Local owners enjoy the style, interest and practicality of their circular homes

They're billed as wind resistant, comparatively inexpensive, open to interesting designs and noted for wraparound porches.

But there's one thing round homes can't, and don't, claim, and that's being round.

The modular dwellings in reality are many sided, usually from 10 or so to more than 20. But they look rounded and attain advantages over the typical squared-off dwelling.

While not a booming industry, the round, or circular, home market is steady at least in the Charleston area.

"I like the style, the simplicity of it," says Bernard Kruseman Aretz, who with wife Jennifer have completed constructing a circular home in Riverland Terrace. The couple live in the round wooden house with son Cassidy, 5 and daughter Reiner, 2.

Another perk is circular homes are considered solid protection from hurricanes since there are no pointed angles to build up wind pressure and velocity.

"That's a big deal," he says. "I liked the cost efficiency; the whole thing."

Bernard, who has woodworking experience, differs from many homebuyers in that he did much of the construction work himself.

An artist by profession, Bernard, with a local expert, milled a tall pine tree for the floors inside. He built the bowl sinks in the bathrooms.

The total cost was $145,000 not including the lot. "It's perfect for a family of four," he says.

The roughly 1,600-square-foot house is 14 feet off the ground. "The height really makes you feel like you are in a tree house," he says.

Rounded construction has saved on energy costs: the electricity bill is $90 a month. "It's just that circular is really efficient," he says.

"I can even put in solar. Charleston would be great for that."

To start off, Bernard checked out round-home builders and went with Asheville, N.C.-based Deltec. "You buy the package," he says.

The main area where he required help was with the truss system employed to hold up the roof.

Deltec Homes, which has been in business for more than 40 years, showcases 19 one- and two-story floor plans from 321 to 5,006 square feet. Prices range from below $150,000 to more than $400,000.

In the past few years, the company has promoted its hurricane-resistant homes, citing a post-Hurricane Katrina house it built at Slidell, La., for the "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition" television program in 2008.

Deltec is one of about a half-dozen companies that specializes in circular-home construction.

There isn't a lot of background on circular homes' resale values, but a few houses have changed hands locally.

Brian Aiken, a local commercial real estate agent, bought a round house in the Remley's neighborhood in Mount Pleasant in 1998.

Located on the road to Remley's Point boat landing, the house had been built not quite a decade earlier.

"To be honest with you, I lived in a (nearby) apartment complex," Aiken says, and jogged to the boat landing. He would pass by the house. "I though it was interesting."

When the 1,900-square-foot house went on the market, he bought it, as much for the location as the style. Aiken, who is married with two children, ages 2 and 4, says he has been satisfied with the residence.

"Everybody calls it the 'round house,' " he says.