METHODS AND MATERIALS USED IN CONSTRUCTION
BASIC PART OF THE DOME
PARTS:
 STRUTS
-forced member in geodesic dome that act in
compressive and tensile forces to resist loading.
 STEEL OR STAR CONNECTIONS
-These 6-Star Mega Hub Dome Connectors feature
beveled holes so that your bolt heads fit flush on the
top. They all have molded holes in each arm, and a
10 degree curvature built in. If you're setting up and
tearing down a lot, it's always good to have some
spares.
 STUDS
- Studs are used for exterior and interior walls. In
construction, a stud is a board that extends from the
top to the bottom of a wall and offers support. They
come in one piece and are 2x4s or 2x6s.
- - Studs that are load-bearing are more important. After
all, load-bearing walls support an entire home, unlike
partitions that only separate rooms and don’t offer
structural integrity. 
 SKYLIGHTS
 - triangle windows to the particular dome panel they - are typically used for the first layer on a geodesic dome
are put into. roof. This gives you plenty of options to add paint,
- assembled with flashing and a top cap attached, insulation, shingles, or concrete.
ready for installation
- integrates properly with the roof shingles.  BASE PLATES
- positioned for proper solar orientation precisely cut solid 4" x 6" pressure-treated beveled
- creating an attractive natural  light  ambience, a base plates are mounted to the foundation (or to the
skylight pattern that follows the path of the  sun top plate of a riser wall) to achieve the correct angle
provides  passive solar heating,  increasing your to support the bottom struts of the dome structure.
energy efficiency.
 RISER WALL
 PLYWOOD PANELS 24' to 35' in diameter are designed with riser walls to 
give greater height to the  structures.
Riser walls can be built up to 8' in height.

TYPES OF DOMES:

1. Wooden Dome - A hole drilled in the width of a strut. A stainless steel band
locks the strut's hole to a steel pipe. With this method, the
struts may be cut to the exact length needed. Triangles of
exterior plywood are then nailed to the struts. The dome is
wrapped from the bottom to the top with several stapled layers
of tar paper, in order to shed water, and finished with shingles.
This type of dome is often called a hub-and-strut dome
because of the use of steel hubs to tie the struts together.

2. Panelized domes - Constructed of separately-framed timbers covered in

plywood. The three members comprising the triangular
frame are often cut at compound angles in order to
provide for a flat fitting of the various triangles. Holes are
drilled through the members at precise locations and
steel bolts then connect the triangles to form the dome.
These members are often 2x4's or 2x6's, which allow for
more insulation to fit within the triangle. The panelized
technique allows the builder to attach the plywood skin
to the triangles while safely working on the ground or in
a comfortable shop out of the weather. This method
does not require expensive steel hubs.
-
 3. Temporary greenhouse domes
- Constructed by stapling plastic sheeting onto a dome constructed
from one-inch square beams. The result is warm, movable by
hand in sizes less than 20 feet, and cheap. It should be staked
to the ground to prevent it being moved by wind.

4. Steel-framework domes
- Can be easily constructed of electrical conduit. One flattens the end
of a strut and drills bolt holes at the needed length. A single bolt
secures a vertex of struts. The nuts are usually set with removable
locking compound, or if the dome is portable, have a castle nut
with a cotter pin. This is the standard way to construct domes for
jungle-gyms.

5. Concrete domes

-Constructed following a method that requires a tough, inflatable

Airform, steel-reinforced concrete and a polyurethane foam
insulation. 

6. foam plastic domes

- Concept is the elegant simplicity of this form of construction.

First a slab or perimeter foundation is poured, and then a
licensed Tecton crew attaches a clamping ring to the base.