Monolithic Dome

See https://monolithicdome.com/monolithic-dome-exterior-restoration-in-florida-horse-country for the full renovation story.

In 2001, at the start of BEXT Realty Trust and the Coca-Cola loft, research was done to examine various types of housing construction which could create wide expansive spaces. Steel beams and columns certainly help, as was the case in both the Coca-Cola loft and the former limousine garage. Clever trusses also help, as was the case with the Florida Cottage. Another method is to use steel rebar to create a "cage" of steel, encapsulating it all in sprayed concrete called shotcrete. This is the method of creating a monolithic dome, and hundreds of them have been created as homes around the world in the past 50 years.

The dome at 2222 SE 80th Street in Ocala, Florida was custom-built for the original owner in 2007 for $400,000. Ten years later in 2017 it was in distress - having had all wooden walls in the exterior openings fail due to a flawed stucco system.

BEXT, having researched monolithic domes back in 2001, was up to the task of restoring the dome to its former glory.

Through various sources like Building Science (Joe Lstiburek) and home builder Matt Risinger, BEXT engineered a solution to the issues plaguing the exterior of the dome. All stucco was painstakingly removed from the 5,000 square feet of surface area by hand and an EPDM rubber coating was sprayed in its place. Wooden walls were replaced like for like, but this time with Zipboard and rainscreen rather than OSB and black paper. Painted Hardipanel was used as the UV protection and aesthetic layer. All exterior doors were replaced with a 3/4 glazing profile. allowing more light into the space.

On the interior, minor updates were completed such as a new refrigerator, laundry units, and kitchen extractor hood. Self-closing dampeners were also added to the kitchen cabinets. White outlets which were against the bar area of the black countertop were spray-painted black to blend in better, giving the stool seating area in the kitchen a cleaner look.

Outside, several trees that were too close to the dome were felled. The drain field was also replaced with a larger one.

See https://monolithicdome.com/monolithic-dome-exterior-restoration-in-florida-horse-country for the full renovation story.