Wood is a renewable resource only if it is managed as such. Recent research by the World
Wildlife Fund indicates that future demand for wood could be met from approximately one-fifth of the worlds forest area. Sound forest management, coupled with increased productivity and continued efficiency improvements in manufacturing, can move the forest industry towards sustainability. The immediate challenge is to combat illegal harvest, poor cutting practices and over-exploration in some areas that threaten the future of forests and tarnish the entire industry. Forest “certification” offers an effective tool to conserve, protect and restore the world’s forests. Our Spruce is a “certified sustainable” wood product.
We have been using #2 premium grade Engelmann Spruce as our choice of interior wood. Other options are cedar, ash, birch, oak, aspen, maple (native Minnesota woods), ponderosa pine, or bamboo. We do not use redwood or nonsustainable tropical rainforest woods.
The interior panels can be left natural to minimize the chemicals in your living environment or you can use a “low or no VOC” type water-based wood sealer, which will darken it slightly. About 95% of our customers do not put any sealer or stain on their panels. They are truly maintenance free, non-toxic panels.
If you are looking for a white interior, we suggest you “color” the panel with a white stain. Again, a “low or no VOC” stain is wiped on, then wiped off and two coats of a non-toxic, water-based sealer are applied. This gives a beautiful luster to the finish. These applications can be easily applied to the panels while they are standing on the floor. Photo at right shows white stained panels.
Click here for interior hubcaps and trim for finishing the interior triangle panels.
The application of Sheetrock (gypsum board) in our domes requires 2×4 blocking at 16″ on center over all the triangles. Then the subject of finishing the joints must be addressed. Unless done by someone experienced with angles and using special elastic joint materials, you can expect cracking to occur. We suggest a batten strip over the panel joint to hide any cracks. Costs for sheetrocking the interior triangles usually are more than using our 1-piece wood triangle panels.
See our photo gallery below featuring our wood interior triangles.
The chart below gives a cost range for the spruce interior panels. The actual cost varies depending on how many of each size triangle are in your dome. Extensions and skylights change the totals. Updated Oct. 2021
| Model | Profile | Diameter | Avg. Cost Range |
| 500 | Mid | 26′ | |
| 625 | Mid | 29′ | |
| 650 | Low | 30′ | $4,000 – $6,000 |
| 650 | High | 30′ | $5,500 – $8,000 |
| 950 | Low | 36′ | $5,000 – $8,000 |
| 950 | High | 36′ | $7,000 – $10,000 |
| 1250 | Low | 40′ | $6,000 – $9,000 |
| 1250 | High | 40′ | $8,000 – $11,000 |
| 1500 | Low | 45′ | $7,500 – $10,500 |
| 1600 | Mid | 46′ | $10,000 – $14,000 |
| 1700 | Low | 47′ | $8,500 – $12,000 |
| 1800 | Mid | 49′ | $11,000 – $15,000 |
| 1900 | Low | 49′ | $9,500 – $13,000 |
| 2000 | Mid | 51′ | $12,000 – $16,000 |
