to see a detailed video on how you lay the shakes. No familiar with that type of roof but love it.

[@shaunhall6834]

Wow! I still can't get over how quickly you can build these. I think this would be perfect for my art studio! I do stain glass so you know what I would do for the skylight?

[@ScarCaskt]

Pretty sweet idea, it turned out real nice. Just my 2 cents, I would have primed all of the pieces and the floor before I put it together. That way all of your plywood is nice and sealed up.

[@horsetowater]

Well done, thanks for taking us along with you

[@trilliumdomes]

Thanks for being here!

[@jonatasdp]

Very well explained and organized! Inspiring work, come to Brazil teach us!

[@Stephen.sullivan]

Fabulous video, great explanation and amazing outcome huge congratulations I can imagine that your customers were over the moon with your professionalism and talents 👍👍👍🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿

[@RoadToFreedom29]

These would make an amazing glamping pin 😍 Definitely going to get the designs off your website once we get done land

[@shamama4868]

What a beautiful structure 🤩looks like your team did an amazing job. Thank you for sharing and inspiring others to create functional beauty. 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

[@kegelcompare]

thanks for taking the time to put this video together!

[@quantumtripper]

Great video! That cabin is the second-best thing about the video though. The lady has one of the best builds I've ever seen! 😉😍

[@katydavis4289]

Ok groomer.

[@BigMountainCustomRC]

Yes! I'm from Hilo and the scenery in this video brings home to me...oh and the zome is awesome too!! Thank you.

[@drjonritz]

Beautiful design! I can picture using the templates for the outer panels for inner ones, too...

[@lonniekropf808]

Mahalo for sharing. I’m on the south side of the big island, and I think you just sold me on this idea. Aloha.

[@craigm5713]

Beautiful. A lovely & peaceful looking building

[@opreciousgemo]

This is gorgeous and totally feasible!!!

[@ernestinewatson4444]

Great idea. Brilliant for camping sites.

[@TheWorldBelow360]

Great build! The Space Age looking delirious.

[@shalanosara]

very nice video . A pleasure to watch. Looking forward to my build.

[@tp4382]

Awesome video, I love how simply you break it down. Big Mahalos 🌊🌊

[@Norbingel]

2 questions: 1) Why didn't you use your ultimate platform design? 2) What's the thickness of the plywood you're using for the floor (and the dome panels?)?

[@trilliumdomes]

I use different method for zome decks because there's less sides. 3/4 for deck and panel sheathing on this one

[@Norbingel]

@@trilliumdomes What are the dimensions of the 3 divisions between the pizza slices?

[@johnnybayles7412]

Its all in the plans ​@@Norbingel

[@ryenmadsen5183]

Looking forward to this.

[@LuckyDog-v3h]

I love that it's so beautiful the style of it I can hardly wait to see how you built it.

[@joshuasarfati5520]

You have done a fantastic job on this. And you have explained the process brilliantly. Full marks

[@sharonsjv]

WANT TO COME BACK TO BI!?! My husband a great chef!!! Great work beautiful

[@craigdawson7632]

Very cool building. I didn't think about the cost of goods there being on such a small island. It's through the roof here in NZ. I think min wage here is about $26NZD -20% tax at the lowest rate. A good healthy loaf of bread here is $10-12. Take aways are about $25/meal for cheap fast food

[@paulalee4195]

Just wondering when screwing the panels together, is it more difficult without the bevel? When I assembled my panels the bevel provided a nice solid surface that i clamped, wiggled a little for good alingment, then screwed. I am trying to picture how panels would be assembled without being able to clamp. Also, from the outside, before covering you must glimpse screws as the pass from one panel to the next? Lastly, for now,😅 is the time you saved, just the time to send all the struts through the table saw to put the bevel on it? Nothing boring or dry about your video BTW. Such a generous unique contribution to the world of dome building. 😊

[@trilliumdomes]

Good questions! I do not find it more difficult to screw them in without the bevels! Not significantly anyway. We were still able to use clamps. And yes you will see the gaps and screws before you cover the zome, which is why I only recommend this method if it will indeed be covered up. The time saved was mostly not having to make a bunch of compound cuts!

[@paulalee4195]

Thanks.

[@stevethecat9194]

This is awesome. I'm so glad I bumped into this video. I've made a zome out of conduit but never got to the sheathing stage. This is epic. Please make more videos.

[@trilliumdomes]

Awesome! Glad you enjoyed it. More to come for sure :)

[@ge2735]

I Love this Project ❤ Hi from Brazil🥰

[@rogermariart]

That is a gorgeous building, you imagine your bedroom in their or my art studio!!!! it must be awesome

[@hardstylelife5749]

Once again, amazing job! With the right amount of consistency and experience one day I’ll eventually and hopefully be able to catch up with your professional skills 😅 great video as always, bravo

[@aleclyrae1804]

Compliments! Excellent work!

[@3andB]

We love what @Trillium Domes is doing!

[@jimc3891]

Nice job. Big Island fits your style.

[@Foxynaut888]

Super impressed. A zome is now firmly part of what I want for my future property. The Space looks amazing and it naturally draws you to gaze towards the apex. Beautiful, and your system is so straightforward I feel like this is very doable for a competent DIYer.

[@paulalee4195]

Even if you have never touch a mitre or table saw before, you can do it. Everything is in the plans.

[@charlesallemang9177]

You guys are truly professionals😊

[@mikeconnery4652]

Beautiful build

[@michaeltaylor8084]

Nice job folks ! Thanks for sharing

[@Wam3Studios]

Great use of the 360 camera!

[@trilliumdomes]

Thanks!

[@krissfemmpaws1029]

I'm glad the build went well for you. I do like the look of the zome.

[@trilliumdomes]

Thank you. I like them too :)

[@hephzibahbradshaw9509]

Thank you for sharing.

[@danwhiteman2529]

Awesome build! Thanks for sharing.

[@trilliumdomes]

My pleasure, Dan!

[@SamiCoopers]

You need a version that allows for think insulation, for climates that have cold winters.

[@trilliumdomes]

You can make this with any thickness material you want!

[@ChristopherRoy-y1l]

Love your stuff, bought the buckyball plans to try my hand at this.

[@trilliumdomes]

Let me know how you get along!

[@mekkler]

I see you used Sketchup for the drawings. I've been using Sketchup to experiment with all kinds of geodesic domes, until I discovered Zomes and now I'm a convert.

[@trilliumdomes]

Yep I use a few different cad programs but for pulling quick measurements I like sketchup

[@lah1743]

Just gorgeous! Someday.❤

[@spudgn]

I love this cabin

[@shellyvester1737]

I’d loved to build one of these for a chicken coop!

[@TT3TT3]

Very nice!

[@jamespaxton4133]

Love this disign will need to do this for my place

[@strawandstone]

love to see this in my part of the world.

[@karenvolkman540]

Amazing, I love it!

[@WilliamsSkilliams]

Awesome work man great project!

[@skatingcuziwant2]

Hey you guys look very familiar, do you have another channel about ADV riding some Suzuki DR350s down the PNW?

[@danielwillits2173]

Beautiful structure and a really enjoyable video

[@TheCornBanana]

This is incredible. Great video I look forward to the next videos

[@seetheworldfrommyharley]

Nice!! New subscriber after watching this.

[@harmonic3350]

Beautiful work! ( ✴ ) You guys rock.

[@trilliumdomes]

Ty !!

[@unluckymoirai]

I just bought the plans for the 16' version of this. I plan to modify it a little so the center of the foundation is a tree stump. I feel like it'll give it mushroom vibes.

[@trilliumdomes]

Sounds amazing! keep me posted!

[@jimc3891]

Really great project.

[@blueocean2510]

Thank you, green sheets made from recycled plastic, similar in size to plywood 8 ft.x 4 ft. they are waterproof and resistant to rot or terminates. It could be interesting to create as flat pack, numbered for easy assembly. Good wishes.

[@creativeartsfarm]

You all are unstoppable! Looking forward to PNW adventures to connect 🙌🏾

[@crawford323]

Yipes, lots of places to leak. What is the prediction of durability? It is unusual and visually attractive.

[@trilliumdomes]

every roof has lots of places to leak if not properly. That's why everything is lapped and flashed. If water gets into any roof it will leak through plywood.

[@johnatkinson9530]

The skylight is very beautiful. But for a sunny place like Hawaii there's a lot of solar gain. 3200 btu's per hour per SQ ft. I would go with a solar tube . About 290 sq ft of light that doesn't move on the inside.

[@trilliumdomes]

Hilo is a very rainy place. They wanted to be able to see the rain and starts through the skylight, which was amazing. The solar gain throughout the day was totally fine

[@matthewnardin7304]

I'm curious to know how many panels in a geodesic could be openable. I have an idea of making something that nearly fully opens in the heat but still seals up tight or at least sheds water well enough to keep everything dry.

[@johnnybayles7412]

the frame is strong on its own so every panel could open theoretically

[@spudgn]

I think that building a hollow block multi sided foundation under the floor joists.

[@spudgn]

I’m watching your stuff. I don’t think pressure treated wood is available in the provinces of the Philippines; Misamis. I’ve looked up diy termite treatments. I will be treating with borax/ borite on the wood. Ty

[@EpicFlippers]

Would love to see the 40ft dome! Great job!!

[@leandrocaffaro]

Nice work

[@ResilienceOnPurpose]

A cool old hubcap would be a neat way to cap that top.

[@billybethel]

what do you mean by "your host" someone just lets you come build your own home on property that they are hosting? Sounds like a great deal to me. How long are they hosting your house for? And how often are you there?

[@trilliumdomes]

It was a work trade

[@jleftraru]

Súper hermoso y mágico el ZOME... Se podrá traducir al español la guía PDF ? Saludos desde el sur de Chile 🤩

[@trilliumdomes]

I'm sure google translate would do a good job! There's lots of pictures and diagrams!

[@b_ks]

Are these zomes like the zomes Steve Baer (and others) made out of car hoods in Drop City in the seventies?

[@mainamaseeti]

Beautiful shape....!

[@philgiglio7922]

Curious as to what code enforcement has to say about this construction method

[@mjo326]

Very nice job with the construction and video.

[@gihonmonks]

so dope bro big up yo self

[@danielhalsey2679]

Excellent work. Impressive. and instructional, especially detail oriented. Thanks.

[@trilliumdomes]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@rickkieffer5028]

That was awesome.

[@dianeclemmer1344]

Absolutely,,, beautiful ❤️ what is the size of that?

[@cariewade6691]

OMG how can I get you to do this for me in Texas??? 😍

[@rupertfellows4144]

Briiliant self build idea. I being an amatuer would build models first with the base literally the size of a pizza. When I became confident enough I would then attempt the full sized version

[@kickinghorse2405]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/bIfTq4OaicSZhaM

[@paulalee4195]

Just go for it. 0, I mean O! Precious experience required. Just follow the plan amd it will work. It won't look as easy as when Johnny builds it in the videos 😵‍💫, but I promise you it is as simple. TOTAL Ameteur here, and it took 3 weeks, not 3 days, but it all worked out fine. All the bigger thrill when the final top piece goes in.....AND IT FITS!!!! You can do it.

[@Hadassah-KaquoliMReno]

It was very interesting!

[@TRINITY-ks6nw]

Well done Well done

[@paulrosaly]

great video love your work very informative.

[@trilliumdomes]

Glad to hear that!

[@shaunhall960]

Wow! So easy!

[@sadams6663]

What about bathroom?

[@trilliumdomes]

There won’t be a bathroom in this one but you could certainly add one!

[@frankenstein3163]

Great job as always. Ty for shearing. Are dome's the most energy efficient structures for supper hot summers ? And would you say a small dome can handle not using a ac on 90 degree Fahrenheit days ? I'm wanting to build a small studio for my standing desk. What clear material do you suggest as I want a great view.

[@trilliumdomes]

Domes are extremely efficient because they generally have 30% less surface area per unit of volume. You would need a lot of insulation to not need AC on a 90 degree day but you can do that.

[@LaughingGravy.01]

What a lovely, elegant and affordable design! I especially like that you've reduced the complex geometry down for self-builders. I wondered about the quantity of waste materials generated with less regular shapes and if you have ever considered designing with minimum waste as the priority? I'll subscribe, thanks!

[@trilliumdomes]

most of my designs are micro adjusted to make the most efficient use of the lumber sizes I have in the materials list. domes have 30% less surface area per unit of volume vs boxes to begin with. So you'd have to have a 30% rate of waste to even use the same amount of material for a box IF the box was build with 100% efficiency, (they never are). I've built many smaller rectangular buildings and there really wasn't any more plywood waste the way we did it here. As for the framing there was practically no waste at all.

[@blueocean2510]

It could be interesting using 3 D Printing to create panels from recycled plastic sheets. The design could include interlocking joints, with locking nuts to secure. The large amounts of plastic material, being collected from the Oceans could become a valuable resource for land based communities. 3 D Printing is used in Italy to create panels for yachts, in the motor industry parts are made, lights and body panels. Thank you. # Heroes AtSea.

[@paulalee4195]

I have tobsecond the efficiency. In Australia (material costs vary internationally) , I have just built a 12 sqm box, next to a 30sqm dome and the cost of the square, traditional, stick build was easily 4X. Lesson learnt here. Zome/dome is so much more efficient.