How about a dome house?

there are many threads on this website about building a dome house. One past poster is currently living on STX and is about to begin construction of a double dome home. We'll watch for updates on how that goes as he moves the project forward.

Ditto the many threads comment -- a lot of which end up with at least one reminder that you'd need to develop a water collection method as cisterns are the sole means for providing water on many parts of the islands.

There are great, thought provoking discussions on this topic and many others in the archives -- it's too bad that search function seems to be one of the more underutilized features of the board.

--HC

I've considered building a monolithic dome also, but ultimately dropped the idea because, well, I just don't like the looks. As HC pointed out, water collection would be tricky. Also, there is an HOA association with my neighborhood and I wonder if the plans would be approved the the HOA architecture committee. Haven't ruled out having a tiny one on the property as a hurricane shelter, though.

Safest for high winds? You bet. Lots of wasted space due to curved walls? You bet.

The poster, Ted Wallace, is building his dome on the east-end, I believe. They are just getting ready to break ground.
Last week we were driving up near North Shore, and we thought we saw a dome being built out there, up on a ridge. Any info on that??

What about the Force-10 house? Has anyone built one? I like the look better.
I searched the archives and did not find much info. on them.

There's one on St. John for sure. It's a rental villa. I don't know of any here, but we have the packet from the company and are seriously looking at that option.

There are half a dozen Force 10 homes currently under construction on STX. Due to the speed with which they can be constructed, the utility of the various floorplans, the hurricane resistance, and the fact that they can be finished to look really nice, we are planning to use this product to build condos on the north shore. When being used to build a house, they can be built in a pod design like traditional West Indian homes, or the various segments can be connected. You can build them with two stories of the Force 10 product and if you want a third story or partial basement, the lowest level can be constructed from cinder blocks with the Force 10 above, which makes this a very versatile building option. Best of all, there is a contractor on STX that is already trained and licensed by Force 10 to build these homes and the USVI permitting office accepts the plans so you don't have to pay an architect enormous sums to design your home.

Alexandra,

That's terrfic info about the Force-10 models. Do the local insurance provide insurance for these Force-10 homes at a lower cost than for other homes on island?

--HC

I haven't seen a quote for insurance on the Force 10 homes, but they do conform to all hurricane requirements, so I would expect that they would qualify for all the available discounts.

Thank you, Alexandra! This is the first I've heard about Force 10. They sound absolutely perfect -- and you know what tehy say about things that sound too god to be true. 😉 Are there any cons to a Force 10 house?

--HC

You have less flexibility, since the design requires that it be built on a meter grid system. There is a specific ratio for the roof trusses, also, so you can't have quite as soaringly dramatic ceilings as some people demand... but you do get a nice vaulted ceiling and they can do quite large great rooms and 10 foot sliding door/window walls, etc.

Some people have a hard time transferring from 9 inch thick cinder block walls to 3-4 inch thick wall panels made of Hardi-plank concrete sheet rock exteriors filled with injected hot foam for strength and insulation. The panels go up like an erector set and then you finish the wall surfaces (you can stucco them if you like) and install the trim kits that come with the package.

It would be more difficult to repair a small damaged area if something did occur since you couldn't run to the local hardware store or lumberyard to pick up repair materials. Well, you could, but it wouldn't be quite the same when you patch it.

Hip, sorry I didn't search before I posted. I found Tedd Wallace's post after I posted mine. All you have to say is "do a search"....geez.

Just got a reply from Tedd. Yea, he's working on his double dome, permits and all. He will also be building these puppies himself on the islands. Said he'll be on the islands same time I hope to be so I plan to visit with him.

Jeff

Good Day All!

I have done a little research on Force-10 construction. It is very interesting, and definitely has some great advantages in the region. Take a look at the force-10 website, it gives you all the information you ever needed, plus some really great pictures of completed homes in the USVI 🙂

http://www.force-10.com/about/index.htm

Dante

Dante - thanks for the Force 10 website link. I had tried to find out about Force 10 stuff and did not find this site.

Esthetically FORCE 10 WINS HANDS DOWN over any silly looking Dome Home. I don't care how you dress up a Dome home or cluster it with more than one dome....it still is what it is...a waste of space over your head to gain the structural advantage offered.

Check out the Caribbean colors applied to a Force 10 residential home, and/or the look of traditional wood siding, or tile of the Meditreranean Style.

I'd almost recommend to the Legislature that they nominate a Force 10 designed home as the "official" home building structural style/material of the islands!

Another advantage of Force 10 is that the local appraisers (at least the ones I asked) will for FNMA purposes consider the completed home a Single Family Residence, not a manufactured home.

Visiting the Force 10 website further, I was surprised to see that Marina Market is illustrated as an example of a commercial Force 10 structure! Check it out....from old steel wharehouse building to a West-Indies style! Awesome!

http://www.force-10.com/gallery/cm_marina.htm

hi Alexandra

Which contractor on STX is licensed to build these homes?

Joan - I sent you an email with the contractor's name and email addy.

thanks Alexandra!

Hey Miss Alexandra,

Would you please share the contractor info with me, too? This thread may be the key to getting my brother to relocate. 😀

Thanks!
--HC

I would also like to know who is building Force 10 on St. Croix

Yea, force 10 seems the way to go for me, too. As far as the domes...not too excited about living in a golf ball.

Jeff

Hi Everyone, have not been to this site yet, but I just purchased in Little Fountain -

Alexandra, I am also interested in your cantact info on Force-10.

I would also like to find out if anyone knows anything of the hill hugger homes that we earlist kit homes on the island, do they still exist, I have googled the name but nothing pops up.

to all you that are building homes, i am a landscape designer and will be exapanding my business to the caribbean, you can check me out at www.life-scapes.net

am looking to purchase a home in st.thomas. my wife who is employed by the u.s. gov. is being trans. there