Living in a Yurt?

Huntmo1 · #1 05/25/13, 11:02 AM

I'm a little fascinated by yurts and was wondering if anyone on here lives (or has lived) in one or if they have any first-hand experience with them. From what I've read, they are pretty hardy and can withstand most weather conditions. I saw one site where they lived in Maine and had no problems with big snowstorms...other than that it was pretty noisy inside when the wind blows hard.

Anyone have experience with Yurts? Pros/Cons?

LisaInN.Idaho · #2 05/25/13, 11:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lanewilliam21

I'm a little fascinated by yurts and was wondering if anyone on here lives (or has lived) in one or if they have any first-hand experience with them. From what I've read, they are pretty hardy and can withstand most weather conditions. I saw one site where they lived in Maine and had no problems with big snowstorms...other than that it was pretty noisy inside when the wind blows hard.

Anyone have experience with Yurts? Pros/Cons?

If you do a search for a poster named Morningstar and yurt you will find lots of posts by her about her family living in yurts in Oregon.
She's online right now and maybe will see this and answer. She's pretty much awesome.

unregistered168043 · #3 05/25/13, 11:07 AM

I've thought about this, then I always figure I could go one step further and just put up a little shack, then as long as I am building a shack why not make it an insulated cabin? And if I can build one 10x16...why not 20x30? And so on...

Vosey · #4 05/25/13, 12:48 PM

I am also very drawn to yurts, but have never lived in one. I did look into them extensively when we were looking at land, but found such a great deal on an existing house and land I didn't get my yurt! I've seen video's of people living in them in Alaska with wood stoves, and I'm pretty sure Mongolia is very cold in the winter!

I'm assuming you've gone to Pacific Yurts website? There are some pretty fancy pants yurts out there.

Wolfy-hound · #5 05/25/13, 02:10 PM

I have plans somewhere around here for a yurt based on traditional designs.

The key to a yurt in cold weather is that it has a double layer of coverings. Inner walls are normally wool hangings, and outer wall is more like canvas to withstand weather. They are VERY VERY warm. Floors are often raised on layers of carpets or even a pallet like frame.

The way a yurt works is the wall is flexible and made like a accordion folding frame, fastened to it's own end to make the circle. The roof is slats going from a central circle to the top of the wall, and that would press the top of the wall outward, but the wall is circled by heavy 'belts' of woven fabric straps so it can't bow outward. So technically, the strongest part only has to be those straps.

When we had a very strong storm hit a fairgrounds with a few hundred tents set up, all the tents came down, even the commercial pegged down, welded metal frame tents. In fact, most came down and were rolled up in a large tangled pile against a fence. Except one lone yurt, which not only was still standing, but fairly untouched.

I would build a yurt for myself, except the weight of it is so much that loading it into my truck would be a really hard chore by myself. So I put the plans aside for now. One day I'll build one and sell it. My plans were to use whatever thrift store/Army surplus wool blankets to make the cover and canvas tarp to sew up the outer cover.

LisaInN.Idaho · #6 05/25/13, 03:00 PM

We came very close to getting a Pacific Yurt and I'm still tempted. I would love to get a small one and dedicate it as a workout/hot tub yurt. Just to have a yurt.

It might be interesting to have a more traditional yurt with wool blankets and canvas but I'd rather a modern Pacific yurt engineered for heavy snow load with a tensile cable and insulation liners with vinyl exterior.

http://www.yurts.com