Re: design goals (was: Hello)

[Ernie <wgd at gtwn dot net>]

I have some big books on carpentry and building; Modern Carpentry, 590
pages, Carpenter Library: Tools, Steel Square, Joinery- 368 pages, Math,
Plans, Specs., 290 pages. I don't have any architectural construction
experience - lazy bum that I am :[ , and it doesn't look easy from this
end. I did do some commercial office drywall work. It is definitely not
easy. Big sheets, working on stilts, sawing, sanding.  Some homes I've
seen could not have been much easier than a dome to drywall.
Several domes I make use right triangles exclusively. You can get these
from a rectangle sheet by making a diagonal cut and have less waste.
example: http://www.gardendome.com/models/gd3x1ez_model.JPG
http://www.gardendome.com/GD3_X1_EZ_model_plans.html
Also, working in Imperial measures must be much more difficult than
metric. I used to have metric phobia myself. Then I started building
things and had to learn to think in 16ths and 8ths of an inch etc. and
converting fractions to decimal..decimals to fractions. It's not easy to
find a metric tape measure. Converting to metric would probably create a
renaissance too.
Ernie



Charles J Knight wrote:

> > > At the moment, it involves measuring, calculating angles, almost
> > > literally creating a new type of architecture.  Take away that
> > difficulty
> > > and I think there would be a dome renaissance.
> >
> > You took the words right out of my ... er... keyboard.
> >
> > Thank you, Chuck, for stating that so clearly.
>
> Well, just compare it to the ease with which we can build
> a highly standardized stick-framed wall.
>
> Buy some 8 foot 2x4 lumber, and some stud length 2x4s.
>
> Lay down an 8 foot board as a footer, lay the studs at
> right angles, nail them into the footer.  Top it off with a
> header, nail it all together, and stand the wall vertically.
>
> The sheetrock is sized for this construction, too, so just
> take 2 sheets of 4x8 sheetrock, nail/screw them on, and
> you have a finished wall.  No cutting, no fitting, and hardly
> any finish work.  A very elegant, if not overly sophisticated
> system.
>
> By comparison, WE have to pull out the calculators,
> multiply by chord factors, cut (wastefully for many sizes)
> boards to length, figure out a way to join them at the
> "corners," etc.
>
> Next we have to fugure out a way to finish the walls,
> since sheetrock is a real pain, and the outside must be
> sheathed and made watertight...not the simplest
> proposition using traditional materials.  (I know about
> elastomers and peel-n-stick roofing)
>
> It's not worth it!  Domes are too hard to build, for
> the average person.
>
> Given this, I think a connector system that would allow
> the use of plywood panels might be a good solution.
> Sell them with plans for a dome, that make good use of
> a 4x8 sheet of plywood.  (Simpsons sells "dutch dormer"
> garden shed connectors and plans using this model)
>
> After all, most people just want a place to store their
> lawnmower (garden shed?), and don't care about making
> an architectural statement.
>
>      -- Chuck Knight
>