About 25 years ago: “That’s when we first started building condensate ceilings,” said David B. South, president of Monolithic. "Companies that designed huge water tanks with offices or equipment sheds built under the tanks were our customers.

How do you keep water in a pond, canal or reservoir from seeping away? Or, how do you keep contaminants such as oil, industrial chemicals, even arsenic from seeping into the water? “Pond liners are the answer – provided they are made of quality material and manufactured and installed properly,” says David South, president of Monolithic. David points out that Monolithic Airforms, one of the company’s divisions, manufactures pond liners using reinforced PVC (polyvinyl chloride) geomembranes*, in virtually any size and thickness needed.

We received a call from a homeowner in Forreston, Texas. She wanted us to examine the creek bank in front of her house. The creek had seriously started to erode and her house was seriously getting closer to the creek. She was really worried about it falling into the creek if she lost a few more feet.

As my wife and I prepare for future exterior work on our Monolithic Dome, and to keep up with recommended Airform maintenance, it’s finally time to wash our Airform again.

Since April, British Petroleum has been trying to stem the flow of oil from a leaking deep-water well in the Gulf of Mexico. After a series of failed high-profile efforts, the company is currently trying to siphon off oil using a containment cap system and drilling relief wells aimed at stopping the flow by August. But with an estimated 60,000 barrels a day still gushing out of the well, the search is on for better solutions.

Using EcoShell I technology, our Vice President and Operations Director, Mike South, recently designed a dome-shaped gazebo that has a 20-foot diameter, is not only quick and easy to build, but is long-lasting, low maintenance and very versatile.

Is there an alternative to concrete or steel water tanks? Happily, there is and it’s a good one. Consider the Monolithic Fabric Water Tank. It consists of a heavy duty fabric liner that’s shaped like a giant hockey puck and fitted into a concrete revetment.

When designing your dome for residential or commercial use, it’s worth thinking through multiple construction possibilities early in your planning. Floor plans and fixtures might take up the bulk of your time, but an often overlooked issue is the dressing out of your exterior windows.

So after all the back-slapping, hand-shaking and fan fair during the Airform inflation, you’re finally ready to get down to the business of interior construction. From inside, you’re admiring the eye-catching, organic shape of the inflated Airform and the ethereal translucence as the sunlight filters through fabric, when a contractor derails your train of thought.

When dealing with something as “delicate” as an Airform (Airforms are as tough as a boot but because of their weight they seem delicate), rips and holes will happen. The best way to deal with these problems is to be prepared for them. This article reviews a few of the things you can do to fix such problems.

Plant Manager Donald Garrison puts Airform fabric to the test before any fabric is used to create a Monolithic Airform. Testing allows us to know the fabric’s ability to withstand tension, pressure and seam strength.

Many people want to do something – like build a dome – their way and hopefully improve on current technology. The problem is that the their/new way is usually an old way long ago discarded.

With its flirty eyes, smiley mouth and cowboy boots that glow in the dark, Bruco, our manufacturing plant in Italy, Texas, looks nothing like a typical factory. But while Bruco might look like a playful, giant caterpillar on the outside, it’s serious work on the inside.

Complex Monolithic Dome designs push Airform technology to the limit. Airforms are very strong and function well, but in some cases, aesthetics present a problem.

Blistering on a Monolithic Dome is usually minimal because of the materials used. Nevertheless, at times blisters will occur. Each time the sun gets hot on that same spot, it increases the size of the blister as the vapors expand.

The Airform is a highly engineered fabric structure that should be handled with great care. Many factors enter into its attachment to the concrete foundation.

It was 100 degrees outside on July 4th, 1980 in Menan, Idaho. The town was having a huge celebration complete with a flag-raising, sunrise breakfast, booths, games, parade, fireworks and a dance. Normally, at an occasion such as this, the kids would be running around competing in the three-legged race and bean-bag toss, and the adults would be relaxing under the big shade trees, but not this year. No, this year the adults were sweating and running under the sun the same as the kids. The adults were playing OMEGAball – a game no one can resist.

Click here to see other Airform products.

Click here to get more information about the Monolithic Airform.

How-to articles about Monolithic Airforms.

When constructing a Monolithic Dome, proper inflation of the Airform and continual regulation of air pressure are as important as clean foam and Shotcrete application.

An Airform is a highly engineered fabric structure. Because of its expense, extreme care should be taken not to damage it. The most likely time to damage the Airform is while transporting it to the job site; spreading it; attaching it; and inflating it.

Monolithic’s Airform technology can be used to build culverts. What’s more, this technology produces quality products for less money.

Click here to read more about Bridges, Culverts and Tunnels built using the Monolithic Airform construction method.

Switzerland has a small one with a 37.75’ diameter. Chile has a large one with a 90.2’ diameter. And hundreds of others with various diameters serve in many installations throughout the U.S. We’re talking about Monolithic Airforms, manufactured for USFilter at Bruco, our Airform factory in Italy, Texas.

Monolithic’s construction process demands an Airform. It’s an integral part of every Monolithic Dome, Monolithic Cabin, EcoShell and Crenosphere. The Monolithic Airform is a balloonlike, inflatable structure that determines the shape and size of a dome. It’s made of PVC-coated nylon or polyester fabric, available in several weights and a rainbow of colors. Each Monolithic Airform is designed for a specific project and manufactured in Bruco, our 240′ × 60′ factory equipped with state-of-the-art machinery. At Bruco, Monolithic also designs and manufactures other specialty fabric structures, such as compost covers, grain covers, condensate ceilings, methane tank liners, water tank diaphragms and tension tarps.

At times it is appropriate to clean the Airform, before or after the building is completed. This may be necessary because of dirt accumulated during shipping or construction, or from our not-so-clean environment.

Monolithic® Bridge technology represents an innovative solution that allows bridge construction to be stronger, longer lasting and more affordable. Historically, most bridges have been the domain of the standard, rectangular, steel or wooden form of construction. Unfortunately, these bridges have not withstood the test of time. Consequently, city and county governments are seeking affordable, yet permanent solutions for rebuilding these bridges using concrete. A Monolithic Bridge is just such a solution.

Need an underground tunnel to move people, water, or stored material, such as grain, coal or fertilizer? Need sewer pipes or a protective housing for cables? Any and all of these needs can be filled with Monolithic Construction Technology. It uses an innovative, Airformed process to construct cut-and-cover underground tunnels that cost less but have many advantages not available in standard, rectangular, concrete tunnel construction.