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How to Build a Glass House? Step-by-Step Guide

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It seems like glass houses have become a popular choice because they offer some distinct advantages over traditional houses. Glass domes stand out with their unique dome appearance and comfortable living environment. You must be interested in building a glass house too, but you're not sure where to start. Don't worry, we can help with that. Next, I'll show you how to build a glass house using the glass dome from Shelter Dome as an example.
25m Large Glass Dome House

The Structure of Glass House

Before you start building the glass house, it's important to understand the structure of the glass house. Once we know that, we can get to grips with the procedures and considerations faster during the construction process.
Glass House is mainly made of metal frames and glass panels.

Framework

The frame of a glass house can be made of steel or aluminum. Shelter Dome's glass domes are made of lightweight, durable aluminum because aluminum frames have advantages over steel.
  • Lightness
Aluminum is lighter than steel, which makes the overall structure more flexible and easier to handle and install. Especially for large glass houses, aluminum alloy's lightness reduces the foundation's burden and makes construction less difficult. Furthermore, aluminum alloys are easier to work with than steel and can be used flexibly in large-scale architectural designs.
  • Corrosion Resistance
Aluminum alloy has excellent corrosion resistance, which can effectively resist humidity and weather changes, extending the life of the structure. Steel frames, on the other hand, are prone to rusting in humid environments and have relatively high maintenance costs.
  • Stability
Although aluminum alloy is lightweight, its strength is enough to support glass panels. Through our professional design, aluminum frames can provide enough stability to ensure the overall structure of the glass house is safe and reliable. It is designed to withstand wind speeds of up to 120 km/h (74.5 mph) and snow loads of up to 0.5 kn/m² (51 kg/m²), with the option to customize for higher loads.
  • Aesthetics
The appearance of aluminum alloys can be painted to provide a wide choice of colors and textures (e.g. woodgrain), which better meets modern aesthetic requirements and enhances the visual appeal of the glasshouse.
  • Low Cost
Steel frames require regular painting and maintenance to prevent rust and corrosion. Although aluminum is more expensive than steel, its durability and corrosion resistance mean it requires less maintenance, which reduces the cost of building a glass house.

Glass Panel

Glass houses let in lots of natural light, making spaces feel bright and open. Since natural lighting and ventilation are already there, you don't have to rely on artificial lighting and air conditioning as much. Plus, glass houses save energy while still having a modern look that fits right into the environment and enhances the appearance of the living space. A glass house is more cost-effective than a traditional house.
 
For the glass material of the glass house, usually choose high-strength toughened glass or laminated glass. The main difference between the two is that the two types of glass do not break in the same way in the event of an accident. Toughened glass shatters into small pieces when it shatters, whereas laminated glass is designed so that it does not splatter and injure people when it shatters. In contrast, laminated glass is safer.
Laminated Glass
Our glass domes are typically made with 0.76mm PVB tempered laminated glass panels, which are composed of two layers of 5mm thick glass and a 0.76mm polyvinyl butyral interlayer.
This glass has the following characteristics:
  • Safety
The PVB interlayer keeps the glass intact when shattered, reducing the risk of splintering and enhancing safety.
  • Soundproofing
It offers good sound insulation, reducing external noise transmission.
  • Visual Clarity
It provides clear visibility with minimal distortion, suitable for applications requiring high visual transparency.
  • Weather Resistance
It maintains transparency and appearance over the long term.
  • Cost-Effective
Compared to PVC tarpaulins, glass panels are more straightforward to clean and maintain. Sturdy geodesic dome structure and high-quality dome glass ensure long-term durability of over 15 years, resulting in lower costs to build a glass house.

Before you Begin Building a Glass House

Now that you know the structure of a glass house, it's time to get started on the preparation work.

Climate

Avoid rain and snow. The recommended temperature is 10 to 30 degrees Celsius.

Platform

  • Wooden/WPC deck: thickness at least 30-50mm
  • Concrete foundation: thickness at least 100-150mm
  • Soft ground (grass/sand/soil): surface be horizontal

Tools Preparation

  • hex key
  • step ladder
  • tape measure
  • adjustable wrench
  • scaffold (mainly for domes over 7m)
  • hammer drill (for concrete foundation)
  • electric spanner(M6~M12, max torque 100N.m)

Packages Check

Please refer to the Packing List, check the packages, and make sure everything is received.

Framework poles Preparation

Arrange the framework poles by the marked number at both ends
Notice: Make sure to pick out the pre-drilled poles (for the placement of solar extractor fan, stove jack, glass window, and automatic shades) according to the Packing List, Technical Drawing Guide, and the frame pole’s item code (specified on the packaging sticker).

Site Plan

Decide the dome’s orientation and mark a circle on the platform, roughly placing the base plates according to the order’s Technical Drawing Guide.
Notice: The base plates can be placed either outdoors or indoors, usually outdoors.

How to Build a Glass House?

Here are the steps to install Shelter Dome's glass dome. Hopefully, it can help you build your glass house!

Install Base

  1. Sample the chassis: First, determine the position of the center point and the orientation of the doorway, then take the position of the doorway as the starting point and install the chassis pipe fittings (including the spoke and circumferential rods) around the center point to both sides.
Note: It is not necessary to install the coupling nut of the spoke and circumferential rod in this step, just insert the bolt into the coupling position, and the coupling bolt of the spoke and the center disc do not need to be stressed.
  1. Mark the location of the base expansion bolts or brazing points;
  2. set the expansion bolts or brazing points;
  3. Base fixing and rod connection.

Aluminium Poles Framework Assembly Layer By Layer

Installation needs to be done layer by layer starting from the bottom. Therefore, install the bottom poles first, then the first layer of poles, then the second layer, ...... The main body frame is not fully installed until the fifth layer.
  1. Install in sequence from the doorway (the space reserved for door installation) to the sides.
  2. Install the first layer of upright poles, and place them at the base plate’s inward-facing side.
  3. Install the poles in the doorway first, before installing the second tier of poles. Install the second layer of horizontal poles, and place it at the outermost, as well as the following layers of horizontal poles.
  4. Install the poles at the entrance area.
  5. Install the second layer of upright poles (place at innermost) and the third layer of horizontal poles (place at outermost).
  6. Follow the same placement rules (horizontal poles at outermost, upper upright poles at innermost, underneath upright poles in the middle), and finish the rest framework. Check the entire structure and secure all the nodes.
Here are some considerations:
  • Ensure pre-drilled poles’ placement beforehand, and make sure to install them at the correct place.
  • Double-check each pole’s marked number beforehand, just in case.
  • All the horizontal poles should be placed at the outermost.
  • Place a plain washer at both ends of each node.
  • The pole’s both ends are inclined, and the acute angle side should be inward-facing.
  • The overall structure should not be subjected to any other load until the installation of the uppermost tier of poles has been completed.

Door Frame (Entrance Units) Assembly

Connect the up, left, and right entrance units and the middle support beam with bolts.
Note: The doorway on two sides of the cover plate is not installed first, to be installed after the completion of the glass installation.

Install Door

Match the door frame and the glass door by matching the rivet nuts and predrills, then use bolts to secure.

Install Glass Panel

Glass panels should be installed according to their designated number from the top layer by layer downwards and fixed with screws.
Note: Each layer of glass installation should be completed at the same time as the layer of waterproof sealing treatment, as well as the node outside the cover plate and so on.

Install Doorway Side Panel

Place the side glass panel on the door side frame and secure it with screws. Fill the gaps between the panels with waterproof sealing caulk.

Install Flooring

Lay down the internal flooring to make the living space more comfortable aesthetically pleasing and resistant to moisture and wear and tier.

Install Window and Interior Decoration

  • The installed skylight window can not open but is an optional position.
  • Electrically-operated windows can electrically open with the same glass material as the lid outwards.
  • The triangular windows are designed for ventilation and usually have 2 convection ventilation windows
  • Additional accessories such as automatic curtains for privacy are then installed.

Final Inspection

After the glass house installation, a final check is required to confirm:
  • Confirm that the glass dome structure is firmly and reliably connected and that there are no missing bolts or loosened bolts;
  • Confirm that there is no omission of waterproof sealant at all locations and that the waterproof test performance is good;
  • Confirm that there is no excess sealant and no dirt on the surface of all structures and glass;
  • Confirm that there are no obvious scratches or cracks on the glass surface;
  • Confirm that the installation site has been cleaned.

Conclusion

After learning the steps of building glass domes, that help you know how to build a glass house, hurry up and build a glass house of your own.
Shelter Dome's glass dome gives you an extra-large view, and you can also get custom window coverings and modular furniture to make it more private and comfortable. Perfect for creating your own living space. It's super durable and weatherproof.
We will also provide a detailed installation manual and video to guide you through the entire installation process. If there is any difficulty, you can contact our best after-sales service team to help you solve the problem. If you'd rather not do it yourself, we can even provide on-site installation services, a true one-stop shop!
Don't hesitate to contact us!

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