To Simplify Dome Home Financing, We Need More Dome-Friendly Contractors
Tri-Lakes Construction is a dome-friendly contractor. We recently worked together to build this Monolithic Dome Home in the Colorado wilderness.
Growing the Dome Home Industry: Builders, Financing, and Cost Control
To expand the dome home industry, we need to focus on two key areas: increasing the number of builders and making financing more accessible. We’ve found that partnering with general contractors in different regions can help achieve both goals.
Partnering with Local Builders
One of our newest partners, Tri-Lakes Construction, is based in Colorado. Together, we recently completed a dome home near the foot of Pikes Peak—a breathtaking location.
Building a dome is different. And in the construction world, “different” often translates to “challenging.” That’s why having a local partner who understands the building department’s requirements and has strong relationships in the area can make a significant difference in the process.
Making Financing Easier
One of the biggest hurdles in dome home construction is financing. Banks are much more willing to approve loans when a project follows a traditional package deal—meaning a general contractor, like Tri-Lakes, presents a proposal covering the entire build. This approach reassures lenders that the project will be completed as planned, unlike owner-managed projects, which carry more risk in the bank’s eyes.
The remaining challenge is comparables (comps)—dome homes are still relatively rare, making it harder for banks to find similar properties for appraisal. However, as the industry grows and more dome homes are built, this issue will gradually resolve itself.
Controlling Costs
Keeping construction costs down is another advantage of working with experienced general contractors. Local GCs often have strong relationships with tradespeople, which helps in two key ways:
- Fair Pricing – Tradespeople are less likely to overcharge a contractor they regularly work with.
- Reducing the “Fear Factor” – Many subcontractors are hesitant to bid on dome projects because they’re unfamiliar with the construction method. This uncertainty can lead to inflated pricing. However, once they complete a dome build, they often realize it’s not much different from traditional construction. GCs play a crucial role in ensuring fair pricing by eliminating this fear factor.
We are always interested in finding and working with new dome-friendly contractors to streamline financing for our residential clients. For this home in Colorado, Tri-Lakes Construction was the general contractor and a crew from Monolithic built the dome shells.
The Future of Dome Homes
I believe there’s a shift happening in the home-buying market, especially in areas where the unique benefits of domes—durability, efficiency, and resilience—are needed most. As the demand for long-lasting, high-quality housing continues to rise, the industry will need more builders and general contractors specializing in dome construction.
By working together, we can expand the industry, improve financing options, and make dome homes a more accessible and mainstream housing solution.
Building dome homes in remote locations can be tricky. Partnering with a local general contractor can keep costs low by taking full advantage of their connections and familiarity with local vendors and subcontractors.