Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, May 7, 1995 TAG: 9505080027
SECTION: HOMES PAGE: C-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: JAMES DULLEY
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
A: Circular house kits are ideal for a do-it-yourself builder/helper on a limited budget. House plans range from 800 sq. ft. single-story to 4,000 sq. ft. multistory designs. Prices start at $12,000. Heating and cooling costs should be about 25 percent less than a typical rectangular house.
Most circular houses are not true circles. They are a series of 4- or 8-foot-wide insulated 2x4 or 2x6 wall panels that create a circular appearance. A circular design provides unique room layouts and shapes.
Assemble various size strong insulated panels (some with built-in windows and doors) to create any house design. Most kits are designed to require no interior support walls, so room layouts are limitless. As your family's size and needs change, it is simple to modify the interior room layout.
Several workmen can erect the walls and attach the self-supporting roof over a weekend. Some complete kits include all panels, windows, doors, hardware, adhesives, etc., literally everything needed. Many manufacturers send a technician along to supervise the basic shell erection.
Most circular houses are completely surrounded by large decks/porches for greater integration of indoor and outdoor living. A large roof overhang (in all directions) completely shades all the windows from the hot summer sun, but lets in the winter sun for passive solar heating.
Since each room's exterior wall is comprised of several panels at different angles, interior room layouts are interesting. Choosing a design with 8-foot wide panels allows you to place furniture flat against all walls.
Circular houses are inherently energy efficient. They typically have about 20percent less exterior wall surface area than a similar-size rectangular house. Since the kits are manufactured under tight quality control standards in a factory, they are airtight when completed.
The circular shape also lets the cold winter winds flow smoothly over it. This reduces heating bills and chilly drafts. By installing efficient casement windows, there is ample natural cross ventilation in each room.
One unique circular house design is built on a pedestal foundation. For energy efficiency and fire safety, the bedrooms are often on the first floor and the living area on the second story. The kits come complete with spiral staircases and super-insulated floors and roof panels.
For a listing of manufacturers of circular houses and kits, six floor plan layouts and exterior diagrams (1,000 to 4,000 sq. ft.), prices and construction and material specifications write to James Dulley, Roanoke Times & World-News, 6906 Royalgreen Dr., Cincinnati, Ohio 45244 Ask for Update Bulletin No. 673. Please include $2 and a business-size self-addressed, stamped envelope.
Q: Each spring, I start several flats of annual flowers from seeds. I use several two-tube fluorescent fixtures above them in my utility room. About how much does it cost to keep the lights on?
A: Unless you start a lot of flowers, you probably spend more on supplies and electricity than you would buying the plants at a nursery. Most 4-foot long fluorescent tubes are 40 watts. Including the ballast, estimate about 100 watts for each two-tube fixture to make calculations simple.
For each 10 hours on time, the electric cost is just your local electric rate. At a rate for 8 cents per kilowatt-hour, it costs about 20 cents per 24 hours.
by CNB