METAMORPHOSIS: Building the Dome of a Home

floor pan and structural beams. No more rust! Another added bonus is the increased
heating/cooling efficiency.
The foam performed beautifully in Hurricane Ivan, 2004. Ordinarily, the leaks around the
windows and doors would have created huge issues with mold and mildew. With the foam
insulation, Georgia Pacific's mildew resistant DENS Technology sheetrock, and metal studs, we
eliminated a huge coastal concern: hidden mold and mildew in the walls.
Please see our chapter devoted to Polyurethane Foam for more detailed information.
CORK FLOORING
Cork definitely wins my vote for the best flooring ever conceived. It adds a coziness and warmth
to the home that we truly love. Mark and I made a concerted effort to select products to use in the
Dome of a Home that were environmentally responsible. Initially, we chose cork flooring because
the trees are not killed in the process of harvesting the cork. Remarkably, cork trees can live to
be 500 years old and can have the cork removed every nine to twelve years. Another key quality
of cork is that it is naturally anit-fungal, anit-microbial, and anti-bacterial.
Cork definitely interested us because of many features it offers: renewable source, anti-fungal,
reduces echoing and noise, and it was soft. But, during Hurricane Ivan, cork‟s invaluable
advantages were obviously evident. During Hurricane Ivan, we had some water leak into the
house. Although the cork flooring became extremely wet, it never grew mold or mildewed. Wet
carpet must be removed immediately to avoid further damage with mold growth on the subflooring
and the walls. We let the cork dry out in place and it never began to smell or became
compromised with mold, mildew, or other fungi. It was distorted and did need replacing, but the
key here is that I didn't have to rush to remove my flooring after the storm. I could wait until I was
ready to deal with the floor. This allowed us to focus our attention on other concerns that needed
to be handled immediately – a luxury in the state of disarray we existed in after Ivan.
PITTSBURGH CORNING GLASS BLOCK
http://www.pittsburghcorning.com 800.624.2120
Mark always intended for a glass block wall to grace the master suite's decks. Because of time
constraints, an aluminum railing coated in rhino liner was used instead. The coating did not
adhere well causing Mark to constantly lament that he hadn't built the glass block wall in the first
place.
One thing about living in hurricane hell, there seems to be a constant opportunity to replace and
redo. Mark seized our inability to have rental clients after Hurricane Ivan as an opportunity to
create the beautiful glass block wall he had been envisioning in his mind's eye for years.
Ever increasing the artistic quality of the Dome of a Home, his vision was absolutely right on the
mark. With every addition, the home transforms, almost taking on the qualities of a sculpted piece
of art. The glass block is beautiful as it reflects the movement in the fountain's glimmering water.
I was stunned at the metamorphosis.
Practically speaking, the glass block wall allows occupants of the Dome to enjoy the deck more
than before. It allows for more privacy and blocks the wind for increased comfort. Several people
a day stop to look at the house and to take pictures, which is great for visibility. But, this also
impedes on sun bathing privacy with only a rail along the deck.
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