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Here is a collection of email questions from our customers about Shelter Systems' products--tents, domes, yurts, greenhouses, fabrics and coverings, poles, Grip Clip tarp fasteners--and our responses to those questions. We believe you'll find them informative and interesting!
The categories are Accessories, Anchoring, Climate, General, Miscellaneous, Greenhouses, Parts & Components, Purchasing, Sizes, and Uses. We list the subject of each question-and-answer, in quotation marks, at the top of each entry. Some questions fall into several categories and are listed more than once.
Can a cover be made over the top of the door so it can be opened without
the rain coming in or be able to take rain gear off before going in?
Our porch is a 5 1/2'x5 1/2' arched square. Porches can be attached in minutes
to any of our domes. With a porch you can keep your door open in a warm rain.
It gives you space to take off your raincoat or boots before going in. Wet gear
can be hung underneath it. The porch covering is made out of our translucent
greenhouse woven ripstop film for maximum light transmission. If you wish,
you can special order the porch in white for less light or in white-with-black
for a shade porch.
Do you think it's possible to live year-round in Maine in
a dome with a liner and heat?
With a full liner and a stove, the dome would be comfortable in
sub-zero temperatures. A liner reduces heat loss from radiation,
conduction and convection, and creates an insulating dead air
space of 2"-3". It also prevents condensation which
may occur in very cold situations. The full liner is constructed
of a white fire-retardant ripstop film with clear vinyl windows
for a wonderfully bright and warm space. (We also make liners
out of the translucent greenhouse covering for our greenhouses.)
To install, you tie it in place at each intersection point on
the dome, pulling it tight. Installation is simple and takes about
one hour. You can order a liner with your dome and install it
right away, or decide to add one later. If you plan on spending
a winter in your dome, a liner will produce a more evenly heated
space and you will use less fuel. We make liners for our 11',
14', 18', 20', and 30' domes.
In addition to a liner, you would have to have a stove and melt the snow off. In heavy snow your dome could collapse, damaging the contents, or compromising your shelter, or even putting your life or safety at risk. Do not rely on your dome as your only shelter where it snows. A backup emergency shelter might be a shed, trailer, a nearby neighbor's house, or a snow cave.
A log cabin might be simpler.
Would a parachute function as a suitable liner?
No. A parachute would not fit tight inside the dome or create the nessacary dead air space.
When would I need a sunshade? Would the sun shade greatly extend the life of a solar dome in the strong southern Arizona sunlight?
If you are unable to put your dome under a tree or if you need shade only part of the time, consider one or more of our 6' x 12' SunShades, which you can attach to the outside of your dome with Grip Clips tarp fasteners where you need it. You would need two SunShades to completely shade the SolarDome 14 and three to completely shade the SolarDomes 18 and 20. You can also buy 90% shade cloth from the hardware or building supply store.
Our SunShade is mostly to keep the yurt dome cooler; it would extend the life of that part of the dome that it covered.
How do you attach the half dome to a wall?
Your HalfDome is no stronger than its anchors, so anchor it securely. We suggest three methods for attaching the HalfDome to a wall or fence.
The simplest method is to tie the cords, which are attached to the Grip Clips, to the appropriate fastener (ie, cement bolts, screw eyes) which you have fastened to your wall. The second method is more water- , wind-, and heat-loss resistant: Hold the HalfDome's 3" skirting against the wall , place 1/4" slats on top of the skirting, and attach the skirting+slat to the wall with the appropriate fastener . The third and most secure method is to attach the HalfDome with both the cords and the skirting.
Do you know what wind speeds the Crystal
Cave is capable of withstanding without failing?
This is a difficult question to answer because the wind in a given
storm also contains gusts, so a storm might have 30 mph winds
with gusts up to 70 mph. All our structures are drum tight and
will handle strong wind. Although we have not conducted wind tunnel
tests, several customers have reported our domes handling winds
of 30 and 40 mph with no problems. However, we do not recommend
them for regions or exposed sites known for unusually extreme
wind, such as hurricane-force wind.
A critical factor in withstanding strong winds is anchoring. Your dome will blow away if it is not anchored properly. Study the anchoring and guying instructions carefully and apply all appropriate means to secure your dome to the earth. Rain will soften the ground and greatly reduce the holding power of the stakes. We provide good general purpose stakes, but they cannot cover all ground conditions. Wind will at times come up unexpectedly. Be prepared!
The dome is a lightweight, portable structure. Its strength comes from tension, not from mass or rigid components.
Note: Because of its continuous curved shape, the SolarDome
sheds the wind better than the Crystal Cave.
Can these structures be ordered with a few windows put in?
The 14, 18, and 20 domes are standard with 4 clear vinyl windows above the doors. There are no other panels suitably small enough to allow us to install any additional windows. It would compromise the strength of the structure if we substituted vinyl for the much stronger woven film in the larger panels.
The panel size in the 8 and 11 is too large to permit any windows in them.
We can install up to 8 windows in the 30'er; you decide how many you'd like.
Having wind flowing through the structure is a necessity, otherwise we will end up in an oven. Can we raise one of the sides of the Crystal Cave up from the ground to get airflow from one side as well as through the doors?
Yes. You would need to prop the side up with secure poles. You can also improve the ventilation by inserting a lightweight object (such as an empty soda can) or a ventilation tube (two are provided with each dome) between the overlapping panels. In addition, you can cover part of the cave with a sun shade to help stop heat from re-radiating into the CC's interior.
Do you sell portable, heavy-duty, heat-reflective canopy
system kits?
Shelter Systems' structures can made for use as ShadeStructures.
Simply request that we use our white
and black shade material. You should consider letting some
of the covering be white to let in light. To increase ventilation,
consider using the domes in the Arch
Form or one of CrystalCaves
with both ends open. Even our porch
can be made using the shade material.
If you need shade only part of the time, consider one or more of our 6' x 12' SunShades, which you can attach to the outside of your dome with Grip Clips tarp fasteners where you need it. You would need two SunShades to completely shade the SolarDome 14 and three to completely shade the SolarDomes 18 and 20. You can also buy 90% shade cloth from the hardware or building supply store.
Will the domes take much snow? I have a business in the mountains. How do the 30-footers hold up to snow loads?
Remember that the dome is a lightweight structure. Its strength comes from tension, not mass or rigid components. It is apparent that you could not climb on top of the dome, nor can you expect it to support heavy snow loads.
Accumulated snow must be melted or shaken off periodically. During snowfalls you must keep a heat source going inside the dome to keep the snow melting off the top or periodically sweep the snow off or shake the dome, so there is never too much snow on top. If a large quantity of snow falls in a short amount of time, an unattended dome will collapse. People in these conditions have had two or three poles break; these are inexpensive to repair or replace.
We run a boarding kennel for dogs and are looking for some way to cover the areas where we exercise the dogs so that we can continue to use them in inclement weather. We do live in an area that gets a substantial amount of snow in the winter.
You would have to remove the snow (melting it off as it accumulates is the easiest but this means you would have to heat it).
Can they be heated? If so, what is best method?
Yes. You can use all types of heaters: electric, propane gas,
natural gas, kerosene, or wood.
The electric heater is inexpensive to buy, easy to install, clean burning, and uses expensive electricity.
Propane heater is relatively inexpensive and uses portable, bottled gas. A natural gas heater is nearly identical. A kerosene heater burns liquid kerosene with an odor which is objectional to some people. Propane, natural gas, and kerosene heaters are made in unvented or vented styles.The latter allows the combustion products (primarily, water vapor and carbon dioxide--not deadly carbon monoxide) to exit the dome through a small diameter pipe. In the unvented style, those gases are released into the dome, which is not a health problem. Additionally, much of water vapor is driven out by water pressure between the overlapping panels. In especially rainy regions, it might be better to have a vented heater because all the water vapor created would exit.
A wood stove must be vented because one of wood's combustion products is carbon monoxide.
All heaters must sit on fireproof mat and must be 24" away from dome's covering or poles and from any combustibles. If you have a vented heater, you must install the vent pipe by rolling up a door, installing a plywood sheet with insulated pipe fittings, etc. (See the Instruction Manual for details.)
Do you provide fire-retardant material specific for stove cutouts?
No. You can buy standard fire-resistant stove pipe fittings at a hardware store.
Is it possible to insulate one of your domes, and what would
you recommend?
We make a full liner which creates
an insulating dead-air space. You can also insert rigid foam insulation
between the liner and the dome.
Is it possible to install a wood-burning stove in the middle
of the shelter? Can it be sewn into the very top of the dome without
compromising the strength of the shell?
Yes, you can cut a hole near the top and you can sew to the covering;
you should not cut any closer to a pole than 1' (to protect the
dome from the heat and to maintain its structural strength) and
the pipe should be cool enough not to melt the pole or covering.
You would have to install this yourself.
See our online instruction manual for details on how to install a wood-burning stove.
What is the maximum height that the chimney can safely go
through the door? What is the height of the door?
About 5', but you should not have the pipe so close to the pole
as to melt it.
Will condensation form on the fabric used in your shelters?
Condensation will form on any surface that is colder than the air that contacts it if the air has a lot of moisture in it. There are four advantages that our shelters have concerning condensation. One, the volume is large; this dilutes the moisture in the air, reducing condensation. Two, the shingling used in the dome allows them to breath. Three, with the dome heated, condensation occurs only far down on the walls, if at all, thus making it difficult to contact this condensation. Four, any condensation that does occur runs down the lower wall onto the ground outside, not onto the floor. The floor is not sewn to the wall. Instead, where the floor meets the wall, the floor continues up the wall about another 6" and is clipped to and tied up against it. To further keep water out of the dome, there is about a 6" skirt at the bottom of the wall which directs rain and water away from the dome.
Will your PVC pipe frame resist cracking in cold temperatures of -10/-20 below?
Yes. This does not mean the poles will not crack. If you jump on them, hit them against a rock, they will crack-- even at room temperature.
Do these shelters need a rain fly? How do they perform in a downpour?
They do not need a rain fly because of the shingling. Shingling is accomplished by layering the tarp panels over each other as you would shingle a roof of a house and then "clip" them together. This creates a totally waterproof covering. The points where the Grip Clips are attached also serve as anchoring points for poles and stakes. This is we do here at Shelter Systems. Each panel overlaps the other by 3" making total overlap of 6". All seams are under tension by the poles. This keeps the "seams" closed yet allows the structure to breath. They perform excellently in a downpour. People have lived--dryly--for years in our domes in Washington State's rain forest on the Olympic Peninsula .
Which is more waterproof: The Lighthouse yurt or Solardome? And which is more mildew resistant?
They are both equal in degree of being waterproof and mildew resistant.
Do you know what wind speeds your dome is capable of withstanding
without failing?
This is a difficult question to answer because the wind in a given
storm also contains gusts, so a storm might have 30 mph winds
with gusts up to 70 mph. All our structures are drum tight and
will handle strong wind. Although we have not conducted wind tunnel
tests, several customers have reported our domes handling winds
of 30 and 40 mph with no problems. However, we do not recommend
them for regions or exposed sites known for unusually extreme
wind, such as hurricane-force wind.
A critical factor in withstanding strong winds is anchoring. Your dome will blow away if it is not anchored properly. There are 12 stake points and four guylines. Study the anchoring instructions carefully and apply all appropriate means to secure your dome to the earth. Rain will soften the ground and greatly reduce the holding power of the stakes. We provide 16- 12" good general purpose stakes, but they cannot cover all ground conditions. Wind will at times come up unexpectedly. Be prepared! See our Instruction Manual for details.
In additional to anchoring, there are more steps you can take to protect your dome from strong winds: site the dome on the leeward side of any bushes and trees, install snow fencing, or build a regular wooden fence or one made of straw bales.
The dome is a lightweight, portable structure. Its strength comes from tension, not from mass or rigid components.
Note: Because of its continuous curved shape, the dome sheds the wind better than the Crystal Cave.
Do the Grip Clips on your dome stand up to high desert winds and rain or do they break under constant high wind?
They do very well. The clips will not break.We know people who have taken our domes to Burning Man, in Nevada, for years with no problems.
We'll be at Burning Man this summer. We're getting word that the winds this year have been truly epic -- the last storm had a gust that registered 100 mph! Any suggestions about what to do if a big wind storm comes up?
The best thing to do would be to "drop" the dome. If you should get a storm with extreme winds, consider removing the lower 12 poles, leaving the dome anchored. Then run strings back and forth across the dome, going from stake to stake to keep the wind from lifting up on the covering. If the dome still appears to be buffeted excessively by the wind, remove the remaining poles and lash the covering to the ground again by running strings back and forth from the anchors. When the storm passes, put the dome back up.
Will the dome capture and store solar energy even on cloudy days?
Yes. Of course, not as much as on sunny days.
TENTS are one of the products you sell but you have NO information in your website about tents - where is the info about tents?
All of our domes and yurts are tents. You can find more information about tents at our Grip Clip Tarp Tent web site.
What parts are included with your tents?"
I need this tent for camping at Burning Man. What does the tent come with? What else will I need?
Our tents come complete with poles, stakes, guylines, ventilation tubes, spare parts and a Shelter Systems' Instruction Manual that details floors, site selection, anchoring, cooling, winterizing, and stove installation--everything you'll need, except a floor. You can use a large tarp or we make you a floor that is cut to fit with clips to tie it in. (For more info on floors, see the "Parts & Components: Floors" question.)
What is the difference between the SolarDomes and the Survival domes?
There is no difference. Our SolarDome is a strong, versatile tent which has many possible uses.
I intend to put my SolarDome 14 on a wooden platform. How large does it need to be, at a minimum? How do I attach the dome to such a platform?
The platform should be 14' in diameter. It is best to put the
dome up first and then cut the deck to fit so that water will
not enter the dome. Use "eye" bolts to attach the dome
to the platform. You can get these at a hardware store. See our
online instruction manual
for details.
Have you had any experience or ideas about plumbing?
Plumbing deals with two matters: water and sewage. Water is used for drinking, washing dishes and clothes, and bathing.
Disclaimer: the following information and ideas are provided
in an attempt to be helpful to users of our domes, but we do not
intend nor imply that you must or should implement any of these
ideas. In addition, depending on where your dome is located, some
of these ideas may be prohibited by local ordinances.
GETTING THE WATER:
1) Carry water in jugs to your dome.
2) Connect a hose to a neighbor's water line for pay. The water pipe carrying the water from your neighbor's must be made of a material which won't contaminate drinking water. Check with a plumbing or hardware store. Also, if there will be constant water pressure in the hose, check which fittings can handle the pressure. Storage containers come in various capacities. The large ones are available at plumbing supplies stores.
3) Collect rain water:
In a tarp--using Grip Clips tarp fasteners
to suspend 4 corners of the tarp--one corner a bit lower and over
a barrel.
Off the dome--by attaching and hanging a gutter, made from a long,
10"-wide strip or strips of plastic tarp, to the bottom of
the overlapping 6" skirt that hangs down and ends right below
the horizontal pole. (Look at the first photo of the SolarDome
page to understand more clearly where this is.) Fold the strip
of tarp so it's still the same length but only half as wide. Hold
the 2 open edges of the gutter on either side of the bottom of
the skirt and fasten the 3 layers (gutter-skirt-gutter) together
with safety pins, placing pins about every 2'. (Safety pin holes
in the skirt of an overlapping panel
will not affect the watertightness of the dome.) Let one end
of the gutter hang down and drain into a barrel.
You may want to filter the water for leaves, dirt, and insect particles, using a sand filter or straining it through a clean cloth. Depending upon the water's purity, you may need to purify water to be used for drinking and washing dishes: 1) Boil it for 5 minutes. 2) Use chlorine tablets. 3) Use 2% USP iodine solution: 2 drops per quart if clear and 10 drops per quart if cloudy. Wait 30 minutes. 4) Use "household chlorine bleach (5.25% sodium hypochlorite solution). Do NOT use solutions in which there are active ingredients other than hypochlorite. Use the following proportions: Clear Water: 2 drops for one quart; 8 drops for one gallon ; 1/2 teaspoon for 5 gallons. Cloudy Water: 4 drops for one quart; 16 drops for one gallon; 1 teaspoon for 5 gallons. Mix water and hypochlorite thoroughly by stirring or shaking in a container. Let stand for 30 minutes. A slight chlorine odor should be detectable. If not, repeat the dosage and let stand for an additional 15 minutes." (1999 Pacific Bell Directory. For Palo Alto, Redwood City & Menlo Park. page B6). Contact a city or county agency to find out where to have your water tested.
4) Collect water from streams, creeks, ponds, lakes or springs. If a spring is uphill from the dome, pipe it directly to your dome or collect it in containers. Depending upon the water's purity, you may need to purify water to be used for drinking and washing dishes.
5) Collect snow and melt it slowly indoors or over a fire.
To protect your pot, put some water in the pot before you put
the snow-filled pot over the fire. Depending upon your water's
purity, you may need to purify water to be used for drinking and
washing dishes.
6) Drill a well.
Note: I have used all these methods, except for drilling a well.
USING THE WATER:
Heating water:
1) Heat it on a stove in a pot.
2) Heat it in a solar water heater (such as hanging 3-gallon bag).
Check solar energy companies' websites.
3) Use a wood-fueled water heater, marketed online through solar
energy companies.
4) Use a propane-fueled water heater.
5) Use a water heater which attaches to a wood-burning stove,
marketed online through solar energy companies.
Washing dishes:
1) Use a pot or bowl and then toss the used wash water. Soapy
water doesn't hurt plants or animals. However, it will harm life
in streams; soap is a nutrient for algae which will "bloom" and can eventually crowd out and kill fish.
2) Buy a sink with a drain, from a building supply or hardware
store. Build a wooden box to hold the sink at desired height and
after washing, direct the used water where you want it with a
hose, flexible black plumbing pipe, or PVC.
Rigging up a shower:
You'll need some water pressure. You can achieve this by either
using a hanging solar bag or positioning a water storage tank
uphill from shower, with a water heater in-between. Build an enclosure
for privacy. You can let the water drain away.
Washing clothes:
1) Use a large container or a sink, as for dishwashing. Buy a
wash board at a hardware store. Dry clothes on a clothes line
or inside dome in wet weather.
2) Use a neighbor's wash facilities for pay.
3) Go to a laundromat.
4) Buy a stainless steel, hand-powered washing machine. Wringer
attachments are available.
5) Buy an efficient electric washing machine which can be powered
with solar energy, marketed online through solar energy companies.
Outhouse function:
1) Use a neighbor's facilities for pay.
2) Dig a one-use-only pit privy. Dig a 6"-deep hole with
a shovel, use it, and then fill it with dirt. Each time. For rural
use only.
3) Dig a hole, which is 3' in diameter and 3-5' deep, and cover
it with a piece of plywood with 12"-diameter hole cut in
it. Make a cover for the hole. Keep toilet paper stored nearby
under a can. For privacy, build a fence or enclosure, with or
without a roof. After using it, put a shovelful of dirt or lime
in to minimize odor. When full, cover with about 1' of dirt.
4) Buy a chemical toilet (used in airplanes, RVs and houseboats),
which allows you to have an inside toilet. When the container
is full, you have to take the container somewhere to be emptied.
Purchase from RV supply or boating stores.
FREEZING CONDITIONS:
Be sure to take the necessary precautions to prevent the freezing
and/or bursting of your plumbing. These could be insulting your
plumbing, heating it, or burying it below the permafrost.
You may want to purchase a SolarDome 8' to cover your outhouse.
I'm interested in your 18' Yurt Dome. I plan to use it to live in from late May until October this year. I will be in central Utah. Some considerations: may not be able to set up under a shady tree, will have to move periodically, have several dogs, may be hot at times if I'm not up in the mountains (Manti-LaSal National Forest), one person living in it.
Would the Yurt Dome suit my needs? What accessories would you recommend?
How large is the yurt when packed?
I think the Yurt Dome would suit your needs well in central Utah.
If you are unable to set the dome under a tree, you may want to consider our shade cloth (SunShade). The dome goes up in 30 minutes and down in 5, so moving periodically is no problem. Having several dogs in the dome should be no problem. Tents can get hot. However, there are four doors for ventilation.
The 18' Yurt Dome, when packed, is the size of two large duffel bags, each weighing 30 pounds.
To what extent can shelters be linked together? For example, can a 20 or 30 foot Yurt Dome be joined to a smaller diameter dome or to a Crystal Cave?
The domes can be linked door to door by installing a U-shaped "wraparound" made of the woven ripstop fabric to enclose, join, and seal the two touching doorways. On the inside of each doorway are 4 Grip Clips, 2 at the top corners and 2 at the bottom, for a total of 8 inside both doorways. You hang the U-shaped enclosure from these 8 Grip Clips.
To join two doorways having the same dimensions:
Make the "wraparound" by cutting some 24"-wide
fabric the length of the two sides plus the top of a doorway plus
an additional 4'--this extra is for attaching 8 additional Grip
Clips and forming 2 gutters to drain any rain away from the joined
doorway. (See Accessories to buy
the additional fabric and Grip Clips needed for this.) Determine
the midpoint of the strip you've cut and mark it--the midpoint
will enclose the center of the top of the doorway. Hold the center
of the strip up to the center of the doorway and mark on the strip
where the 4 Grip Clips at the top corners of the 2 doorways touch
the strip. Attach 4 Grip Clips to the strip at these 4 places
and enclose the 2 doorways with the "wraparound" and
using the cord supplied with the additional Grip Clips, fasten
the 4 Grip Clips on the "wraparound" to the 2 Grip Clips
at the top of each side of the doorway. Lastly, attach 4 Grip
Clips near the ends of the strip so you can fasten them to the
4 Grip Clips at the bottom corners of the doorway.
To join two doorways having different dimensions:
Cut the "wraparound" 6' wide to allow yourself plenty
of material to work with. Cut away the excess when you've finished.
Proceed as above.
This enclosure is watertight. Any rain collects in the "wraparound," which acts like a gutter, and drains onto the ground, not into the doorway or your dome.
Both doors, which we install at the top of each doorway, will be enclosed in the "wraparound." If you still want to have a door covering between the attached domes, you can hang some material or a blanket in the doorway when desired.
The Crystal Caves are more difficult to link since their openings are so large, but a smaller door could be cut in their ends and then joined as above.
Can you put a gas stove for cooking in a yurt?
Yes, you could hook up to a natural gas line or use bottled propane gas.
Do you provide fire-retardant, heat-resistant material specific for stove cutouts?
No. We suggest you roll up one of your 4 doors and shingle in a section of plywood slightly larger than the door opening. Then use standard fire-resistant stove pipe fittings.
If I cut windows for my telescope, how would this
affect the strength of the structure? If I install additional
windows, will the dome be more difficult to assemble?
Yes, you can cut an additional window for your telescope. You should cut between the poles on the dome's covering and not directly under them. If you do cut near a pole, I would leave at least a 1'-wide strip of fabric under the pole. It is true that the dome will be slightly weaker by cutting the covering. Understand that the more openings you cut and the larger they are, the weaker the structure will become. It should only be slightly more difficult to assemble.
It is possible to install a wood-burning stove in the middle of the dome by cutting a hole near the top. In this case, you leave a 2'-wide strip of fabric under the pole, to protect it from the heat.
I am interested in buying one of two models of greenhouses
you offer:
Crystal Cave 11' $450 + $45
s&h
GroDome 14' $520 + $30 s&h
Are the frames' poles the same diameter?
The CC 11 uses 1" and the GD 14 uses 3/4". Both
frames are constructed of strong, long lasting, resilient, UV-stabilized,
Class 200 PVC tubing.
Is the covering the same material and thickness?
Yes. The strong, woven, laminated ripstop
film used in all our structures has been treated with ultraviolet
inhibitors to insure extra long life. The translucent covering
used in this greenhouse transmits 90% of visible light. (Most
plants require at least 65% for optimum growth). The sunlight
is diffused so your plants will never get burned the way they
can under glass or clear vinyl.
Which do you recommend as a better and sturdier greenhouse
design?
The GD 14 is stronger; it sheds the wind better because the
poles wrap in all directions. Personally, I like the dome's shape
better also.
I'm interested in a greenhouse. I like the GroDome 11 better
than the GroDome 8, but I'm concerned it might not be high enough.
I am confused by the measurements. I do not want anything too
big but I want to be able to stand with enough head room.
We have a web page full of drawings which compare
the different-sized domes. We think you'll find it very helpful.
I am considering purchasing one of your GroDomes. Could
tell me the size of the one that appears in the photo on the GroDome information page on your website?
It's the photo with the woman standing in front of the dome wearing
kneepads. This will help me determine what size I need. Thanks!
That is our 20' GroDome.
I recently purchased a Gro-row 7. I am impressed with the quality and ease of assembly. I wish that there were flaps which could be used to close the openings.
Flaps do make it warmer inside but can cause overheating if not watched quite closely. The smaller the space, the closer and the quicker the heat accumulates next to the plants. It is safer to have the ends open then to cook your plants--which I have done.
I am looking in the direction of a greenhouse of sorts for winter gardening
in upstate New York--cold wind, sleet, snow, etc.
The most practical use of a greenhouse is to extend the growing seasons
in the spring and fall. Although it is certainly possible to use a greenhouse
in upstate New York, it would be expensive because you would have to heat and
light it sufficiently to enable your plants to grow. (Installing a translucent
liner in your greenhouse would reduce your fuel
costs.) In addition, you must melt or sweep the snow off the greenhouse, because
it's a lightweight structure. Otherwise, the greenhouse could collapse. The
domes will handle strong, but not extreme, winds.
An alternative to having a full-height greenhouse is to dig a hole or trench below the permafrost level and set a GroRow or a RoofShell on the perimeter of the hole. The hole or trench must be big enough to let sufficient light in. You could grow winter crops, such as cabbage, lettuce, greens, peas, in this way.
Will your translucent film provide the same amount of light
to plants in a greenhouse as clear poly film?
Yes. Our light-diffusing (and therefore non-burning) translucent
film lets 90% of the available light through, which is more than
glass lets through.
Can I expect similar plant growth in my greenhouse using your film?
Yes. It is designed for greenhouse use.
Do you ever just sell the frames, for plants to grow on?
The frames as we make them for the domes will not stand without
the covering. But we would be willing to make a special frame
that would stand for you. Pricing would be 25% of the cost of
the dome.
This is the first time I have ever tried to handle a garden and/or a greenhouse. I need help in starting seeds, how to organize a vegie garden and so forth. Can you please help me?
Check out our Greenhouse Gardening
Manual.
I have the opportunity to purchase a 15-year-old Oval Intention made by North Face. If you have any comments re this tent, I would love to hear them. It appears from the picture that the tent may be difficult to erect. Do you know what North Face's warranty policy is re this tent?
This is a beautiful, strong tent. Bob Gillis of Shelter Systems designed this tent in 1976 and subsequently licensed The North Face to produce it. Like all of Shelter Systems' designs, for the weight of the materials used, this tent approaches the maximum strength. This allows for a minimum amount of materials to be used: economical, weight-saving, minimal use of the world's resources.
To put up poles, follow the seams.
Please direct your question to the NF in Berkeley, CA regarding their warranty policy.
Can you tell me the dimensions of the Oval Intention by The North Face? Height and floor dimensions?
I don't know the exact dimensions, but the NF does.
How long will the dome fabric, or covering, last?
About 3 years of full sun. All our coverings incorporate UV sunscreen
inhibitors to help block damage from the sun and give the coverings
a longer useful life.
Shelter Systems' covering is made by taking a special plastic
copolymer and stretching it until it becomes stiff. At this point,
the material is at its maximum tensile (pull) strength. It is
then sliced into thin strips and woven into a fabric. This gives
it amazing tear resistance. The fabric is then laminated on both
sides with some sheets of the same stretch-strengthened material
and is thereby stabilized and super strengthened. You cannot tear
it. Our coverings come in three "colors:" Translucent, White, and Shade covering (Silver outside to reflect
light and the sun and Black inside to block light and sun).
I will be using this shelter outside of Alamosa, Colorado
at an elevation of 7500 feet. That area gets 350 days of sunshine
per year, so the ultraviolet factor is a big one. How does this
fabric hold up under that type of elevation and sunshine? (I notice
that you've tested in Florida and Arizona.)
I am not certain how long the covering will last in your sun conditions.
My guess is approximately 2 years of full use. If you store the
dome when not needed, you will extend the covering's life. As
one goes up in elevation, the intensity of the sun increases.
I am a little concerned that the stray cats in our neighborhood will reek havoc on the material. Can it be cat proofed? Or should it hold up well to the cats?
The material we use for the covering of our yurt domes and greenhouses is very strong and should not be damaged by cats.
Can these be used in cold weather, or does the fabric get brittle? We are interested in having an emergency shelter available at a reasonable cost. Your price is reasonable, but how about durability in midwest climate?
The fabric that most of the dome is constructed of does not get brittle in the cold. However, the clear vinyl windows can become brittle in extreme cold. If you plan to use the dome in extreme cold, we recommend that you order it with translucent windows made of our woven ripstop greenhouse film, rather than with clear vinyl windows. The translucent greenhouse film lets through more light than glass, but images cannot be seen clearly through it. It's like looking through wax paper. Looking through the vinyl windows is like looking through glass.
Is the white woven ripstop material that sells for $8.00/Yd available in a 36' width by 50' length? If not, what width and length is available?
Our three fabrics (translucent, white, and shade) are available in 6' width, in any length, for $8/yard. We can sew into wider widths yourself on your home sewing machine. For under 20' in length, shipping and handling are $10; for over 20', shipping costs increase.
I noticed a camouflage tent designed for military use and wondered if I could purchase one. Visibility of a huge dome from the valley might cause an "impact to the natural beauty" type complaint from the people living on the grid below.
Sorry, we do not offer a dome in the camouflage covering. You can paint our domes with spray paint, however. Test the paint first, because paints vary a lot.
I have two sky lights inside my home that I need to sew/create a drape to block out the sun and heat. Would your black liner be a material that I could sew on the back of designer fabric? I would only need about 3-4 sq yards. Can I order in qualities that small? Note that to make my liner drapes, I have to be able to sew on a sewing machine.
Yes, our white and black shade covering would work. And it
will block 100% of the light. It's 6' wide. You can order any
length you need. You can sew our coverings on a home sewing machine.
I am a home gardener in north central KS. I am planning on building a wood framed greenhouse (10' X 20'). I am pricing covering materials. Filtration is my main concern.
Our translucent covering lets through 90% of the sunlight (more than glass). Unlike glass, the translucent covering diffuses the sunlight so that it won't burn the plants inside the greenhouse. Our white covering lets through 60% of the sunlight.
Will your translucent film provide the same amount of light to plants in a greenhouse as clear poly film?
Yes. Our light-diffusing (and therefore non-burning) translucent film lets 90% of the available light through.
Can I expect similar plant growth in my greenhouse using your film?
Yes. It is designed for greenhouse use.
Do any of your coverings block 100% of the light?
Yes, our White and Black covering
blocks 100% of the light .
I'm considering buying one of your solar domes. I'd like to get fabric samples of the woven, ripstop film and the polyester canvas.
We are sending you the samples you asked for.
If the shelter covering needs to be replaced, but the pole frame is in good condition, how much does only the fabric cost? Connectors only?
We sell replacement dome covers with Grip Clips and connectors attached for 80% of the cost of the dome. We don't sell covers by themselves because attaching the Grip Clips and connectors is complicated.
I'm interested in using your coverings and Grip Clip tarp fasteners on a construction site. My thoughts are to use your clips with some poles and guy lines to hold in position. Ideally it should by about 50 X 100'. Is this practical?
Our woven fabric, which is 6' wide, can be sewn into tarps, but we recommend you buy one readymade. Or you can join tarps together (or our fabric) with our Grip Clips to create a larger size. The wind loading on a 50x100' tarp would be high.
With poles, guylines and Grip Clip tarp fasteners you can create good protection for a building under construction. Grip Clips are versatile: you can create the size and shape of covering you need for a particular job, then disassemble the covering, and use it on the next job.
I'm interested in purchasing some of the woven ripstop fabric used for greenhouse coverings and tarps. The intended purpose is to make sails for sailboats. I refurbish old boats for teens and scout troops but sail fabrics have historically been cost prohibitive for the program and do not hold up well under the vigorous use (abuse) of these energetic sailors. In what quantities would I have to purchase the clear woven poly fabric, and in what standard widths does it come? Are sample swatches available?
We don't have experience using our fabric for sails. However, we believe the fabric has the right properties to make a good sail: It's stable on the bias (it doesn't stretch) and has a stiffness (a "stiff hand") which is ideal for sails (it won't get baggy). It can be sewn. You could attach it to the mast by sewing a sleeve or with Grip Clips tarp fasteners. You could attach it to the boom with a Grip Clip. It is 6' wide, available in any length, costing $10 a yard + shipping. We can send you a sample.
How are the doors secured?
With hooks.
Any locking device?
No.
How is bug netting attached to doors?
If you ordered net doors with your original order, they are already installed and function just like your fabric doors. If you got them from us later, you can install them yourself.
To install a net door, you tie the upper two corners of the net door to the two dome clips on the upper inside corners of the doorframe. There are holes on the interior of the clips on your dome for this purpose. Thread the string through one of these holes on each of the 2 clips. Pull the string up as short as you can get it and tie.
Do any of these domes have floors like some tents? I don't mean a wood floor, but a fabric floor or bottom.
Our domes do not come with floors. However, some type of ground cover is necessary to keep dampness from coming up into your space. Either you can use your own tarp or we make you a floor that is cut to fit your dome. Shelter Systems' floors are made of a blue, tough, waterproof, fire-resistant, ripstop material. If you decide to make your own floor, you can purchase Grip Clip tarp fasteners from us for attaching the floor to the dome. It is often not necessary to the attach the floor to the wall because objects on the floor may be adequate to prevent the floor from shifting around.
There is a good reason that our floors are not sewn in. We have eliminated a critical area for leaks: seams at ground level. To further keep water out of the dome, there is an approximate 6" skirt all around the bottom of the wall which directs rain and water away from the dome.
Another reason not to sew the floor to the wall is any condensation that might occur runs down the lower wall onto the ground outside, not onto your floor. This is because at the place where the floor meets the wall, the floor continues up the wall about another 6" and is then clipped to and tied up against it with our Grip Clip tarp fasteners. (For more info on condensation, see the condensation question in the "Climate: cold" section above.)
Another benefit of a separate floor is that when your dome is stored, the floor can be rolled up separately so it will not dirty your walls.
Our Instruction Manual provides information and suggestions on siting your dome for good drainage, installing our floor in the dome, building decks, etc.
Can you put in a wooden floor so that you are up off the
ground?
Yes, you can build a wooden deck for your dome. See our Instruction Manual for details.
Most of us have lived our live in a house, so living on the ground does not come intuitively to us. We think living on an earthen floor would be wet, cold, and damp. However, if you choose your site carefully and prepare the earthen floor properly, the earthen floor will be drier, warmer and always much cheaper than building a wooden deck. It requires time and effort to build a deck and make it function properly, so that rainwater doesn't flow into the dome, so it's attached properly to its foundation, and so it's adequately insulated against cold. You need to have carpenter skills, aptitude, ambition, and/or a good book on building decks. Of course, a deck would be a better floor in some situations, such as on a very steep slope or on boulders or volcanic rock you can't easily move, or if you want to elevate the dome.
Do you ever just sell the frames?
The frame as we make them for the dome will not stand without
the covering. It's nearly impossible to assemble. But we would
be willing to make a special frame that would stand for you. Pricing
would be 30% of the cost of the dome.
Is it possible to use bamboo or wood poles instead of PVC
pipe?
Yes, if they are bent to the same degree as the dome is curved.
You can do this with green bamboo branches or pre-bent branches.
Will your PVC pipe frame resist cracking in cold temperatures of -10/-20 below?
Yes. This does not mean the poles will not crack. If you jump on them, hit them against a rock, drive over them, they will crack-- even at room temperature. A broken pole is easy to replace. Or to repair, by inserting a section of a branch between the two pieces of the pole.
When you are inside the shelter at night and you have lights
on, can people on the outside see your silhouette? If so, what
do you recommend to prevent this?
Depends on the lighting. You could hang drapes inside or you could
order the dome with walls made of our white/black/white covering.
This is white on both the inside and outside with black in the
middle.
I am interested in the dome you display as a "Golf
in the Rain" HexPent dome. Your
web page says that it is not available at this time, but makes
a reference to your SolarDome 20. I looked at that, but can't
tell if it's about the same size.
I'd like a structure that people could walk in (to find some shade
or to get out of a light rain) without having to stoop much. The "Golf" dome looks perfect for that! Are you planning
on selling it in the future, or is it a "display only" or discontinued item?
We're not planning on marketing the HexPent dome in the near future. Take a look at our 20' SolarDome, which is the size of the HexPent dome. Transformed into the Arch Dome, it has a 7'5" high opening.
Arch Dome
Full size 14', 18', or 20' domes can be transformed into Arch Domes by you at no cost. Instructions that come with your dome tell you how to turn your dome into a Arch Dome. It takes only about 15 minutes and can be undone when you want your full dome back. The Arch Dome is great on a hot day or in a hot climate since the large arched opening provides for unsurpassed ventilation. It is excellent for using your dome as a display show space at a fair or other social occasion. The large opening is inviting and friendly.
I am very interested in using one of your Domes in the Islands
of the Pacific. I would need the lightest you have as we will
be traveling at times several miles inland on foot. We will be
using this Dome as a temporary meeting place for a group of 20
people. Then using it as sleeping quarters.
We would recommend the 20-foot SolarDome. It weighs 70 pounds
total, divided equally between two packages. The dome makes a
beautiful meeting place.
We run a boarding kennel for dogs and are looking for some way to cover the areas where we exercise the dogs so that we can continue to use them in inclement weather. We do live in an area that gets a substantial amount of snow in the winter.
You would have to remove the snow either manually or by melting it off as it accumulates. The latter method is the easiest but this means you would have to heat it. An alternative (and the most sensible) method of covering the run would be to attach poles or 2x4's to the fence on one side extending above the fence top to create high anchor points and then attach a tarp or tarps with Grip Clip tarp fasteners over the entire run. You can also use Grip Clips to join smaller tarps together.
I would like to know if all the models are available and how long the delivery time will be.
We keep the basic SolarDomes, LightHouses, and GroDomes in stock. Orders are filled in the order in which they are received. Orders are usually shipped via UPS within one week of receipt. Delivery time is about 2 days within California, 4 days to Colorado, and 6 days to the East Coast.
I am in the position to recommend your company to a group
of people starting a new community.
Since my funds are limited to purchase your tents...do you give
a commission (toward tent purchase) for those people I recommend
that purchase from you?
We do not offer commissions, sorry, but do appreciate your
support.
If I buy four or five of your shelters, is there a possibility
for a discount?
We don't offer such a discount.
Do you offer any educational discounts?
We do not offer educational discounts
Do you ever do rentals of your products?
We don't rent any of our products.
Do you have any structures on site? I'm in the Sacramento
area and can easily get to the San Francisco Bay Area. Would it
be possible to set up a scheduled visit to personally view your
product? It's harder than you might think to envision stuff on
the Web.
We don't have a show room which is a cost savings to all. We do
offer a 30 day money-back guarantee. Or if you'd like, we could
meet at my office in Menlo Park and talk in person.
Do you have any customers in the Seattle WA area so that I can look at your product?
I cannot give out customers' names, sorry.
Do you have a supplier in Australia?
No, sorry. All sales are direct from us in California. We can ship to you for about $200.
Where can I buy grip clips in Australia?
We do not have any dealers there yet. We can send them to direct you.
Can replacement parts, such as the covering and Grip Clips,
be ordered?
Yes, you can order replacement parts:
poles, hubs, connectors, 12" stakes, extra fabric, Grip Clips.
You can also order accessories: sticky-backed velcro to attach
almost anything to your dome, liners for both shelters and greenhouses,
net doors, porches.
Can replacement film be purchased for the gro-domes should the original be damaged while the frame is still viable?
Yes; replacement covers are 80% of the cost for a new dome.
I would like get a BubbleDome
20', half white, half clear with an entrance on each side. Any
problem?
Yes, we can make 1/2 white and 1/2 translucent (this is not clear
but like wax paper in the light it lets through). It does have
4 clear windows above the doors.
This would be a customized, special order and therefore not returnable, since it would be difficult to resell.
I have a pool which, with 3 ft. walkway, is about 30ft. X 50ft. I need a roof to keep leaves from the oak overhead from falling in the water. Can you help?
Sorry, we can't help you at this time. The largest size dome we make is 30 feet in diameter. The widest CrystalCave we can make is 11' wide. We can make it in any length in increments of 5.5'.
I need a clearer idea of how large your domes are. How many people can sleep in them? It's hard to tell from the pictures.
The 18'er can sleep 10. Check out our page which compares the number of people it sleeps, square footage, relative volume, footprint, etc. of our different sizes of shelters and greenhouses. Another method of getting a clearer understanding of dome size is to mark a circle on the ground the diameter of the tent you're considering and see how many people and/or furniture can fit in it.
I'm interested in a greenhouse. I like the GroDome 11 better
than the GroDome 8, but I'm concerned it might not be high enough.
I am confused by the measurements. I do not want anything too
big but I want to be able to stand with enough head room.
We have a web page full of drawings which compare
the different-sized domes. We think you'll find it very helpful.
I run an adventure company specializing in mountain climbing and trekking. We are looking for a sturdy, lightweight Mess Tent/ Porter shelter, big enough to sit 12 to 15 people with a table in the middle.
Look at our 20' SolarDome.
I have a rectangular, 91" x 61" outdoor spa, that is built like a small pool (concrete tile lip around the perimeter). I need a cover. What options do you have for me for that size?
Any of our domes over 8' would cover your spa.
I am looking for an easy tent set-up that I can put in my car and easily erect in friend's backyard, forest, etc, to sleep in, no more than 2 persons. Is the 8' model the best choice?
I would recommend the SolarDome 14. Easy to fit in your car but roomy and has 4 doors. The 14' has 4 doors and windows which allows good cross-ventilation. The 8' and 11' have 1 door and no windows. They are more boxy than the 14' and therefore less aesthetic, in my opinion. The 8' works well as a greenhouse and for storage. For camping, it will hold one person comfortably. You can stand up in it.
Hello, can you give me an idea for a cover for my deck that
measures 13 feet 5-inches x 13 feet x 17 feet? (I have a hot tub
on my deck and would like to protect it from the wind.)
You could fit our 14' SolarDome--it
can be deformed somewhat--on your deck.
What is side wall height on 14' Lighthouse?
About 4.5'.
Will I be able to fit 4 cots, a 40"x40" table, a 2'x5' table and a small wood stove inside a 14' Lighthouse with room to still walk around?
Draw a circle on the ground and see if you can fit what you need in it. I would think the 18'er would work better.
I am interested in the dome you display as a "Golf
in the Rain" HexPent dome. Your
web page says that it is not available at this time, but makes
a reference to your SolarDome 20. I looked at that, but can't
tell if it's about the same size.
I'd like a structure that people could walk in (to find some shade
or to get out of a light rain) without having to stoop much. The "Golf" dome looks perfect for that! Are you planning
on selling it in the future?
We're not planning on marketing the HexPent dome in the near future. Take a look at our Arch Dome in a 20' SolarDome size, which is the size of the HexPent dome. Transformed into the Arch Dome, it has a 7'5" opening.
Arch Dome
Full size 14', 18', or 20' domes can be transformed into Arch Domes by you at no cost. Instructions that come with your dome tell you how to turn your dome into a Arch Dome. It takes only about 15 minutes and can be undone when you want your full dome back. The Arch Dome is great on a hot day or in a hot climate since the large arched opening provides for unsurpassed ventilation. It is excellent for using your dome as a display show space at a fair or other social occasion. The large opening is inviting and friendly.
We have a 20'x20' parking area where we have placed a 20'x20'
frame tent for parties. I am looking into purchasing a structure,
and your 18' RoofShell seems like a possibility. How tall is the
18' RoofShell? Can someone 6' tall walk under it without having
to bend over? Specifics as to dimensions are appreciated!
Our 18' RoofShell is 4' high in
the center and is meant to be used as a roof on poles set in the
ground or on another structure. You could use our 20' SolarDome
which is 10' tall in the center.
Do you have poles that will sit on a hard surface? If so, how high are they? Our current system is square, and stakes just off the 20x20 area support the tent.
No, we don't. One type of support you can make is to hold the legs of the support with sand bags and guy out the RoofShell.
I need a tent with enough room to hold 25 people, all either sitting in a circle or up dancing in a circle ...with good ventilation....for day use and rainproof.
The SolarDome 20 will hold 25 people, sitting or dancing. Set it up in the Open Arched Form with the other two doors open. The SolarDome 30 will hold 25 people dancing with abandon. Again, set it up in the Open Arch.
I plan to take a SolarDome 20 to Australia for traveling about. How large is it, packed up? Would it be considered oversize baggage on an airline?
The SD 20 comes in two packages, one 64"x12"12" and the other 36"x18"x18". It would not be considered oversize. You can check it as baggage.
Find the package size, package weight and door size of different domes on our comparison page.
I am considering purchasing one of your GroDomes. Could
tell me the size of the one that appears in the photo on the GroDome information page on your website?
It's the photo with the woman standing in front of the dome wearing
kneepads. This will help me determine what size I need. Thanks!
That is our 20' GroDome.
I am a big Earth 2 fan. What type of tents were used in the production of that show?
They used our 18' and 20' SolarDomes.
I am interested in purchasing a geodesic dome for use as
an "outdoor" seminar facility. I need a structure with
an area of 200 sq. meters. The structure will serve basically
as a shade tent: the material covering the unit needs to be highly
reflective.
Would our 9m (30') dome with White and Black covering work for you?
The Christians in Jamaica are in need of a revival tent
that can hold 500-800 people.
Our 30' Yurt Dome would hold 100-150
people, seated. If you transformed it into an Arch
Dome, it would be open on one side and you could extend the
seating back further.
Does your company manufacture small beach cabanas to block out sun or sand on windy days. It's almost like a half of a tent. Totally closed on one side and wide open on the other.
Look at our half domes. We can make these out of our white and black sunshade covering which blocks 100% of UV protective. An even smaller cabana would be our 10' Bubble Dome set up as an Arch Dome.
I am looking for a canopy or shelter for parking my car. Do you make anything that would serve as a small shelter for a car?
Look at our ArchDomes and our CrystalCaves.
I'm interested in using your coverings and grip clips on a construction site. My thoughts are to use your clips with some poles and guy lines to hold it in position. Ideally it should by about 50 X 100'. Is this practical?
Our woven fabric, which is 6' wide, can be sewn into tarps, but we recommend you buy one readymade. Or you can join tarps together (or our fabric) with our Grip Clip tarp fasteners to create a larger size. The wind loading on a 50x100' tarp would be high.
With poles, guylines and Grip Clip tarp fasteners you can create good protection for a building under construction. Grip Clips are versatile: you can create the size and shape of covering you need for a particular job, then disassemble the covering, and use it on the next job.
We run a boarding kennel for dogs and are looking for some way to cover the areas where we exercise the dogs so that we can continue to use them in inclement weather. We get a substantial amount of snow in the winter.
You would have to remove the snow either manually or by melting it off as it accumulates. The latter method is the easiest but this means you would have to heat it. An alternative (and the most sensible) method of covering the run would be to attach poles or 2x4's to the fence on one side extending above the fence top to create high anchor points and then attach a tarp or tarps with Grip Clip tarp fasteners over the entire run. You can also use Grip Clips to join smaller tarps together.
I want to make a dog house dome. Maximum size: 5 1/2' in diameter.
Look at our GroRow 10. Transformed into the taller, wider size (4' tall, 5'6" wide, 5'6" long), it would work fine as a dog house. Use your own stakes to anchor it or buy some stakes from us.
Can these be used in cold weather, or does the fabric get brittle? We are interested in having an emergency shelter available at a reasonable cost. Your price is reasonable, but how about durability in midwest climate?
The fabric that most of the dome is constructed of does not get brittle in the cold. However, the clear vinyl windows can become brittle in extreme cold. If you plan to use the dome in extreme cold, we recommend that you order it with translucent windows made of our woven ripstop greenhouse film, rather than with clear vinyl windows. The translucent greenhouse film lets through more light than glass, but images cannot be seen clearly through it. It's like looking through wax paper. Looking through the vinyl windows is like looking through glass.
I have a 16' diameter fishpond. I have one very curious
Maine Coon Cat who is uninterested in this fishpond in the temperate
months, but once the vegetation around it dies back for the winter,
he desires to be in it! Our Maine Coon weighs 28 lbs, so whatever
covering is incorporated needs to be ripstop, at least! I think
if it has a decent height, he will move onto other things. We
also have large dogs, so whatever structure we anchor over the
fishpond must be tall enough to discourage them from walking onto
it too.
I need something that will encompass 20' in diameter with at least
a height of 4-5 feet. If you have something available asap, I
would appreciate knowing...my cat would like to go back outside!
Take a look at our 18-foot SpaTop, $425 + Shipping $35. You can
find this information on our web page, "Spa
and Jacuzzi Covers."
I'm thinking of using a dome for ice-fishing.
Most people order the 10' Bubble Dome for ice-fishing, but the 8' and 11' Solar or GroDomes would work also.
I have a 16.5 hp riding lawn mower with bagger that I would like to protect from the weather. Anything?
Perhaps our CrystalCave 9 would work. It's 9' x 9' x 7' high. Or the GroRow 7, which is 3' wide x 7' long x 20" high. Or make a snug-fitting cover from a tarp, secured with Grip Clip tarp fasteners.
I have a collection of orchids in my screen room in northern Florida. I would like a suitable covering to put over my shelving during the colder days. I have covered the plants with fabric material to keep the wind from damaging them, but feel a solar covering would be better.
Our translucent greenhouse fabric is a superstrong, woven, translucent, greenhouse ripstop film. It lets 90% of the light through--more than glass does. It diffuses the light so the light won't burn the plants and was designed for greenhouse and solar use. It is treated with ultraviolet inhibitors, which protect it against sun exposure. The covering will not rot or mildew.
We have a 20'x20' parking area where we have placed a 20'x20'
frame tent for parties. I am looking into purchasing a structure,
and your 18' RoofShell seems like a possibility. How tall is the
18' RoofShell? Can someone 6' tall walk under it without having
to bend over? Specifics as to dimensions are appreciated!
Our 18' RoofShell is 4' high in
the center and is meant to be used as a roof on poles set in the
ground or on another structure. You could use our 20' SolarDome
which is 10' tall in the center.
Do you have poles that will sit on a hard surface? If so, how high are they? Our current system is square, and stakes just off the 20x20 area support the tent.
No, we don't. One type of support you can make is to hold the legs of the support with sand bags and guy out the RoofShell.
I'm looking for a covering for my circular pool~25'--your
30 footer is nice but much taller than I need.
Our Spa Top 25' is 6' high.
I live in the city and have a rooftop garden. My problem is I live near an "L" train and I'd like more privacy from the passing passengers. I'm looking for a material that does not block light but blocks vision and at the same time offers some protection from wind. My idea is to stretch the material in approximately 6' x 8' panels to form a fence.
I think our translucent greenhouse covering would work for you. It's like looking through wax paper. It lets through 90% of the available light but you can't see images.
Shelter Systems greenhouse covering is made by taking a special plastic copolymer and stretching it until it becomes stiff. At this point, the material is at its maximum tensile (pull) strength. It is then sliced into thin strips and woven into a fabric. This gives it amazing tear resistance. The fabric is then laminated on both sides with some sheets of the same stretch-strengthened material and is thereby stabilized and super strengthened. You cannot tear it. Shelter Systems coverings incorporate UV sun screen inhibitors to help block damage from the sun and give the covering a longer useful life.
It comes 6' wide, in any length, and costs $5 per yard. We can sew or heat-seal wider widths for an additional $1 per yard of sewing or $3 per yard of seaming. For an order under 20', add $10 for shipping and handling. For over 20', shipping costs increase.
You could attach the covering to some poles using Grip Clips tarp fasteners.
The Christians in Jamaica are in need of a revival tent
that can hold 500-800 people.
Our 30' Yurt Dome would hold 100-150
people, seated. If you transformed it into an Arch
Dome, it would be open on one side and you extend the seating
back further.
I'm interested in the woven ripstop fabric used for greenhouse coverings and tarps. The intended purpose is to make sails for sailboats. I refurbish old boats for scout troops but sail fabrics have historically been cost prohibitive and do not hold up well under the vigorous use (abuse) of these energetic sailors. In what quantities would I have to purchase the clear woven poly fabric, and in what standard widths does it come? Are sample swatches available?
We don't have experience using our fabric for sails. However, we believe the fabric has the right properties to make a good sail: It's stable on the bias (it doesn't stretch) and has a stiffness (a "stiff hand") which is ideal for sails (it won't get baggy). It can be sewn. You could attach it to the mast by sewing a sleeve or with Grip Clips tarp fasteners. You could attach it to the boom with a Grip Clip. It is 6' wide, available in any length, costing 85 a yard + shipping. We can send you a sample.
I am interested in purchasing a geodesic dome for use as
an "outdoor" seminar facility. I need a structure with
an area of 200 sq. meters. The structure will serve basically
as a shade tent: the material covering the unit needs to be highly
reflective.
Would our 9m (30') dome with Silver and Black covering work for you?
I have a rectangular, 91" x 61" outdoor spa, that is built like a small pool (concrete tile lip around the perimeter). I need a cover. What options do you have for me for that size?
Any of our domes over 8' would cover your spa.
Hello, can you give me an idea for a cover for my deck that
measures 13 feet 5-inches x 13 feet x 17 feet? (I have a hot tub
on my deck and would like it to be protected from the wind.)
You could fit our 14' SolarDome
(it can be deformed somewhat) on your deck.
I am interested in using one of your domes to construct a "sweat lodge" that is portable and can be moved...it would need to be big enough to fit 12-15
people sitting in a circle. Would you use a different heat resistant covering?
I would think the 14' SolarDome would be the best size. You would want to make a blanket liner and hook in inside to hold in the heat and protect the dome from the heat. You could use Grip Clips to fasten enough blankets together to make the liner or you could sew them. You would need about 33 Grip Clips to attach the blanket liner to the inside of the dome.
Could one of your domes be used to cover an in ground pool? What temperature would be achieved without heat on a sunny day with a temperature of about 40 degrees F?
Yes it could. My guess would be about 80 degrees. The GroDomes are great collectors of solar heat. The translucent covering lets in 90% of the available light, more than glass. How warm it gets in the GroDome depends on the amount of sunlight, the clarity of the air, and the amount of wind. In addition to collecting solar heat, the dome shields the pool's surface from cooling winds and also reduces evaporation from the pool, which would otherwise cool the water. An additional benefit is you don't have to clean your pool as much because the dome keeps leaves and dirt from getting in. People with rectangular or square pools get GroDomes and those with lap pools buy Crystal Caves. We can custom-make you a longer CrystalCave.
Would the dome be able to support snow?
No, you would have to keep the snow melted off. However, if you are heating the water, most likely the air temperature above the water will cause the snow melt to slide off. If that isn't adequate to melt the snow, you could also heat the inside, but only when it is snowing to keep your fuel bills as low as possible..
I live in the rain forest of British Columbia and am looking for a shelter which will protect the telescope and me from the elements. We have torrential downpours, even in the summer, and quite high winds so have you a shelter that will anchor securely and yet be able to turn on a track, as the only place that I can set up the dome is on my deck. The ideal diameter at the base would be 9ft and a height of 8ft in the middle. Hoping that you can come up with some solution to my problem--my telescope is an 8" Schmidt- Casgrain,fully computerized.
Look at our 10' StarBubble Dome. If you were to build a secure turnable track, you could then attach the dome to it.
Which shelter would you best recommend for long-term temporary shelter for a family of six?
For a family of six, a minimum of three 18' or 20' SolarDomes would be a comfortable space: one for a common room and two for bedrooms. The 18' is 254 square feet and the 20' is 314 square feet.
I'm looking for a small dome that I can set up inside shopping malls and
at State Fairs to demonstrate the unique flying ability of a new toy pet that
I am marketing. I want it to be clear (see-through) to attract the attention
of people outside it, but high enough to allow kids and adults to interact with
the pets, without risking UFO pet escapes.
Look at our BubbleDome 10 and 14.
I am looking to simulate a big 'turtle" in a temporary dome structure. Ideally put up in 6-8 hrs, or less. Could graphics be applied? Could it have several doors for egress? 35-40 ft unit.
Look at our 30'er. Sets up in one hr. with 2 persons. You can paint the dome. It has 8 doors.
I am looking for a wind barrier for a back yard for sun bathing. I want something with no roof, with sides only. Do you have anything with one side or more that I can block the wind with, and take down after use?
Our Wind Walls are tent structures that block and stop the wind. The "Arch" Wind Wall Tents are sections of our GroRows and Crystal Caves. You can put them up in about 15 minutes. Stakes are provided for securing them to the ground.
Or you could make a wind barrier by attaching some material (tarp, etc. or one of our fabrics) to some poles using Grip Clips tarp fasteners.
Can you section the domes poles to make a smaller package.
We have produced an 18' Yurt Dome for a group of Yellowstone packers (photo attached) with sectioned poles so they could fit the poles into there pack horse packs. We sectioned the poles and added a "bell" to half of the sections so they could quickly be pushed together when they assembled the tent (see attached photos). They were pleased with the way it worked out for them. This will add some cost to manufacturing.
I am interested in purchasing a large yurt dome for the 2001 Burning Man Festival. I was wondering if you had any occurrences of domes falling down due to the wind of the 2000 BM. I remember seeing a few of your domes, and as I remember, they fared very well in the 60+ mph wind that we experienced.
I did not hear of any of our domes failing at Burning Man last year. We were there for the wind and we plan on adding to our site a whole section on dealing with wind at burning man in a month or two. So stay tuned.
Also, I was wondering if you have a catalog that you can send to me. I was hoping to show it to other members of our group that are going so I can get some money out of them as well.
Our current catalog is compleatly web based at this point. I will send you an old catalog; note that it does not have all our products and you will have to rely on the web for current pricing.
We bought a $400 tent last year and staked it down with rebar, and had some of the poles break, as well as some of the anchor rings. As you can imagine, it was quite disappointing. We also had our shade structure go down on Thursday of the event, which was not quite a surprise, but the wind actually bent 2 of the metal poles that came with the shade.
VERY impressive. I think I've found a great alternative to the run of the mill greenhouse structure!
Hi, we're interested in two separate shelters--one thirty foot and one twenty foot. Our questions: how comfortable would they be without liners in 20 degree weather (we're in Mendocino at 2,200 feet)?
Liners are nice and worth the price but you can keep warm with out them.
Is there a humidity difference? (one is by a creek and one is higher, on a dryer meadow).
No.
How does the liner work with windows and doors
The liners have the same windows and doors as your dome.
(esp. if you use insulation between)?
You would not add insolation were there are windows.
If we used a wood stove, how much gain in temperature would the liner give us?
I do not know what the exact degree of gain would be but I would guess at 1/3 to 1/2 increase.
How much light does the liner cut out?
The liners cut the light in about half. There is still a lot of light
Can you get a porch for the 30 ft?
Yes, it is the same porch.
I assume you can for the 20 foot.
Yes.
Since we're right here, can we pick up them up at your factory and save shipping and handling?
No; having people come to pick up slows production to much; but if you are very close by we can ship for 1/2 price.
Also, can we see one set up? (I gather you don't have a showroom, but I'm wondering if in fact you do have one set up.)
No.
How long does it take after one orders to receive it?
We have 20s and 30s in stock.Say about 4 to 5 days.
I AM INTERESTED IN YOUR 20 FOOT. WILL THE COLD MAKE THE PVC .HOW WELL WILL IT TAKE SNOW
It will not hold much snow with out heat to melt it off. Extreme cold will stiffen the PVC poles some but the dome is till use able (do you plan to put it up and down a lot in the cold? If so I would order it with out the vinyl windows as they are stiff in the extreme cold.
It was a pleasure to hear from you some few weeks ago.
I promised to sent you some pictures and feed back about the tents,
I am sorry for the delay but do not worry because you must feel proud to
manufacture such
high quality product. The people who are really using the tents likes so
much. I have seem
the tents around the all country and all the people are very satisfied with
the tent's us
Can you please tell me the difference between your " Survival and Preparedness Yurt Dome Portable Shelters and Tents" and your other lines? - or is it (are they) really just one of your regular lines under an au courant name?! Looks good - I'm interested - under any name! Thanks. Ken
Mostly their are differt names for the same structure. Sometimes they different in what the covering is made out of.
Hi
I have a boat which is 42 feet long, 14 feet wide. When on the ground for
Winter Storage it is about 18 feet to the highest point from the ground.
I generally build a ridge pole running the length of the boat out of 2X4's
using 2X4's for legs about every 10 feet. This ridge pole is about 6 feet
off the deck and a tarp is draped over it covering the boat for the Winter.
Due to wind and snow loads the tarps generally last one or two seasons.
I am wondering if you make a structure that would enclose the boat either
from the ground or from the deck up and if the costs would be worthwhile in
the long run.
Thanks
Pete
Hi Pete
We do not make a structure the size you need but from you letter I can make some suggestions that may increase the life of your tarp substantially. First suspend the tarp under your 2x4 frame using our Heavy Duty Grip Clips. This will prevent the tarp from rubbing and wearing on the frame when it moves in the wind. It will also prevent heat build up where the tarp traps the sun's heat between the tarp and the 2x4s. This heat accelerates the rotting of the tarp at these points. Try to buy a tarp that is UV stabilized for a long sun life. Next make sure the tarp is pulled and kept tight using enough Grip Clips to pull it tight; check it out in high wind and tighten it if necessary. A lose tarp flaps in the wind and the flapping causes the tarp to degrade and fail. When your tarp does wear out the Grip Clips can be removed and appalled to a new tarp.
your more than welcome to add my name to your list. I've been researching
Aleut Kayaks and Inuit Style kayaks, and maybe i would like to use your 4 hr Kayak
method and then make one out of skin.....peace
> >dear sir:
> >thank you for the sharing such an ingenious and practical kayak, with
> >the total cost of 22 dollars and the little girl lifting it over her
> >head! it's amazing what one can accomplish with the basic tools and
> >resources in our environment. i had to laugh at myself, i spent 800
> >dollars on a second-hand kayak and it weighs 60 lbs(i dare not to
> >attempt to lift my kayak by myself, i need assistance to carry to the
> >water each time).,....your idea is very practical and economical....hats
> >off to you! p.s...you can guarantee I'll book mark your website.
Subject: Stick Kayak; Hi. My name is Andy, from Boy Scout Troop 67. Last week at summer camp, we had to build our own boat/canoe/kayak and race it. We jumped on the Internet and found your plans. We had the most impressive boat out there! (We placed first too!) I just wanted to thank you for putting this design out on the Internet! -ANDY
I am fascinated by your products... Did you design the "oval interntion" tent. Used to have one and was great. Hope your business is going well. L.C.
Yes.
I would like some details on the 4.5' high 14' across wind wall.
I want to use it on a Beach for sun in the winter and also a wind break. How
heavy is it
About 15 lbs.
and is the material clear for sun penetration.
We make Wind Walls of of the White Yurt Dome covering, the Translucent Greenhouse covering, or the White/Black sun block covering.
All Wind Walls are by special order only.
How is the
structure held up?
The top poles form a ring which is held up by the upright poles. Stakes are included and guy lines.
Can you use grip clips with tyvek to make a light weight tent? If so what
size of clip would you use?
Robinson
Because Tyvek is stiff and yet thin both the Light Fabric and the General Purpose will work. The GP will allow you to join more layers but is heavier than the LF. I would try to use the LF.
Hi,
Thanks for the information,
Do you have wood stove vents for any of your shelters?
Don
We do not supply stove vents but suggest that the user roll up a door (there are 4 and shingle in a section of plywood and then use regular stove pipe fittings.
http://www.shelter-systems.com/lighthouse-manual.html
Hi Bob
I have sent Japan your website and They have informed me that they are
interested in
air inflated tents. Now I have check the web site myself and I have not seen
any on the page.
Do you manufacture and Air Inflated Tents??
regards
shin
No. Air inflation is not reliable with out a reliable means of inflation. It is interesting Shelter Systems Geotensic Structures behave like inflatables in that they are resilient and can spring back if hit by an extreme load.
I noticed the black/white tent material you had on your web page and I was
looking for a 76"x42" strip of material that would block 100% of vis and UV
light for a dark room. Is this something you might be able to help with?
Thanks!
-Elliott
Although our black/white blocks 100% of light I am not sure if it would be suitable for dark room use. There may be an occasional pin hole. Perhaps you could block any pin hole leaks with back tape of a dab of paint..
Will this work?
What do mean will it work? If you mean will it hold the sign above the dome: I'm not sure. The sign looks big. How heavy is it. Wind on the sign may be a problem also. It would be best to find this out experimentally. I would make the sign as light as possible, attach it to the dome at pole intersections at the top of the small triangles (the dome is strongest at these points) and have flaps in in the sign to let strong wind blow through or make the sign of a mesh that allows the wind to flow through it. With a light wind porous sign it should work.
I was sent your site by a friend and am very interested in your
products. Do you have a distributor who is in Australia?
Diana
No.
Can we get
these here?
Yes we ship UPS Air out of country.
What is the weight of the 20' diameter yurt?
Thanks
Tom
70 lbs divided into two 35 lb packages, one for the poles one for the covering.
Just wanted to let you know that we purchased two of your domes to use as dining tents on our treks in Bhutan. They were a HUGE hit with our clients and our local trek staff as well. The trekkers came to call the 20' dome the "Taj Mahal" and enjoyed luxuriating in the roomy interior. We did have one gusty day that lifted the dome off the ground (our staff hadn't tied the guy lines tightly enough) but other than that, they held up extremely well. If you are interested in any photos, we hope to have some up on our site in the next few weeks. Look at our site and go to the Bhutan section (go to Asia first, then to Bhutan). All the best! Brent Olson Geographic Expeditions
Dear Henderson
Has there been any comment on whether the 30 foot domes are attractive for weddings? What kind of wedding party would they best suit?
They have been used in weddings. I suggest that weather permitting that you have it set up in the Open Arch form (http://www.shelter-systems.com/arch-domes.html ).
Can two 30 foot shelters zip together to form a larger auditorium and where most people are still able to see each other.
Two set up in the Open Arch form can be joined at the arches.
Also may the tent poles be purchased separately from the tent and fittings? I live in Auckland, New Zealand, 3000 miles east of Australia. Rather than freight them from the US it might be easier to get the poles here.
You can save 10% off the price of the dome and of course the cost of shipping the poles if you provide your own poles.
Hi -- I'm looking to have a sweat house ceremony in the next few weeks
and was wondering if you thought one of your yurts might be an option
for that kind of an endeavor and if so which one. Does the material
stand up to high internal temperatures (130-140 degrees F) and high
humidity?
Yes.
Does the structure stand on its own without the material if
we opted to use another material for the sweat lodge ceremony,
No.
Hi
My name is Michelle and I am VERY interested in buying one of your
greenhouses. It is the best deal and quality I have seen since I began my
search for a greenhouse. My specifications are that I live in a rented
space therefore it can not be permanent and I think is zone 8 here in
Seattle. My deck is around 400 square feet and I am interested in using
1/2 or 1/4 of it for a greenhouse. I have many tropicals and frost tender
plants inside that I would like to grow in the greenhouse along with
spring germination of seeds. I guess my questions would be how low of
temperature does the greenhouse get at night,
It can approach the outside temp if there is no sun for days.
should I use an
alternative heat source,
Yes if you need to. The only way to tell is watch it or use a thermostat.
and how small is it to store in the summer when I
want all my plants outside???
Tie all pack up small. Two duffel bag size.
I am interested in the GroRow, GroDome and
lighthouse. I also rent a 200 square foot garden plot in another location
and the GroRow would work there also. What would be the benefients of
having the Grodome or lighthouse instead??
You can not grow in the lighthouse.
Hello,
I would like to build a 20 foot round straw bale house on some desert property that I have and have been thinking about a custom-domed roof for it.
I need ultraviolet , and water-proof protection for long-term use. Do you have these materials, and can you give me an estimate on price? I would also like to know if you have any ideas for attaching the roof to the straw bales.
Please let me know. Thank you very much.
Sincerely,
Dale
Sounds like a great idea. Our 30' roof shell would work, being about 23' in diam. Our covering will last about 3+ years or much more if you shade it. You could attach it by running a cord from the clips (there are 20 base clips in the 30'er) down the bales and staking it to the ground or the bales.
Let me know if we can help.
This system is thrilling, my head swims with the possibilities thanks
Would you please send me a catalog.
We have had a small color catalog in the past but in order to produce a catalog that would have any where near what we show online it would be cost prohibitive, we therefore encourage you to rely on our web catalog. We also put our complete manual online for you to look at.: http://www.shelter-systems.com/lighthouse-manual.html
Dear Shelter Systems Folks,
I have a couple of questions about the 30 ft solar dome yurt. How many
doors does it have?
Eight.
is it possible to get more windows with net screening in
addition to net doors installed?
No.
I wish I was in a position to purchase one of your beautiful dome kits
however our budget wont allow that. We will be moving to the Philippines in
the future and plan on making a dome using bamboo.
We were wondering if possibly your firm might be able to provide us
with hubs or connectors that might be suitable for this type of application.
Thank you,
Ron
ps your website is really great!!!
The connectors with out the covering will not stand. You could buy the tent with connectors and then use bamboo poles.
I'm very interested in your 14 ft. greenhouse. Can you tell me more about the
skin it's made of and how much light transmission it admits?
Over 90%. It lets through more than glass.
I'm concerned
about heating it on cold nights, too, since it's so high. What about
ventilation on hot days?
Since the panels of our domes are shingled, overhead ventilation is easily attained by inserting a lightweight object (eg, an empty plastic flower pot) between several panels (two "vent tubes" are included with each dome). When the can is removed, the panels snap shut and are watertight. For maximum ventilation the walls themselves can be rolled up, transforming the dome into an Opened-Arch Form.
Can one or more of the panels be rolled up when it's
hot? Thanks for any information. Can I get a catalog? Please rush. I need
to buy soon.
We do not offer a hard copy catalog at this time. Please look at our online catalog: http://www.shelter-systems.com If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to ask.
An informative and well costructed website.Appreciate the carefully presented information and pictures. Your questions and answer component is very helpful.As an emergency response planner and facilitator,I will share the details of your products with my colleagues.
Dear Shelter Systems, I am interested in purchasing, or having made, a tent. I plan to use it for a project I am working on, as a "Reading Tent." I am hoping to start a "Reading Road Show," I'd like a tent large enough to hold 25 or 30 kids.
Great idea. I would recommend the 20'er.
I wonder if it could be made with pockets inside, and then if it would be strong enough for those pockets to hold books.
This would be easy for you to do.
I would like it to have an awning over the entrance if possible.
Look at our porches.
I'd like it to be red and black in color and festive in design.
We have white and white/black, no red. You could paint some of it or cover some of it with red cloth. You could also attach flags to make it festive.
I also envision it to have a window, large enough to serve as a puppet theater on the inside, also with an awning or some type of shelter around it on the outside for the puppeteers.
Perhaps a 14' SolarDome with it set up in the open arched form.
I am trying to find out if your 30' Yurt Dome shelter could be adapted for use at the Burning Man festival in Black Rock Desert, NV.
Conditions at the festival are extremely hot and sunny, with no available shade, but also fairly windy. Even with the sun shade, would we be able to keep the dome shady in 120 degree blistering sunshine?
With enough sun shades; I would get at least 3.
I know that your website says an all-black dome would be too gloomy, but what about a completely checker boarded black and white dome?
That would be interesting.
Do you think that would provide some shade, but still have enough light to use the dome for other purposes?
Yes. I would still get a couple of sun shades.
We were planning on keeping two large doors open for cross-ventilation, and it is okay if the dome is the same temperature as outside, but shade is very important. Do you know if anyone has used this dome at Burning Man before?
We had sold three 30'ers for Burning Man last year.
hello i am wanting to have a greenhouse nothing too fancy but kinda like what
you have to offer....i have one question though...what keeps the plants warm
at night ? do you have to put a heater in there ? i understand during the
day the sun hits the plastic and generates heat then but what about night ??
it still gets down to 40 here in southern indiana where i live....i
appreciate your ideas.
thank you,
Its called the greenhouse effect: the sun shins through the covering and heat up the ground and what ever else is inside it. Then at night the heat is slowly reradiated from the ground into the air of the greenhouse. This is what makes it work at night. You can increase the heat retention by adding jugs of water to your greenhouse.
I would like to know if any of your tensegrity-tents are any in production or are for sale?
send your reply to;
Most of our tents are a hybrid of tensegrity and geodesics. They are a type of tensegrity. The poles will not send with out the covering.
i read all your replies to wind questions & am seriously considering the
option of purchasing a dome for Burningman--- although i want to know
what is the worse case scenario in extreme winds...
It is best to take the dome down in heavy wind or at least the bottom 12 poles and then re-secqure the dome.
if i used concrete stakes for the guy lines and dome anchors,
i'm pretty sure it wouldn't blow away--- But what are the chances of the
dome ripping in heavy gusts??? Is it more likely that the PVC will bend
& buckle first (i've seen that happen on home-made domes)????
A few poles will brake and the covering could get torn in extreme winds.
Also, after Burningman, is simply hosing off the dome the best
way to clean it???
I would put it up on a clean site and hose it off. Be sure to let it dry before you put it away or any little speck of dirt will mildew and your dome will smell the next time you put it up.
BUT -- the reason I'm writing is that I saw at least two other of your
domes that looked to be the same size that were STILL INTACT at the end
of the event (and there's a rave on the BMAN web site about a 20' dome
which survived) ... which makes me think that we're doing something
wrong with staking or guying. (The failure seemed to occur primarily at
the point where the small bungies attached the female PVC pieces to the
structure.)
I'd really appreciate your thoughts.
One thing we noticed at Burning Man was the wearing out of base clip cords where people were staking their dome with re-bar. This happens because of the wind pushing and pulling on the dome, causing the cord to rub up and down on the ruff re-bar (like a saw blade) there by cutting through the cords. The way around this is to tie the base clip cords to the re-bar with sections of 3/8" or thicker cord. (The clip cords are only 1/8" and are designed for the plastic (not ruff) stakes we provide)
white fabric: uvB=0% transmission
uvA=0% transmission
visible light tansmission 25%
greenhouse fabric: uvB=59% transmission
uvA=68% transmission
visible light transmission=84%
Our tents have done well in 30 mph winds. However winds can be considered moderate or strong but then gust in the extreme. Anchoring is important.
4 hr Kayak
To make a stronger boat you can cover the frame with heavy coated nylon or vinyl. You can also make the frame of thicker wood. Silicone rubber can be used to seal the gathering at the stern and bow by applying a generous amount between the layers before securing (this is not necessary unless you plan for the seam to be under water). This boat is intended for flat water use and not for use in white water. One reason for this is if the boat was crushed against a rock, the frame could collapse or brake pinning you in the boat and preventing you from swimming to safety and possibly drowning you.Wear a life jacket at all time.
Hi, I am very interested in purchasing one of your 14
ft. domes. I would like to know if I can order
everything except the pvc poles. I have some bamboo
that I would like to use. Please inform me if I can
order all except the poles.
Yes. For less 10%.
You should know that you will have to bend the bamboo so it should be 3/4" to 1" green or if you use seasoned bamboo it will have to 1/2" so it will bend and then you will want to put smaller diameter connectors on the dome (or have us do it for you) so that the 1/2" will fit the covering. Call if you this is not clear.
Hello,
I think your grip clip product may be the kind of thing I'm looking for,
but I'd like to ask you a few questions about my specific application. I
am a graduate student in the School of Natural Resources at the University
of Vermont, working on a scientific research project in which I am
manipulating nutrient inputs to seedlings in pots, through fertilization
to the roots. (I'll study resultant physiological responses.) Because of
the nutrient treatments, I need to protect the seedlings from rainfall,
but they need to be exposed to more or less normal light and temperature
regimes. We have some steel cables suspended already, left over from a
previous project (imagine three top corner ridges of a long tent). I'd
like to suspend some heavy-duty clear plastic (like greenhouse film) below
the cables. It would normally hang to one side, so that it can be drawn
across (like pulling across a shower curtain-tent) so we can protect the
seedlings quickly when it starts to rain. I'd also attach the bottom
edges to low wires so that the sides wouldn't blow around in the wind.
I'm having a difficult time describing this without a picture, but
hopefully you have some idea of what I mean. Obviously I couldn't use
regular grommets, at least along the top ridge, because they'd leak badly.
So, my questions are:
1) Do you think your clips would perform well as the hangers to suspend
the plastic sheet below the wires?
Yes.
2) How sturdy are the little hangers to which the clips are attached? Are
they wire or plastic? I'm sure I'd have to use a different piece that
actually slides across the wire, but I'm wondering whether your clip
connectors/hangers would stand up to the tension this would create.
They should.
3) Do you think these connectors would stand up to the tension stresses
that would result from both wind and rain in this situation?
Yes; you would need to use enough of them to support your cover (how big is it?)
4) Do they perform well when they are *not* under tension (like when my
cover is pulled back for sunny days)?
Yes; once you put them on they stay on unless you take them off.
5) What size clip would you recommend?
Most likely the General Purpose; this depends on the spacings of your covering and what type of film you use.
6) If I ordered a lot (like 30 or 50) could I get a volume discount?
Yes
How
long would it take to get them?
A few days at the most.
One side of the door can be left hooked closed all the time if you do not need the extra ventilation. This is particularly nice if you're using a door pole, since it allows the door to swing open and shut easily. In strong winds, hook both sides closed. Binder clips are provided with your dome to secure the doors in wind or when a tight seal is desired. They also work well on net doors. They hold best if you overlap the door and side wall materials a little as you clip them together. If you want more binder clips, you can get them at a stationery store. To prop your door open, tuck the tip of the door pole under an adjacent horizontal pole. Of course, if you aren't using a door pole, just roll the door panel up and tuck it over the pole above the door.
Burningman read all your replies to wind questions & am seriously considering the
option of purchasing a dome for Burning man--- although i want to know
what is the worse case scenario in extreme winds...
It is best to take the dome down in heavy wind or at least the bottom 12 poles and then re-secure the dome.
if i used concrete stakes for the guy lines and dome anchors,
I'm pretty sure it wouldn't blow away--- But what are the chances of the
dome ripping in heavy gusts??? Is it more likely that the PVC will bend
& buckle first (I've seen that happen on home-made domes)????
A few poles will brake and the covering could get torn in extreme winds.
Also, after Burning man, is simply hosing off the dome the best
way to clean it???
I would put it up on a clean site and hose it off. Be sure to let it dry before you put it away or any little speck of dirt will mildew and your dome will smell the next time you put it up.
Hello- I'm looking for window awnings for my 100" wide (south-facing, miserable) windows. Do you sell something that big? I couldn't tell from your website. Thanks in advance. Linda Miller
We sell a white and black (total sun block) shade woven film that is 6' wide $10 per yard and Grip Clips (set of 4 for $10) http://www.shelter-systems.com/accessories.html which allows you to attach poles to the cover and attach the cover to your house. You could then make your own shade.
If the warranty is just less than 2 yrs. What would you say the life execpetancy of one of you domes
Thanks
It depends on the location the elevation and amount of sun. They can last up to 10 years in the shade. and less then 2.5 yearson at 10,000' in Arizona.
Hi Nate
i read all your replies to wind questions & am seriously considering the
option of purchasing a dome for Burning man--- although i want to know
what is the worse case scenario in extreme winds...
It is best to take the dome down in heavy wind or at least the bottom 12 poles and then re-secure the dome.
if i used concrete stakes for the guy lines and dome anchors,
I'm pretty sure it wouldn't blow away--- But what are the chances of the
dome ripping in heavy gusts??? Is it more likely that the PVC will bend
& buckle first (I've seen that happen on home-made domes)????
A few poles will brake and the covering could get torn in extreme winds.
Also, after Burning man, is simply hosing off the dome the best
way to clean it???
I would put it up on a clean site and hose it off. Be sure to let it dry before you put it away or any little speck of dirt will mildew and your dome will smell the next time you put it up.
Did you receive my online order for a 8 ' a week or two ago?
Thanks
Bill
Yes, Thank you.
You can call 813-457-1153 to find out about the status of your order.
Your order will be filled in the order it was received. Most orders are shipped out within a week. We ship UPS ground. We try to keep all items in stock. If an item is not in stock it may take a week or two weeks to make it, depending on other pending orders. It takes about 3 shipping days for orders in California and 6 shipping days for orders on the East Coast. If you do not receive your purchase within three weeks, please call Redwood Devitt, Production Manager, at shipping and receiving 831-457-1153 so we can track your order for you (leave a message if you do not reach him).
Let us know how your order works for you. We want you to be satisfied with your purchase. Please don't hesitate to call us.
If you need to return a dome for repair or a refund, please make sure that it is clean and dry. If need be, hang the dome from its top clip in a room with a high ceiling to completely dry it out. Include a copy of your invoice and ship UPS to 24 Granger Lane, Santa Cruz CA 94060. To receive a full refund, return your dome in its original condition within thirty days of receipt. Special Orders are not returnable; since we do not offer them in our catalog and we would have trouble reselling them.
Hi Guys
Your products look like they will meet my requirements. Since your products
our based on overlapping shingles do you have any suggestions for dealing
with bugs like mosquitoes and black flies. I was thinking of covering the
entire structure with no-see-um screen mesh.
The shingling is under significant stress by the poles which causes the 3" overlap to be pulled bug tight at least for insects the size of mosquitoes and black flies.
Hello- I'm looking for window awnings for my 100" wide (south-facing, miserable) windows. Do you sell something that big? I couldn't tell from your website. Thanks in advance. Linda Miller
We sell kits for smaller window shades and materials (a white and black (total sun block) shade woven film that is 6' wide $10 per yard) and Grip Clips (set of 4 for $10) http://www.shelter-systems.com/accessories.html which allows you to attach poles to the cover and attach the cover to your house. You could then make your own shade.
Its called the greenhouse effect: the sun shins through the covering and heat up the ground and what ever else is inside it. Then at night the heat is slowly reradiated from the ground into the air of the greenhouse. This is what makes it work at night. You can increase the heat retention by adding jugs of water to your greenhouse.
hello i am wanting to have a greenhouse nothing too fancy but kinda like what
you have to offer....i have one question though...what keeps the plants warm
at night ? do you have to put a heater in there ? i understand during the
day the sun hits the plastic and generates heat then but what about night ??
it still gets down to 40 here in southern indiana where i live....i
appreciate your ideas.
thankyou,
I would like to know if any of your tensegrity-tents are any in production or are for sale?
Most of our tents are a hybrid of tensegrity and geodesics. They are a type of tensegrity. The poles will not send with out the covering.
I was wandering how stable the kayaks that you built are? are they
stable enough to go down rivers with?
Yes, it is quite stable; but a mono hull kayak has advantages over an interal fraim kayak like the 4 hr kayak. If you hit a rock hard the kayaks ribs could brake and pin you in so that you would drown. We recomend that you do not go down a rive in a 4 hr kayak.
It is best to take the dome down in heavy wind or at least the bottom 12 poles and then re-secure the dome.
if i used concrete stakes for the guy lines and dome anchors,
I'm pretty sure it wouldn't blow away--- But what are the chances of the
dome ripping in heavy gusts??? Is it more likely that the PVC will bend
& buckle first (i've seen that happen on home-made domes)????
A few poles will brake and the covering could get torn in extreme winds.
Also, after Burningman, is simply hosing off the dome the best
way to clean it???
I would put it up on a clean site and hose it off. Be sure to let it dry before you put it away or any little speck of dirt will mildew and your dome will smell the next time you put it up.
As I understand the information, your return policy and 1.5 year warranty do not apply to the Bubble Domes. Am I correct?
They are covered by the 1.5 year warranty but are not returnable since they are a special order; except the 10'er.
Questions about the Solar Dome:
One of the tables indicate that the height of the opening for the 20' is 7'5" for the open arch situation. Yet the photographs suggest that there is a pole running across the opening at about 5'5".
That measurement is for the"open arch" form of the dome: http://www.shelter-systems.com/arch-domes.html
What is the highest opening possible with a 20' Solar Dome?
7'5"
How are the net walls intended to be used? They replace two sidewalls in the 14 and 18'ers.
Are they for the open arch?
No.
Do they offer a fairly unobstructed view?
Yes.
How do the net doors differ from the net wall?
The net doors are under the doors. You can up to 4 per dome and 8 on the 30'er.
How much light does the liner block?
40%
Is it possible for one person with patience to setup a 20' dome?
Yes.
I am looking for a shelter that could house a 22 foot diameter balloon. The
trick is providing an entrance/exit system for the balloon while it is
inflated. If you do not already have a design that could accommodate this,
would such a design be possible with your technol
The 30'er made in a full sphere (http://www.shelter-systems.com/spheres.html) with an open arch (http://www.shelter-systems.com/arch-domes.html) would work I think. You would have to support the sphere with 4x4 posts set in the ground.
On the translucent, how long does it last for covering a fraim green house
purpose, and how much per foot or yard? Thank you .
It should last at least 3 years in most conditions. You should shade it with a strip of wood where it contacts a wooden frame. It is $5 yd. It is 6' wide.
The first catalog of yours I still have in my file goes back to 1988 I'm really glad to find the website. Richard
I work for Columbia University, and we are looking to find some sort of portable structure for our softball field to house our scoring and public address table. It needs to have an opening in front to view the game and be able to put an eight foot table with chairs facing the field. We would put it behind the backstop fence.
Looking through your inventory, it looks as if your Crystal cave may work well. I have two questions:
1. Does the Crystal cave let in light?
It is very cold on the field and sunlight is important for the workers. Plus, they will need light to see what they are doing.
Order it with the translucent cover.
2. Can a door be installed in the back side? We would need one side completely open to view the field, and since that would be against a fence, would need to enter from the rear.
There is a door in the back
You should also consider the "Open Arch" http://www.shelter-systems.com/arch-domes.html forms of out SolarDomes or GroDomes say the 18'ers. Looks more like a softball.
Dear Ed,
Yes, a riser wall built of wood can be made for the 30 and 20. It could be attached with "eye" bolts where each of the poles normally comes down to the ground. There are 20 poles on a 30' and 12 poles on a 20'.
Use rubber bands first, then put on string. The rubber bands balance each other. If you have trouble, call.
The Yurt Dome covering does catch 60% of the suns energy and it reflects 40%.
Thank you,
Ron
Yes, but do read our warnings that are in our online manual.
Your yurt dome could be destroyed in extreme weather and your life or safety could be at risk. In heavy snow or wind your yurt could collapse, damaging what you have or compromising your shelter. Do not rely on your yurt dome as your only shelter. Accumulated snow, must be melted or shaken off periodically. Do not set your yurt dome under a tree or branch that might fall on you. Keep all flames and heat away from your yurt dome's covering and objects in your yurt dome.
i would like to know more about permanent structures. I would love to get one of these and just live in the woods. if you have any info on permant stuff please email me
What do you mean by permanent.?We make light weight shelters that last from 2 to 10 years depending on the setting.
The reason we up from 20' to 30' has to do with the efficient use of materials. A 25' dome would cost as almost as much as a 30'er to make.
I would not need one as large as the 14 footer. My photo blind is about four feet wide. Would a shelter eight feet wide give me enough air space between me and the shelter to help relieve me of some of the
heat? What is the typical temperature difference between the ambient
air and air under the shelter. Thanks
The 14' half dome of silver and black should help a great deal. It would provide total shade for your smaller unit. Still, you should realize that the air temp. under the half dome will approach the air temp outside. It is the shade that should protect your smaller unit from heating up more than the air temp.
30' in diameter. It is not practical to connect them.
Will the heat that rises melt the structure or covering?
It may depending on the size of the fire. We do not recommend an open fire inside.
The best we could do is our 30' dome. You could have some of you boat sticking out and covered at one end. It would be a wonderful workshop.
It weakens the dome to put netting all the way around. Best is to get four doors with netting.
1. Can I purchase extra material from you and run a wall part way across the center of the dome? I would like to make it two rooms by hanging a partial wall, to still allow ventilation and passage between
the rooms.
Yes you can.
2. Is the floor installed here or at your factory? I want to put the
floor tarp under a plywood floor, for moisture control.
You install the floor.
and if you built a roof structure over it to combat the snow issue, do you think that it would work?
That should keep the snow off.[[is this feasible?]]
Thank you for your time and help.
Thanks for your interest in our Rooftops. We do make a 25'er: RoofTop 25' (Top of 30'er) $1200 Shipping $110. You would need to melt or shake the snow off.Heating the pool may do this.
You mention that I can sew wider widths of film. Could I do this on my own sewing machine? If so, what type of thread would I need?
Yes. Use heavy duty cotton covered polyester.
The difference is in how much material they grip. The HD grips about twice as much as the GP. So when your tarp is loaded, the HD will be less likely to rip out the tarp. It is the tarp the usually fails not the clip. I would recommend the HD where you can only grip at a few places on a large tarp.
availability?
which floor is applicable?
is there a net door and a liner available?
since it has only one door, can a side be rolled up? and if so, is there a
net wall available?
The BubbleDomes are special order items and are non refundable; since we get few orders except for the 10'er. It would take about one to two weeks to ship.
You would need to use a 18' floor. The floor on the 18' BubbleDome comes in at the base to about 16'.
I thought you were looking for a tent pole, but I see you are looking for a tent tube. We can make our GroRow into a tube. Call and lets talk.
The covering we use is not nylon but a woven ripstop film which is very strong. It is a high grade version of the "blue tarps" you see.
I am very interested in the construction of your poles as well. Is the PVC tubing really
strong enough to last for three years?
Yes.
What would the weight of the greenhouse be? What would the cost of a
greenhouse this size be? How difficult would it be to assemble 3 stories up?
The best we could fit with you is our SolarShed.
I think the SolarShed might work out perfect. Just a couple of questions:
1) Could I attach 2 sheds together? Since they are 5.5' long, two would
perfectly fit on the balcony.
Yes you can.
2) How is the shed attached to the wall - I want to make sure that no bugs
can get in the shed.
You can use eye bolts, wood slats and or other means. Bugs are hard to keep out of any enclosure.
3) The picture on the web site shows a door inside the shed. This is exactly
what I want to do (the door would be the door to the balcony). But how is
this possible if the shed is only 6' tall?
The door you see is only 5' high.
So I think I have my structure choice - 1/2 of a Crystal Cave 9. Now can I
do that? Next could I lengthen it to 11' long? If that seems like a possible
choice, then all I have to figure out is the covering.
The best we can do is to make you 3/2 of a Crystal Cave because of the connectors. It can also only be extended by 1/2 its length to 13.5'.
We do sell Grip Clips and our Covering material which might be of use to you.
If you built a fraim you could then use Grip Clips to hang a cover under it.
Tonya,
We believe our shelters would work fine for fertilizer or sulphur storage. We don't believe there would be any chemical reactions between fertilizer chemicals and the dome materials, which are quite inert. The 18, 20' or 30' SolarDome would be suitable.
A liner will keep the greenhouse warmer in the winter. Whether a liner is necessary, depends on the particular weather in a particular winter.
Another possibility is using tarps, together with the our Grip Clip tarp fasteners, to cover the roof when you are not working on it.
We have a web page dealing with making paper models of geodesic domes which may be useful to you: http://www.shelter-systems/modle.html. We don't have any specific suggestions for building a small dome as a science project. We do have a page which shows the size-volume comparisons of different-sized domes (http://www.shelter-systems/sizes.html) and one on tensegrity and geodesic design in tent structures (http://www.shelter-systems/tensegrity.html).
I would recommend the 30' Yurt Dome. The floor does not rip easy and would handle dancing and walking fine
The 18'er comes in two 30 lb. packages.
We have tried that. It did not work well. You need a tall, chimney-like structure to create an up-draft to vent the smoke adequately.
Jon,
I don't think this material would work too well for a kayak because, although the material is extremely rip-stop, it can be punctured or abraded. Therefore, you couldn't drag the kayak across rocks.
I made a kayak, using a regular blue tarp, green willow shoots and our Grip Clip tarp fasteners, in four hours. You might want to check out our website with many photos of the kayak construction at www.gripclip.com/kayakassem.html.
The 18' dome is stronger than the 20'. Their poles are the same diameter, but the 18' dome's poles are shorter and therefore the smaller dome is stronger.
I suggest the 18 foot Yurt Dome. It is 9' tall. Shipping $40.
I do not recomend our 30'er for you; 60+ winds are too much.
Yes.
Does the structure stand on its own without the material if
we opted to use another material for the sweat lodge ceremony,
No.
then
strip the material off the structure and put up the original material
and then use the yurt as it was originally designed.
It is 7' tall in the center. You would not have much walk around room; perhaps an 8' circle. How about the 18'er?
Keeping it small in Montana might be
a good idea. I would love the room of the 20, but fear that it could not be
heated well.
Glenn
It would only make sense if you wished to exclude the moisture in the air. It sounds like your climate is dry enough so you do not need the vapor barrier.
A friend of mine used the same type of dome in the mountains of souther Ecuador
and had alot of problems with rain blowing in through the closed doors. In our area
there is not so much wind, but I will be wanting to keep all four doors open even
when it rains. What do you suggest in this case, to keep the rain out.
I suggest you attach a small tarp porch over the door openings with small tarps (Grip Clips may help you do this). Attach the tarp to the clips above the door and to the pole running horizontally to each side of the door. The tarp should be wide enough to protect the open door from rain. Tie the other corners of the tarp out and away from the dome to create a open porch. You could alternatively use our porches.
Dear Sir,
I hope this email finds you well. I live in the U.S. Virgin Islands, on
the island of St Thomas. I have designed and built a high performance 18"
Newtonian telescope which I use to do public and private Astronomy
Presentations. I am very interested in your 18' Star Bubble. Please email me a
photograph of this particular unit, so that I can see if it will work for my
purposes. I am particularly concerned about how I can rotate the dome (Star
Bubble) in order to access different areas of the sky. Please send me any
information you have that might be useful in this regard, as well as any other
information you may have. Thank you for your assistance.
Sincerely,
Kary Williams President Star Charters Astronomy Adventures
Here is an image of a 20' Bubble. The 18' Star Bubble is the very similar but is make of our light blocking covering. The structure is free standing and can be attached to coster wheels.
I visited a smallish dome in an avocado grove about 25 years ago. It was
very open with lots of skylights and was lovely. It seems that people try
to make these domes into regular houses with corners, sheetrock interiors,
and small room spaces. I would like the interior very open with lots of
skylights. My place is on a hill with lovely views. I'm not much worried
about building codes or what the neighbors would think, because it's VERY
isolated here.
So my questions is this: If you were going to put up a permanent residence
dome, who would you hire or what company would you use? Or do you do this?
My other question is esthetic: Do you think living for the summer in a dome
covered mostly with vinyl will be a good test?
Just do it yourself with the help of a couple of friends. Our domes are not made of vinyl; but yes a great idea.
It can approach the outside temp if there is no sun for days.
should I use an
alternative heat source,
Yes if you need to. The only way to tell is watch it or use a thermostat.
and how small is it to store in the summer when I
want all my plants outside???
They all pack up small. Two duffel bag size.
I am interested in the GroRow, GroDome and
lighthouse. I also rent a 200 square foot garden plot in another location
and the GroRow would work there also. What would be the benefients of having the Grodome or lighthouse instead??
You can not grow in the lighthouse.
Sounds like a great idea. Our 30'roof shell would work, being about 23' in diam. Our covering will last about 3+ years or much more if you shade it. You could attach it by running a cord from the clips (there are 20 base clips in the 30'er) down the bales and staking it to the ground or the bales. .
5'wide and 4.5' high
and the 14?
4.2' by 4.2'
No, the structures need the stability of the woven film for strength. However you can cut many large holes in the woven film between the poles and then cover the structure with the shade cloth.
My climate is not conducive to plastic, and I need the ventilation that the
shade cloth allows.
I would be interested in talking with you, I am looking for a product that I
can adapt to a traveling Butterfly exhibit. This would need to be portable,
and easy up and down.
Something that will withstand putting up and down on a weekly basis.
I would also need to be sure that it can be closed on all sides to prevent
the Butterflies from escape!
We could make you a special structure where in the shade cloth was sewn into the panels.
I need the rectangular style, and I would like to be able to make it longer
than the styles you show. I would like to go up to 30 feet long, and still
keep the height around 7 feet! Is it possible to have something such as
this?
We could go the length 33' and the height 7' but the width would have to be 9' or 11'.
We also have a 30' dome.
I would like to know if you have shelving that fits into your greenhouses to hold flats, or if you have designs for them.
We do not offer shelveing but do describe how you can make your own in our online garding manual: http://www.shelter-systems/gardening-manual.html
Look at our BubbleDome 10. or our GroDome 14.
Also see: Q&A 3/2011 5/2009 3/2009 11/2008 2008 2007 3/2007 2003 Testimonials
1 1/2-YEAR GUARANTEE. If for any reason you're not completely pleased with your purchase, return it in original, dry and clean condition within 30 days of receipt for a full refund or exchange as you wish. All items in this catalog have a warranty against defects in materials and workmanship for 1 1/2 years. Should any product prove defective we will repair or replace it at no cost to you. Special Orders are not returnable. Read Snow and Wind Warnings.
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