FERROKITS PRODUCT LINE · HOME KITS
A real home — monolithic ferrocement shell, architect-designed floor plan — that survives grid failure, Category 5, wildfire, and nuclear fallout. Not a bunker. Your primary residence.
SHELL CONFIGURATIONS
Each configuration is a starting point — your floor plan is custom. Macdonald Architects works with your site dimensions and family requirements to produce final drawings.
800–1,200 sq.ft.
1–2 bed
Ideal for couples or small families. Full ferrocement monolithic shell with optional subterranean safe room.
from $71,200
8–12 wks kit + 6–8 wks install
1,200–2,000 sq.ft.
2–4 bed
The most popular configuration. Enough space for a family of 4–6 with full 90-day supply storage.
from $106,800
10–14 wks kit + 8–10 wks install
2,000–4,000 sq.ft.
4–6 bed
Extended family homestead. Designed for long-term habitation with integrated cistern, passive ventilation, and full off-grid capability.
from $178,000
12–16 wks kit + 10–14 wks install
EVERY KIT INCLUDES
Pre-engineered galvanized mesh armature
Full structural skeleton factory-cut to your approved floor plan. Includes roof, walls, and subterranean room framing if specified.
High-strength fiber-reinforced mortar mix
Polymer-modified, compression-tested blend. Delivered bagged and kit-measured for your square footage.
Macdonald Architects engineering package
Custom floor plans, structural drawings, material specs. Every kit is architect-designed, not templated.
Thermal mass passive ventilation ports
Stack ventilation system ports pre-engineered into the shell. No electricity required for airflow.
Cistern sleeve (optional add-on)
Integrated 1,500–3,000 gallon ferrocement cistern beneath the structure. Refillable via rooftop rainwater collection.
Am-Cor installation support
Full installation sequence guide, remote support, and optional on-site crew consultation during pour phase.
Not included: foundation, interior finishing, plumbing, electrical, HVAC, windows, doors. Am-Cor provides specifications for all third-party components.
GRID-DOWN PERFORMANCE
A wood-frame home in a Texas summer without A/C hits 115–120°F inside within hours of grid failure. That's a medical emergency. A ferrocement shell stays 20–30°F cooler than outdoor temperature without any power — purely by thermal mass.
Passive stack ventilation — standard in Am-Cor designs — drives airflow through the structure using temperature differentials alone. No electricity. No fans. Just physics that's been working in masonry buildings for 3,000 years.
108°F Outdoor
Wood-frame: 115–120°F inside
Ferro: 80–85°F inside
Grid-down 48hr
Wood-frame: Life-threatening
Ferro: Manageable
Power needed
Wood-frame: Constant A/C
Ferro: Zero (passive)
After 14 days
Wood-frame: Evacuation risk
Ferro: Stable interior
HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE?
Design & Permitting
Week 1–8
Macdonald Architects finalizes your floor plan. Engineering drawings submitted for building permit. Permit timeline: 4–12 weeks typical.
Kit Fabrication
Week 4–16
Mesh armature pre-cut. Mortar kitted. Runs in parallel with permitting for faster delivery.
Foundation
Week 12–16
Concrete slab or pier foundation per engineering spec. Plumbing rough-in during this phase.
Shell Assembly
Week 16–22
Mesh erected, 3-coat mortar applied. Each coat cures 5–7 days. Roof dome and wall curves built in one continuous pour sequence.
Weathertight Shell
Week 22–26
Waterproofing coat applied. Windows and doors rough-in. Shell is structurally complete and weathertight.
Interior Fit-Out
Week 26–36+
Standard residential interior construction: framing, electrical, plumbing fixtures, insulation, drywall, finishes. Timeline depends on complexity.
FREQUENTLY ASKED
How much does a ferrocement home cost compared to wood-frame?
An Am-Cor ferrocement home kit starts at $89/sq.ft. — comparable to mid-range wood-frame construction at $80–$120/sq.ft. for the kit alone. The difference: a ferrocement shell lasts centuries with zero rot, termite, or fire risk, while a wood-frame home begins degrading from day one. The total-cost-of-ownership comparison heavily favors ferrocement over a 20–30 year horizon.
Is a ferrocement home a real home or just a bunker?
It's a real home — not a bunker with a roof bolted on. Am-Cor home kits are designed by Macdonald Architects with full residential floor plans: bedrooms, bathrooms, kitchen, living areas. The ferrocement shell is your exterior structure. Interior finishing (drywall, flooring, plumbing, electrical) is done exactly as in any construction project. You live in it like a normal house. It just happens to survive what kills everyone else's.
Does a ferrocement home stay cool without air conditioning?
Yes — significantly better than wood-frame. Ferrocement has roughly 6× the thermal mass of wood framing. The shell absorbs heat slowly during the day; interior temperatures lag 4–8 hours behind outdoor temperatures. With passive stack ventilation (standard in Am-Cor designs), a ferrocement home at 108°F outdoor can stay at 80–85°F inside all day without any power. In a grid-down heatwave, this is the difference between survivable and lethal.
Can I build a ferrocement home without a contractor?
The mortar application process is labor-intensive but learnable. Am-Cor provides an installation guide and remote support with every kit. However, most buyers use a small skilled crew of 4–6 people for the pour phase. The foundation, plumbing rough-in, and electrical work typically require licensed contractors in your jurisdiction. Think of the ferrocement shell as a specialized framing phase — not a standard skillset, but not rocket science either.
When should I start building?
The moment you're reading this. Lead times are 8–12 weeks for fabrication, plus 6–14 weeks to build. Your finished home is 14–26 weeks away. The threat calendar doesn't care about your timeline. Hurricane season starts June 1. Grid margins are tight for this summer. Material costs are up 40%+ since 2022 and rising. Every week you delay costs you money and reduces your readiness window.
Does a ferrocement home require a building permit?
Yes, in all U.S. jurisdictions. Am-Cor's engineering package includes structural drawings for permit submission. Ferrocement homes are classified as "masonry construction" in most jurisdictions — a well-established code pathway. Permit timelines vary by county: 4–12 weeks is typical. Factor this into your project timeline.
READY TO BUILD
The decision to build isn't about being a prepper. It's about being rational. The next wildfire, hurricane, or grid-down event is not an if — it's a when. Price your shell. Make your decision.