Aircrete - Everything you need to know before you start 

I used aircrete as a primary form. Then a bonding agent and a finish layer of concrete. I built a huge 1800sq ft house. Steel reinfirced roof with natuaral look on the outside, and external walls are all 14" thick earthbag with reinforced rebar every 4 feet. Concrete covered outer and plaster interior. It matches the natural very large boulders on my property ! Turned out beautiful, with post and beam interior from round wood I harvested here. It was a lot of work with it just being me building it. My suffestion is find people who are like minded and help each other on your builds. Mine has wuth stood a 6 1 and a 5.9 earthquake as well as several fires in the area. One fire took out 250 structures. People underestimate the strength of this type of building. My house will be standing 100 years longer than these stick- built homes. It looks beautiful and Everyone that has seen it thinks it is great. Built into the side of the mountain, it is about 15°F cooler in the summer than anything else around here - naturally !!😊

Incredible video. Soooo much quality information with no filler. Right to the point. Specific, clear, accurate. Bravo.

You should set up shop in Hawaii to help replace the homes that burned, get them going before winter.

Aircrete Europe: founded in 2002 The term aircrete was coined far earlier than 2015. Trademark: AIRCRETE submitted August 14, 1990 by Thermalite limited corporation

Oh my gosh! Honest discussion about Aircrete? Thank you!

Wow great vid, really brings clearity and very honest !

Great overview. Thank you.

Well explained! Thank you!

Very informative, thank you

Very informative,, quick and to the point. Thank you,

I saw quick crete also on a van. Just another name... I like what Dome Gaia provides. It's more than about concrete.

Useful information

I’m super excited about this material. I live in Anchorage, AK and plan to build a house next year. My idea is to use CMU columns and bond beams and use aircrete as an infill. Do you see any reason I couldn’t do that? I’d use rigid foam on the outside of the wall and metal siding over that. The hope would be to reduce cost and add insulation value.

In Europe, the "Aircrete" like products are available for decades, being (in this part of Europe) actually number one material for residential houses. The products are ranging from pure cement based to ones with high gypsum additive, which drastically increase R value. And yes, you can have products with steel reinforcement - all lintels of my aircrete house are made of U shaped aircrete lintels, that have reinforcing bars inside. By the way the aircrete blocks are very very precise, polished to less than 0.5 mm precision. You don't have to even join the aircrete blocks with cement mortar, you can use (approved) mounting foam from a can. My house was built this way more nearly 15 years ago, from Ytong aircrete blocks, 300x500x250 mm. The material is excellent to work with as pointed in the video, it's easy to cut to shape, cut slsots in, etc. The only down side is strength (compared to traditional brick or concrete wall), for heavy stuff like kitchen cabinets, I used 250mm (10") long dowels and screws. As said, Ytong and similar materials are now prevailing in construction of new houses here. I believe it has to be cheaper than stick building, considering how much effort (man-hours) that requires. And it's among the cheapest materials too.

What is the compression strength of your standard (22 lbs/cu ft) formula?

A few questions. Would it be a descent material to make a hobit home? Have you tried making it with the rediscovered Roman Concrete formula? Have you tried mixing it with sawdust. Sawdust and concrete=dustrcrete?

I was hoping you could comment on my idea. I plan to build my exterior walls with two materials; 8” hempcrete blocks with 6” of foamcrete on the exterior. I am also planning on cladding the exterior with sandstone or limestone veneer. How does foamcrete hold up to direct fire? Any issues you see with my thoughts/ideas

If you're planning a main dome to be 40 ft in diameter, is there a better material to use? What about multiple levels in a home? Could these domes be combined to a shipping container home?

Awesome video! Love to find a video on electric/plumbing/septic with aircrete.

I'm planning to build in Arizona; what would it cost to build a 10', 15', or 20' dome?

You can increase the strength of aircrete by about 50% by adding graphene in solution made by using the shear exfoliation method.

Have you noticed with aircrete and gel kandels (candles) any strengthening ? Possibly Gel of mineral oil and polymer creates durability in aircrete too.

Thanks for what you and your dad are contributing. I am really interested in hempcrete and straw bale for the insulation and thermal mass properties but mainly, I HATE mold and mildew smell. Hempcrete is said to regulate moisture in humid and hot environments. How does aircrete compare? can it regulate humidity like the others and if so are there special materials needed to finish it to allow it to breath?

High heat areas that regularly have 30 to 90 days triple digit temps; would the thermal value result in heating the interior more, thereby reducing the cooling efficiency? Also, do you use a raised floor or trough system in the foundation for running electrical and water lines or do you form the bricks around conduits?

Using the 12 inch bricks for winters like in NY and NEng, would you recommend any exterior treatments to resist such weather damage with aircrete? Thanks for your time and hope all is well, good sir.

How about .7% by metric volume of graphene can I add that would it change the Rvalue and tensile strength?

Sounds like a perfect material to build around the outside of a shipping container home.

It's low tensile and compressive strength makes it easy to break in or blow away in a storm.

Hello, I have a question, can we mix the aicrete with wheat straw? Have you tried using clay instead of cement? Thank you so much

Let us say you are into creating objects such as unique poured hand basins and like the idea of the lighter weight. Could one consider adding a % of liquid glass to the detergent reservoir or water feed? Will the water glass provide extra strenght to the finished product once cured?

I remember seeing a home similar to these being built along the highway on the way to the cottage. I only know of this one they look cool to bad it never became popular and I’m going back 40+ years

aircrete for countertops might have utility if you could figure out how to use it as a core with regular concrete poured around it to completely encase it. This should reduce the weight of the countertop over only using full density concrete. If, for example, you wanted hefty looking 3" thick countertop. 3" of solid concrete would weight a ton (and perhaps a literal ton). But if you were able to pour a 3/4" thick bottom, a 1 1/2" thick core of aircrete, and then a 3/4" thick top. A 1 1/2" - 2" wide perimeter on all four sides you give solid edge could end up with a countertop that is 30%-40% lighter. The issue arguing against this is that regular concrete poured on or around aircrete after the aircrete has cured does not bond very well. The bottom, the four sides and the top could be done in one pour so they fully bond with each other, even if the bond to the aircrete sitting in the middle isn't that great. This would require some type of legs on the aircrete to keep it 3/4" off the bottom of the countertop form. To do that you could drill holes through the aircrete and put 2 1/4" machine bolts through the holes with a nut and bolt on the bottom so that there will be 3/4" between the bottom of the form and bottom of the aircrete. If there is any concern with the relatively thin 3/4" thick top and bottom layer along with the 2" rim around the edge being strong enough, 2 1/2" machine screws with washers and nuts so that 1/4" of the bolts are projecting sticking out of the aircrete. Then two pieces of welded wire mesh that extend past the aircrete 2" on all four sides could be tied to the bolts about a 1/2" up from the bottom of the form and to the 1/4" of the bolts sticking out of the top to the bolts. Once the mesh is tied to the bolts, bend the edges over about an inch out from the edges of the aircrete. There should be some overlap between the wire mesh coming up from the bottom and down from the top. Might even throw in a couple of wire ties at the overlap of the edges. Then pour 3/4" of full density concrete in the bottom of the countertop form, set the aircrete/bolt/wire assembly down on the concrete and work it in until the ends of the bolts are resting on the bottom of the form. Then immediately pour the rest of the concrete around the sides of the aircrete up to the tops of the forms. Hopefully the aircrete would then just hang out in the middle of the concrete, the bolts and wire serving to give the thin top and bottom concrete layers extra strength and the bolts serving to mechanically tie the aircrete and concrete together. Hopefully none of the bolt end stick up through the concrete top. Or maybe you want to use 3" bolts so the tops of the bolt head end up just slightly proud of the top surface of the countertop. Then when the concrete is fully set, then grind the bolt heads flush with the top and polish both the concrete and bolt heads until they are both shiny and smooth. Might want to go with stainless steel bolts if you do this so they don't tarnish.

Thanks for this informative video! I have questions about sandwiching the aircrete in fabric. Is it a good idea to incorporate the fabric during the pouring stage? For example, creating an arch form, draping the fabric over it, and pouring the aircrete directly onto the membrane fabric. Or, for a straight wall, tensioning the inner and outer fabrics, supporting them with forms, and pouring the interior. Would doing that help the membrane fabrics adhere to the airecrete? I live in a textile-producing city so I have access to lots of surplus fabric at $1/square meter. The bolt sizes I have access to are typically 60 inch (1.5m) x 200 meters long. There are many material choices but I'd say the three main options are 100% polyester, 60% poly/40% cotton, or 100% woven polyethylene. Are any of those options suitable for the sandwiching fabric? I appreciate your great videos with applied knowledge, it's been really inspirational.

I'm involved in a large project in Belize, and this is something I've been researching and am considering implementing in the project. My question is is it possible to add shredded tires to increase the tensile strength of the air Crete? Also, would Dome Gaia be interested in getting involved with a portion of this project? Specifically, the section that will cover affordable housing?

Do you have experience using it in conjunction with other materials, like straw bales?

Would it be possible to use aircrete and perhaps a mesh over adobe structures to add insulation from the elements/ insects in humid climates. Adobe houses are often looked at as not practical due to how brittle the walls become in high humidity climates and how easy it is for bugs to infest them. Would aircrete alleviate this issue if used in conjunction ?

I have a question, in a mold made for concrete for a statue what are the cost benefits and would different release agents be needed for release from the silicone mold?

Like I said before. It is nice if you do not need a building permit. If you need one and have to show some documentation of its strength, structural integrity, aircrete is not the way to go. Steven Areen’s dome house wasn’t made with aircrete. It was built with 4” concrete blocks and some earth blocks (ladrillos) . And if you like to build “cheap” - the Domgaia tool set is already $1,500 plus shipping. For $1,500 I got all my 6” concrete blocks I needed. I have to build on a budget. My house will be around $15,000 - $20,000. Depending how crazy I want to go.

If you built a conventional square or rectangle house with vertical walls rather than dome walls, could the aircrete walls support the weight of a conventional roof (rafters, sheathing, shingles or metal)? Given the previous scenario, if you had rafters and sheathing, could you pour an aircrete roof? Lastly, where I live in Maine, building codes require cement walls go to the frost line below a slab. Could you trench the perimeter of a slab down to frost line and pour aircrete into the trench and then when hardened pour an aircrete slab on top of the perimeter aircrete walls?

Hi, great video. What about building a boat in Aircrete? There are many sailboats being built in concrete, reinforced by chicken wire steel structures. That's a durable and attractive material for homebuilders, but heavy. I'm thinking Aircrete with layers of glass fibre sounds more compelling; lightweight, easy to handle and probably cheaper than Divinycell foam plus epoxy. Do you have any experience or thoughts?

Good video. Vinay here Am an architect from India. One simple question. Can we have cast in situ aircrete for a 12 m or 40 feet dia dome ?? The probable precautions that Must be followed. Also suggest the Consultancy charges that will allow me to take your guidance while we are building this dome. We are actually building some 30 domes of this size, hence my request.

Many people look at ancient temples built with granite, basalt, limestone, etc and think that our ancestors were primitive. Yet what it displays is a level of ingenuity beyond todays standards. those ancient stone temples, buildings, etc have lasted thousands upon thousands of years to this day still remaining. They were actually building with far more sophistication then todays home which break down within less then 100 years or sooner. I look at this Aircrete as somewhat a version of ancient building techniques. keeping it simple, less moving pieces, and can outlasts most homes in the market, if not all of them.

Would love to know - is it possible to build a dome with a 30ft diameter with aircrete? My partner and I are starting to research dome style houses but I think we are leaning towards 1-2 big ones instead of grouping smaller ones together.

I have used a product called Rapidset a few times for varying projects. Every time i come across an aircrete video, i start wondering if this product could improve the mix being that Rapidset is much stronger and sets faster than normal concrete. They also make a plasticizer product called Flow Control that changes the consistency when being mixed and poured. I have considered building a small bubble generator myself to try, but im wondering if anyone else has tried it first.

I wonder if food based foaming agents would help?

can aircrete be used to build masonary furnaces? In a cold climate a dome house with a masonary furnace would be incredibly warm, but the furnaces are heavy and difficult to build from conventional concrete.

Can I use it for a cister? I want to create a cistern at a high altitude build site that gets cold for a large % of the year and wjile I would bury it, wonder if this would add any benefit related to reducing how deep I'd need to bury to prevent the water from freezing.

I am curious, they build these files in Hawaii and other tropical places, how do these domes do with high winds or hurricane?

I'm curious. Can you build a rebar/mesh shell and just spray on the aircrete? Or, would that just not be thick enough as blocks? Thanks

How about leaving a 2" gap between two four inch walls? Like a double-paned window. Would this greatly increase the R value?

I live in New England and I'm interested in having an aircrete dome home built here. I would want it to be built for me and definitely do not want just any contractor building it. If they are not experienced with aircrete they will screw it up, guaranteed, no matter how easy it is. Do you build here and if so when can the building start?

Awesome!!!

Will it work on an rusty roof corulated sheet metal those metal roofs are an pain every ten years you have to replace them

I’m curious about how you add ventilation and electricity and if this can be used as a mobile home.

Dear Dome Gaia,is it possible to use hempcrete to build Domes.i am doing a project in the carribean and looking for construction company that could do this.thanks for any info or advice for this project.

What video has the building with flip-up walls/horizontal pours?

Could I use it to build an inground swimming pool? I'd anchor the pool with some piliings, so I'm really asking about the walls. Wouldn't the dirt around the pool serve as the real reinforcement for the walls?

Is aircrete pumpable? and if so i wonder if it could be good product for 3D printing homes.

Hard water bad, ok. What about muddy water? Ill be starting a build this spring in south-central Vietnam. From what i gather the water in the hose comes out of the fish ponds around the farm. I have been planning to just buy all my bricks, maybe make a little cob. But this Aircrete keeps popping up in my build searches, and as a sculptor, it seems intriguing.

I would like to build my own dome home and the aircrete material sounds good. How can I get an aircrete machine? On another note I have an idea for a very large dome to turn it into a restaurant however I'm going to need about 200 acres for the project idea that I have. So I can use all the help that I can get.

How do you cut the windows to fit those odd shapes? Im so curious as to how that works. Where to get the glass?

I want to use Hempcrete for a dome house shell.....

Can you use it to replace conctrete slabs used for walling in south africa we call it vibacrete?

What does one do for an area with Seismic Activity? Zone D seismic. Can you form it around a rebar dome structure? Or, what about 2x4 fencing on both the inside & outside & knit them together, & then use the stucco on both the inside & out?

Could an Aircrete home be built partially under ground ?

I saw a couple make a home with it. But I'm looking to build in Vermont and even considering building it as an earth home os most of the joke would be below the frost line. Is this usable or just above ground.

What if you added hemp Hurd and cedar shreds and used it for interior panels

My wife wants me to do this so bad ! Thanks !

would Love to know the cost of your equipment and if training is available

Ist possible in Philippines which is hot and at the same time raining with flood?

Very interesting video. Question. My land requires a building of at least 600 square feet of livable space. That’s a pretty huge dome, although I’m not opposed to a dome if I could build it basically myself within a year as an amateur. Domes are quite cool, but whether I go with a dome or a more traditional single story rectangular home, you didn’t cover internal walls to create rooms of different types which for obvious reasons have benefits and would be desirable for my family. Firstly, can internal walls be built safely and effectively using aircrete? Secondly, if yes, can one do this in both a dome and rectangular structure? And lastly, are domes and one story rectangular homes about the same in difficulty and time it takes per square foot or significantly different? Thanks.

What do you think about using aircrete as a construction material for trailer campers? Considering it's brittle nature, I wonder if it'd be appropriate structures that are on the move...like a camper.

in the 1970s the British artist Roger Dean proposed and build rounded structures for dwelling/workshops using a sprayed concrete called GUNNITE. This was sprayed onto forms such as inflated balloons, etc. and then later windows and doors were cut using sawzall. Is this the same material??

Why can’t I make a whole mold of the building then make enough air Crete to fill it and set up. Will that work?

Would this be good in places like Washington State and how much is the cost compared to other homes

I wonder if you could mix it with hemp powder to strengthen the product ?

Could you Barry the Domes under earth to make a hobbit house ?

Some of those FAQs...anyone asking those questions probably need to stick to single wides.

What’s it like getting a permit ?

This is a 70 year old technology in Europe. It is called Autoclaved aerated concrete. While the recipe for it is a little different as it also contains gypsum (making it more white), it is the same basic thing.

What’s the best money making operation for this? Could you make pavers with this?

I like to know more about your company I want to put a dome house on my property in northern California, but it have to be no smaller than 600 square feet

What do you Think 12 to 24 inch Wall in Alaska for Insulation...??? Can you Pl😂ase Answer?

How well does the aircrete dome hold up to hurricanes.

Do you think it would ever be possible to 3d print with aircreat

Hey congratulations! Really nice how can Iearn?

Do you put on a class for training on building

Hi, I began researching alternative construction methods for a tiny house and came across your channel. I love it, Airecrete seems to solve many of my problems. I'm thinking about making wood frames for a zome (or maybe a geodesic dome) and then filling them with Aircrete for the paneling. Do you think that might work?

Have you ever try it using 3D printing to build the dome instead of separate blocks?

Could you fill a small log splitter tire with aircrete?

Would aircrete work for a fence/wall? I want to put up a 100' long 8' tall privacy fence and am looking for affordable options. Since it's so tall, it would probably need to be at least a foot wide, and maybe wider would be better. It would probably have to be reinforced with fiberglass mesh for strength too. Perhaps it would need reinforcement sections made out of some other material such as bricks. Is this feasible or would brick be better? Since it's relatively lightweight, would it need a concrete footing? This is is in a desert area with quick draining soil, if it matters.

how about that hemp fiberglass Henry Ford was doing 0 dmg on for that shell? hempcrete load skeleton? just stacked pavers to make pillars.

Love this! Who is your point of contact here in Thailand? I'd like a home built in Udon Thani. Thanks in advance!

What about insulation from damp?

What are the lowest temperatures these could stand? You said they can be built anywhere in the world, but will they work if the temperatures go to -35°C in the winter? Would they need some kind of insulation added then, or just thicker bricks?

My blocks keep crumbling after I remove them from the forms, I am using 0.45 w/c ratio no fibers. Do I need to increase the w/c ratio?, Do I need to add fibers? I waited 3 days before forms removal.

I'm asking this question as a complete novice, so keep that in mind, but if you shredded aluminum foil, or recycled aluminum pressed into thin sheets and added this to the mixture in the right amount, would this increase the strength, as well as perhaps improve water permeability issues prior to sealing, or might there be an unpleasant effect from this combination, if not immediately known, over time?

Aerated cement is best suited to be used as a non-structural, non-load-bearing wall adjunct in order to provide space closure and space insulation. What densities correlate with the quoted R values ? Can anyone supply that information here ?

Great video thanks... a little typo at 6:00 RECCOMENDED = recommended

aerated concrete has been around a long time & now buildings all across the uk are failing from it.