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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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?