Monolithic Airforms and Coatings

NEW! Measuring Seam Strength in a Monolithic Airform

Plant Manager, Donald Garrison puts Airform fabric to the test before any fabric is used to create a Monolithic Airform. Testing allows us to know the fabrics ability to withstand tension, pressure and seam strength.

NEW! Exterior Coating Options: MDI experiments can save you time and money

The Monolithic Dome Institute is located on 24 acres in Italy, Texas. We use our property as a research park. We experiment with construction techniques, equipment, Airform coatings and more. This photo journal demonstrates various coatings on domes at Monolithic headquarters. We have had both success and failure. By viewing these coatings and talking with the experts here at Monolithic, you can save yourself time and money by learning about the effectiveness or ineffectiveness of these applications through our trial and error.

Airform Handling and Repair
	The Airform is a very highly engineered fabric structure. Because of the expense of this Airform, extreme care should be taken not to damage it. The most likely time to damage the Airform is while transporting it to the job site; while spreading it out; attaching it; and inflating it.

Monolithic Permanent Fabric Water Tanks
	Is there an alternative to concrete or steel water tanks? Happily, there is and it's a good one. Consider the Monolithic Fabric Water Tank. It consists of a heavy duty fabric liner that's shaped like a giant hockey puck and fitted into a concrete revetment.

Lessons Learned by Monolithic in Exterior Coatings-- Why the Monolithic Airform makes the best roofing membrane.
	More than 50% of complaints owners have about buildings are associated with leaking roofs. It is paramount a roof be built in such a way it will not leak. The coatings must not fail and leave the urethane exposed.

Inflating an Airform and Regulating Air Pressure
	Proper inflation of the Airform and continual regulation of air pressure are as important when constructing a Monolithic Dome as clean foam and shotcrete application are. This article is an attempt to solidify proper inflation and regulation of air pressure techniques.

NEW! OMEGABall Rolls Through Spring Valley, Minnesota

Recently, Jerry Cleveland acquired a 10-foot OMEGAball. He entered the ball in WilderFest parade and held an OMEGAball tournament at the the annual WilderFest Celebration in Spring Valley, Minnesota to raise money for the Jamie South Liver Foundation. Over $1000 dollars was raised and lots of fun had in the process. We appreciate the time, effort, energy and money that has been donated in Jamie's behalf.

Eye-catching New Exterior for Faith Chapel
	Birmingham, Alabama is home to the largest diameter Monolithic Dome in the world. Faith Chapel Christian Center measures 280-feet in diameter. But having the largest diameter dome was not enough for Debra Blaylock and the rest of Faith Chapel's administrators-- they wanted the dome to SHINE.

Ceramic Coating-- Insulation or Reflective Surface?
	This past summer (2001) we tried [an] experiment. Our test consisted of two Ecoshells, both 10' in diameter, sitting side by side. Each was washed and cleaned. Then, one was painted with a good grade of white exterior coating. The other, we turned over to the applicator for a two-coat system of ceramic coating. Full Story

Metal Cladding For Domes: The Why And The How
	Why would someone want to cover a Monolithic Dome with metal cladding? David South, Monolithic's president, says "Metal cladding is an arrow in the quiver -- a problem solver -- that's especially useful when things get really nasty."

Bruco -- A Very Busy Caterpillar
	With its flirty eyes, smiley mouth and cowboy boots that glow in the dark, Bruco, our manufacturing plant in Italy, Texas, looks nothing like a typical factory. But while Bruco might look like a playful, giant caterpillar on the outside, it's serious work on the inside.

Airform Dynamics
	Complex Monolithic Dome designs push Airform technology to the limit. Airforms are very strong and function well, but in some cases, aesthetics present a problem.

How to Order an Airform
	Airforms are ordered by the square footage of the gross surface area, the number of augmentations, and patterning charges. The price scale slides for several reasons. Included in the square foot price is the airlock tube. The smaller Airforms have a larger percentage of waste. They also have a higher percentage cost for patterning and layout.

USFilter's Dystor® Gas Holder Systems
	Switzerland has a small one, with a 37.75' diameter. Chile has a large one, with a 90.2' diameter. And there are 65 others of various diameters in 46 installations throughout the U.S. We're talking about Monolithic Airforms, manufactured at Bruco, for USFilter.

Grain Tarps-- The Andersons, Inc.
	The Andersons, Inc., a diversified agribusiness with grain elevators in Ohio, Michigan, Indiana and Illinois, has been a Monolithic client for both domes and grain covers for more than a decade.

Construction of Bruco
	Bruco is our manufacturing plant for assembling the Airforms used in all Monolithic Domes. Here is a small photo album of its construction.

Exterior Design 101
	Some things to consider when planning a Monolithic Dome: What do you want the exterior to look like? What style do you like and really want? How much time can you allot to maintaining the exterior? How much money do you want to invest in plants or other exterior elements?