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Planning guide · Choosing a supplier
Choosing an Event Dome Company: Questions to Ask Before You Rent or Buy
Event domes look alike in photos, but the companies behind them differ in what they engineer, document, install, and include. These are the questions worth asking any supplier, with our own answers so you can compare.
In short
Before you rent or buy an event dome, ask the supplier five things: what engineering and permit documents come with the dome, what fire documentation the cover carries, who delivers and installs it, what the quote includes and leaves out, and how branding and projection work. Clear written answers make quotes comparable.
Engineering and permit documents
Ask what engineering the supplier provides for your site, and whether it is available where your event is. Permit offices often want project-specific documents, anchoring or ballast details, and a site plan with the application.
Our answer: Permitting documentation and engineering are available in all 50 states. Anchoring and project documents depend on the engineering and the specific job. Wind and anchoring performance depends on the engineering report for your dome, the anchoring or ballast used, ground and site conditions, and local rules.
Fire documentation for the cover
Fire officials commonly ask for a certificate showing that the structure’s fabric meets NFPA 701, the flame-propagation test for textiles and films. Ask which document the supplier provides and whether it covers your state’s rules.
Our answer: Flame-retardancy documentation (NFPA 701 / CPAI-84) is available from the fabric vendor. Local and state requirements vary, so the applicable documentation is provided and confirmed during quoting.
Who delivers, installs, and removes it
Some suppliers ship a structure for your crew to build; others install it themselves. Ask who is on site, what equipment and access they need, and how setup and removal windows are agreed.
Our answer: delivery, installation, and strike and removal are available services, quoted per project, with setup and removal windows agreed in advance.
What the quote includes
Line items make quotes comparable: the structure and cover, delivery, installation, removal, and any upgrades. Ask what is excluded as well as what is included.
Our answer: a rental quote lists the dome and its cover, the quoted services, and upgrades such as flooring, printed branding, lighting, climate control, projection, sound and AV, and technical staffing. Event dome rental cost explains what shapes the total.
Covers and branding
Ask which covers are available, whether printed covers can be reused, and how the cover changes the room: light, privacy, and projection.
Our answer: clear, translucent, blackout, and printed and branded covers, with interior liners and additional options depending on the project. Printed and branded covers on rentals are reusable for repeat or multi-city use.
Projection and immersive options
If the dome will host projection, ask who supplies the system, the content, and the operator, and what the supplier needs from your venue.
Our answer: Projector count, resolution, audio, and power are configured for your dome size, content, and venue when we quote the project. Technical staffing and show operation, and custom content coordinated through our production partners, are available when scoped.
Rent or buy, and the terms
Ask whether every size can be rented and bought, and how cancellation and warranty work, before you commit.
Our answer: Every standard size can be purchased or rented. Warranty is pro-rated and depends on the use case. Terms are provided with your quote. Rental cancellation terms are set out in your proposal and contract.
How quickly they respond
Our answer: We respond to inquiries or return calls within 24 hours. Quote preparation time depends on your project's scope and complexity. We'll discuss the expected timeline when we connect.
Checklist
Questions to ask any event dome supplier
The short version, to send with every quote request.
| Question | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| What engineering and permit documents come with the dome? | Permit offices often require them before the event |
| What fire documentation does the cover carry? | Fire officials commonly ask for NFPA 701 certificates |
| Who delivers, installs, and removes it? | It decides your crew, equipment, and schedule |
| What does the quote include, and what does it exclude? | Line items make two quotes comparable |
| Which covers are available, and can printed covers be reused? | The cover sets the look, the light, and the branding |
| Who supplies projection, content, and an operator? | Immersive shows need all three planned together |
| How do cancellation and warranty work? | Terms differ by supplier, so get them in writing |
Questions to ask any supplier. Their answers, and ours, are confirmed in the written quote.
Choosing
When a local rental company is the better call
A specialist isn’t the right answer for every event. Here’s the honest split.
A local rental company is the better call when
- You need a standard structure in a common size, quickly
- The structure is cover, not part of the experience
- Branding and projection don’t matter to the brief
- Budget decides it and the site already has what you need
A dome specialist earns its place when
- The structure is part of the experience, and guests will remember the room
- You need engineering and permitting documentation for your site
- Branding or projection should cover the whole structure
- The program repeats or tours, so reusable covers pay back
The Dome House
How The Dome House works
Our event domes are freestanding geodesic structures with an engineered steel frame and a polymer cover, designed for repeated setup and teardown. They’re made to order, and the schedule is confirmed during quoting.
Standard sizes run from 20 to 90 ft, and every standard size can be purchased or rented. Quoted by location and date across the U.S., including Alaska and Hawaii, where extra shipping and lead time apply. International projects are reviewed case by case.
Before you request a quote
What to send any supplier for a comparable quote
Send every supplier the same details, so the quotes cover the same scope.
01
Your dates, including setup and removal windows
02
The site: address, indoor or outdoor, and the surface
03
Headcount and layout: theater, banquet, reception, or a mix
04
What happens inside: staging, dining, lounge, or projection
05
Branding and covers: the look you want
06
Rental or purchase, and whether the event repeats
Ready to talk about your project?
A free 30-minute video call with Erick, our cofounder. Or call (866) 767-3117.
Questions, answered
Common questions
What should I ask an event dome rental company?
Ask what engineering and permit documents come with the dome, what fire documentation the cover carries, who delivers and installs it, what the quote includes and excludes, and how branding, projection, cancellation, and warranty work.
Do event domes need a permit?
Often, depending on the structure’s size, the site, and local rules, and the fire or building official decides. For our domes, permitting documentation and engineering are available in all 50 states.
Are event dome covers fire rated?
Ask for the documentation. For our domes, flame-retardancy documentation (NFPA 701 / CPAI-84) is available from the fabric vendor, and the applicable documents are confirmed during quoting.
How do I compare event dome quotes?
Line by line: the structure and cover, delivery, installation, removal, upgrades, and what’s excluded. Send every supplier the same scope so the totals mean the same thing.
How quickly will I hear back?
We respond to inquiries or return calls within 24 hours. Quote preparation time depends on your project's scope and complexity. We'll discuss the expected timeline when we connect.
Still have questions? Book a call with our team →
Looking for a permanent dome home or a glamping dome instead? See our dome kits.
Book a call
Book a call with our team
Choose a day and time that works for you. We’ll connect over a quick video call to discuss your goals and how we can help.
- Event & projection rentals with delivery, setup, and teardown
- Straight answers on pricing, permits, and timelines
Prefer the phone? (866) 767-3117
Start your project
Compare us with a complete quote
Tell us the dates, the site, and the program. We’ll send a quote with every line item, so you can compare it with any other supplier. We respond to inquiries or return calls within 24 hours. Quote preparation time depends on your project's scope and complexity. We'll discuss the expected timeline when we connect.
Prefer to talk it through?
A free 30-minute video call with Erick, our cofounder. Or call (866) 767-3117.