Americans concerned about skyrocketing home insurance premiums are investing in disaster-proof dome homes to protect them from extreme weather conditions.
Makers of fire-rated domes say their sales have doubled this year after weather-related disasters destroyed property and increased home insurance premiums in 2022.
According to census data, more than 3.3 million homeowners were forced to abandon their properties in 2022 due to weather emergencies.
Median homeowners coverage now ranges from $2,777 a year, according to the comparison site insurance.com.
But dome buildings promise to protect against such crises, as the large surface area of the structure makes it easy to insulate against extreme heat and cold. And it means that the wind often circles around the shape of the dome, without a flat surface on which to exert force.
They are also made of materials like steel and aluminum, which are more resistant to wildfires and storms. Some even have wooden frames, but are built in a way that reduces the likelihood of hurricane or flood damage.
Americans are turning to disaster-proof dome homes to protect themselves against extreme weather. Pictured: A Natual Spaces Dome home in Illinois listing for $474,900 on Zillow
The buildings are deliberately domed in shape because the large surface area of the structure facilitates insulation against extreme heat and cold. Pictured: A Natual Spaces Dome home in Illinois listing for $474,900 on Zillow
A typical dome house would cost the buyer as little as $300,000. However, costs can be as high as $900,000 depending on area and manufacturer.
Currently, a 4,018 square foot dome house is for sale on Zillow for $474,900. It has four bedrooms, five bathrooms, dining room and kitchen.
Its structure is metallic and sits on a square base with the ability to rotate.
“Unlike others that may be plagued with water issues, this one’s construction, split cedar shingles, copper cap, and boatbuilder-led manufacturing company all contribute to virtually no leaks,” the ad reads.
Denis Odin Johnson, who runs Minnesota-based manufacturer Natural Spaces Domes, said he expected to sell 40 structures this year, double the number in 2022. As a result, he had to double his staff.
told the New York Times his clients were not particularly wealthy but “want something that will last.” They are looking for something different.
When a customer purchases from Natural Spaces Domes, they are delivered a pre-assembled structure.
These are shipped directly to your land via national trucking lines, according to their website.
It comes with a number of accessories such as skylights, interior panels, and insulation.
When a customer purchases from Natural Spaces Domes, they are given a pre-assembled structure that is shipped to them. Pictured: A Natual Spaces Dome home in Illinois listing for $474,900 on Zillow
It comes with a number of accessories such as skylights, interior panels, and insulation. Pictured: A Natual Spaces Dome home in Illinois listing for $474,900 on Zillow
Denis Odin Johnson, who runs Minnesota-based manufacturer Natural Spaces Domes, said he expects to sell twice as much as he did in 2022. Pictured: A Natual Spaces Dome home in Illinois listed for $474,900 on Zillow
The popularity of such structures lays bare America’s home insurance crisis, fueled by extreme weather that is increasingly destroying property.
Earlier this year, California’s largest home insurer, State Farm, announced that it would stop selling statewide coverage.
California has long been one of the states hardest hit by wildfires, and Yosemite National Park is currently experiencing a fire today.
But recently, extreme weather has been affecting more and more states. Eastern Kentucky was devastated by storms last summer, causing homeowners’ flood insurance premiums to quadruple in some areas.
And in Florida, six insurers have filed for insolvency after a series of hurricanes destroyed property there.
For a dome house, homeowners would also need to seek their insurance from a specialist provider, as the major companies do not cover them.
Providers Park Model Home Insurance says in its website that coverage costs will vary depending on the location, age and square footage of the home.
The popularity of such structures arises as more and more Americans struggle to obtain home insurance. Pictured: A Natural Spaces Dome home in Utah, advertised on their Facebook page
Dome house converts say they don’t ‘blink in the wind.’ Pictured: A Natural Spaces Dome home in Utah, advertised on their Facebook page
US Census figures indicate that across the country, more than half a million people had to evict their property last year, never to return. These owners have been dubbed ‘domestic climate refugees’.
It has shed light on the structural flaws in many American properties. The extra features needed to solidify them would end up adding costs that buyers aren’t willing to pay.
Among those investing in a dome home is racehorse veterinarian Dr. Max Bégué, who was inspired to move after losing his home near New Orleans to Hurricane Katrina in 2005.
told the New York Times: It does not flicker in the wind. It sways a bit, more than I want. But I think that’s part of its strength.
