The Record Newspapers - Hometown News For Orange County, Texas

David Smith builds a different kind of home. He claims the homes are rated for category 5 hurricanes and F5 tornadoes.

“If you don’t want to have to pack your things up and travel, if you want to protect your family and your belongings, you can stay in this house through anything,” said the owner of Smith Family Dome Home Builders.

“About 13 years ago a friend of mine introduced me to the monolithic dome. Ever since then I have been fascinated with the dome and will build no other way,” said Smith. “So far we have built two monolithic domes in Southwest La.

“We take a material and we inflate it like a balloon. Then we spray it with a polyurethane foam. We run rebar, and then we spray three and a half to five and a half inches of concrete on the inside,” said Smith.

“This is energy efficient. It will save you any where from 50 percent or better on your electricity costs alone.”

Smith said a dome home can cost anywhere from 10-15 percent more than a traditional home, but the energy savings will even it out in the end.

“I have also started the non-profit Foundation to help rebuild after natural disasters.” The Foundation is asking for help to rebuild Chile after the earthquake. “We have set a goal of $1 million to build 50 monolithic concrete dome ecoshells. Sizes will range between 20’, 25’ and 30’ domes.”

Smith will have a booth at the Greater Orange Area Chamber of Commerce Business Expo and Golf Tournament at Sunset Grove Golf Course Monday May 3. He invites the public to stop by for information.

You can also find Smith Family Dome Home Builders on Facebook or contact Smith by e-mail at [email protected].