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A House of a Different Shape

By James Quarello

Home Inspector with JRV Home Inspection Services, LLC HOI 394

December 28, 2009 08:26 AM

I was driving to an inspection not too long ago and almost went off the road when I spied this house. I was driving along a winding wooded country road and all of sudden there it was, a domed house. On my way back from the inspection I stopped and took this picture.

Dome house It seems the owners are putting a new roof on the place. I would imagine the rounded roof would be a bit of a challenge to seal. There are also triangular "skylights" in the roof. You can see one at the right sticking out of the roof. There is another on the ground leaning up against the front of the house.

I would love to go poking through this house. It would be interesting to see how they put it together and what problems they have to overcome.

It's not every day you see a domed house.

James Quarello
SNEC-ASHI President
NRSB #8SS0022
JRV Home Inspection Services, LLC

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Susan Sawyer

Keller Williams Chervenic Realty - Hudson, OH

Real Estate Expert - Hudson Ohio

I have seen domed homes before but never one with a roof color like that. Reminds me of Navajo Hogans in Arizona.

Dec 28, 2009 08:28 AM

Al Wright

Affordable Canadian Home Inspections - Hamilton, ON

Have your inspections performed the Wright Way

I guess in this type of house we can't state the wall are out of square ;-)

Dec 28, 2009 08:36 AM

Jason Simonson

Menomonie, WI

Realty Executives - Menomonie WI

Is your head board rounded also?

Cool looking place.

Dec 28, 2009 08:49 AM

Steven L. Smith

King of the House Home Inspection, Inc. - Bellingham, WA

Bellingham WA Home Inspector

James,

We have quite a few of those around here. I inspected one once...kind of on the side. I was there looking at a main house and they asked me to look at the dome. Since it was rotted out almost everywhere, I got out of doing much.

Dec 28, 2009 09:55 AM

Craig Rutman

Helping people in transition - Cary, NC

Raleigh, Cary, Apex area Realtor

The best way to make your kids crazy in a house like this one is to hide one of their toys and thell them you put it in the corner!!!

Dec 28, 2009 10:27 AM

Charles Buell

Charles Buell Inspections Inc. - Seattle, WA

Seattle Home Inspector

James, as you can imagine venting all those triangles is a night-mare:)

Dec 28, 2009 10:30 AM

Joel Prince

The Principle Group, Inc - Hixson, TN

Hixson/Soddy Real Estate Broker

Your post reminded me of a "unique" home in our neck of the woods (Signal Mtn, TN) called "the spaceship house".

It looks like an egg sitting on a tripod.

It has been on HGTV. While novel, it's not very practical according to what I have heard. Buyers have a fit getting an appraisal and/or mortgage.

Dec 28, 2009 12:27 PM

Matt Listro

National Credit Fixers - Matt Listro - Vernon, CT

Your Credit Repair Expert

Hi James: I know you are only a hop skip and a jump from me - I swear I think I have seen this house!

Dec 28, 2009 12:39 PM

Elizabeth Bolton

RE/MAX Destiny Real Estate Cambridge, MA - Cambridge, MA

Cambridge MA Realtor

Hi James ~ Geodesic domes were popular (well - maybe not popular - but it probably was the height of their popularity such as it was) in the 1960s I think. And the stamp with Buckminster Fuller's head morphing into a geodesic dome was one of my all time favorites.

Liz

Dec 28, 2009 12:42 PM

James Quarello

JRV Home Inspection Services, LLC - Wallingford, CT

Connecticut Home Inspector

Susan, That is a newer wood shingle roof which explains t he color.

Al, No, but the floor could be out of level :)

Jason, Never saw the inside, but you would wonder about stuff like that in this house.

Steve, The oddest shaped house I was ever in was an octagon. I was only doing a radon test so I didn't get to poke around.

Craig, You are a baaad man. I would do the same the thing :)

Charlie, As I said I would love to poke around this house.

Joel, I believe I have seen that house on TV. Not surprised it would be hard to appraise. Not many spaceships to compare it against. :)

Matt, It is very possible.

Liz, Don't recall the stamp, but it sounds interesting.

Dec 28, 2009 10:18 PM

Jay Markanich

Jay Markanich Real Estate Inspections, LLC - Bristow, VA

Home Inspector - servicing all Northern Virginia

I have actually inspected one James. They are very strong and very efficient. But many things inside are lofts instead of rooms and there are few flat walls on the upper level!

Dec 29, 2009 12:15 AM

Steven L. Smith

King of the House Home Inspection, Inc. - Bellingham, WA

Bellingham WA Home Inspector

Mr James,

I suspect that I might be the only certifried inspector in the industry who can, top to bottom, fully traverse the roofs on these types of buildings.

Nutsy

Dec 29, 2009 04:34 AM

James Quarello

JRV Home Inspection Services, LLC - Wallingford, CT

Connecticut Home Inspector

Jay, It must've been an interesting inspection.

Nutsy, I have no argument with that.

Dec 29, 2009 08:52 AM

Jay Markanich

Jay Markanich Real Estate Inspections, LLC - Bristow, VA

Home Inspector - servicing all Northern Virginia

It was. One thing I learned was how difficult it is to make drywall look right with so many converging angles.

Dec 29, 2009 09:16 AM

TeamCHI - Complete Home Inspections, Inc.

Complete Home Inspections, Inc. - Brentwood, TN

Home Inspectons - Nashville, TN area - 615.661.029

James, I do not think that I have quite seen a house shaped like a geodesic dome before. The roof had to be a bitch to shingle. BTW, I subscribed to your blog today...

Helping you help others live their American dream...

Wishing you and yours a safe and prosperous New Year...

Dec 29, 2009 07:54 PM

James Quarello

JRV Home Inspection Services, LLC - Wallingford, CT

Connecticut Home Inspector

Jay, I think there would be all types of challenges to building a rounded house. I bet that rounded roof is very strong against high winds.

Michael, You're right. How in the world can you get any kind of staging on or around the roof so you can work. Thanks for subscribing.

Dec 29, 2009 10:05 PM

Jay Markanich

Jay Markanich Real Estate Inspections, LLC - Bristow, VA

Home Inspector - servicing all Northern Virginia

The shingles are placed so there is always overlap in the downward direction. So nailing is essential, particularly at the corners where angles combine. I bet your average roofer needs to look up how to install the shingles so they last and are not wind vulnerable. And staples probably don't cut it.

Dec 29, 2009 10:12 PM