David B. South, president of Monolithic, is a self-taught, hands-on expert on polyurethane foam. In fact, if it were not for David’s discovery of polyurethane foam’s potential as a construction material, Monolithic Domes as we know them today probably would not exist.
In 1970, David received a beautiful statue that appeared to be carved of oak but was made of polyurethane foam. That material fascinated David, who immediately began attending informational seminars and gathering whatever documentation he could find.
The rest, as they say, is history because David began experimenting with sprayable foam as a major ingredient in dome structures.
Since then, David has authored The Polyurethane Foam Book that answers just about any question anyone may have about what David calls, “a magic material and the world’s best-kept insulation secret.”
In addition, David has written many articles, presented on our website and published by others, both in print and online.
David B. South, President of Monolithic, has plenty to say on the subject of Polyurethane Foam. What began as a fascination in 1969 turned into bread and butter by 1971. (Continued…)
When sprayed on the interior of a building, with no covering such as shotcrete or drywall, polyurethane foam can create a dangerous fire hazard. Monolithic Domes are as close to fireproof as you can make a building with today’s technology. Yet they have urethane as a major component. Currently, urethane foam is the world’s best insulation, but let me tell you the rest of the story. (Continued…)
“Polyurethane foam is no stranger to us,” said Monolithic’s President David B. South in a recent discussion of home insulation at MDI headquarters in Italy, Texas. “After all, it’s a major component of the Monolithic Dome building process,” he continued. “But I’m still continually surprised by how little the construction industry and the average American homeowner know about this wonderful product.” (Continued…)
One of the characteristics of polyurethane foam is density. Density equals how many pounds per cubic foot it weighs. So when we say we want two-pound density foam, it means we want two pounds per cubic foot of foam weight. This can be a little confusing. (Continued…)
Generally, in the US, footings are not insulated. By not insulating the footing, we have a place where cold can enter our houses. Monolithic Dome builders may need to consider insulating footings of Monolithic Dome homes to provide a thermal break and reduce chances for condensation and/or mold growth. (Continued…)
It is imperative that you, the dome owner/builder, understand the basics of foam application to monitor the process and look for potential problems. This article describes the foam application process and could be given to a foam contractor so expectations are clear. (Continued…)
Correct rebar hanger placement takes a detailed, well organized process. (Continued…)
In the following sample chapter of the ebook Urethane Foam: Magic Material – And the Best Kept Insulation Secret, David explains why the R-value is misleading, how it was devised and why it’s flawed and biased. It also includes case histories and discusses the purpose and workings of insulation. (Continued…)
The foam applicators listed here have paid a small fee to have their names on our website. They are totally on their own. We do not necessarily know them; we would strongly suggest you use your due diligence and get references. (Continued…)
