I build little “domed houses” out of washing up liquid

An architect who builds tiny homes using washing up liquid wondered why it was the ideal building material.

Joel at Dome Gaia has created tiny dome-shaped homes all over the world using aerated concrete – a mixture of washing up liquid and cement.

The two components are mixed together to form an air-filled material that is processed into bricks through a mold.

Bricks can be used to build houses as well as other structures.

Builder expert Joel believes it’s a beginner-friendly material and a great place to start if you’re looking to build a tiny house on a budget.

What’s more, these tiny houses can become a side hustle if you rent them out via AirBnB.

“I think aerated concrete is a really interesting building material because the ingredients it’s made with are available everywhere on the planet,” he told Exploring Alternatives.

“Aerated concrete works well in almost every climate.

“There are concrete domes all over the world that are beautiful, attractive and unique, but they are also very cost-effective.”

Joel is the co-founder of the unique construction company Dome Gaia.

He began his career at the age of 14 and has worked in a number of industries, from technology to water purification.

In recent years, the tiny house enthusiast has dedicated his time to building dome houses and hosting workshops to teach others how to do the same.

Naturally, his favorite material for building tiny houses is aerated concrete.

“On the surface, aerated concrete looks just like concrete,” Joel said. “But when you pick it up, it’s very light.

“It’s almost something you’d expect to see on a movie set.”

But according to Joel, the material is so strong that it can withstand earthquakes.

In a YouTube video titled “Exploring Alternatives,” he revealed the most beginner-friendly “recipe” for making aerated concrete.

“You start with a mixing container where you put one 94-pound bag of Portland cement,” Joel said. “You’re going to mix that with 6 gallons of water.

“You just use a hand blender and blend it until it’s really creamy. Make sure there are no lumps in it.

“The foam you use should be between 90 and 100 grams per litre. Simply fill a small bucket with foam and weigh it on a sensitive digital scale.

“Then you can add air or subtract air from the foam depending on whether it is very heavy or light.”

Joel added that aerated concrete is a “forgiving” material, but it’s important to be precise about the amount of foam you put into the cream cement.

Once your measurements are accurate, you can mix the foam into the cement.

The final step is to pour the aerated concrete mixture into a brick mold and leave it to dry.

Joel has hosted concrete tiny house building workshops all over the world, including the United States, Mexico, Hawaii, and Thailand.