Making Them Livable

Making Yurts Livable

Does a yurt need to be constructed on a deck?

Yurts can be set up on the ground or a deck. We built our yurts on a deck using 1 1/8" tongue and groove plywood and painted the plywood with oil based floor paint. We then covered the floors with oriental style rugs. Some choose to use tongue and groove pine (2" x 6") flooring, laminate or vinyl. Yurt decks can also be built as round or square. We chose round which is more difficult since the decking material has to be cut with a circular saw.

Important: If you want a square deck make sure the deck for the yurt is higher than the rest of the deck to keep the water out of the yurt during

foul weather.

With a round deck we built a drip edge out of thin plywood (3/8") around the perimeter to fasten the yurt's wall canvas to and allow water to run off the canvas onto the ground.

For the yurt's deck structure we used 4 x 4 posts. On slopes or hillsides you may want to use thicker material (4 x 6). Beams were 4 x 6.

Another method for yurt deck construction is to buy SIP's or structural insulated panels. They come in several R-values and lengths. Essentially they are foam panels with OSB on both sides of the foam core. They are easy to install and require less of a deck structure since the panels can span greater distances compared to standard plywood decking or tongue and groove flooring. A good source of SIP's is at http://www.sipsproducts.com.

If you would like to use a more environmentally friendly SIP like product check out http://www.agriboard.com. They make a SIP product that uses highly compressed recycled straw instead of the foam core. It's a neat product.

Some yurts are constructed on concrete slab, quarry tile or even packed dirt.

Visit some of the web sites of the major yurt companies. They often provide free deck plans.

Do you need to insulate the yurt?

Insulation should be considered if you plan to use your yurt year around. We used R-13 fiberglass batts for the floor and protected it from nesting animals with heavy duty fabric like landscape weed barrier you can purchase at Home Depot.

For the yurt walls and ceilings Astrofoil was used which is a NASA inspired product. Astrofoil is basically two layers of bubble wrap encased in a layer of silver foil on the outside. You can buy it by the roll (we bought 4 foot rolls) and trim it with scissors. Aluminum tape can be used to attach pieces together or seal holes.

Many yurt manufacturers sell insulation packages which are sometimes made of Astrofoil and include a lining cover. We bought bed sheets for the inner lining to cover the astrofoil. I have heard that covering the silver Astrofoil cover minimizes the effectiveness of the product. We left our yurt ceilings uncovered.

For the yurt windows we made Astrofoil covers that can be placed on the inside to cover the vinyl yurt windows during cold weather. We also cover the yurt skylight in colder months to prevent heat from escaping through the roof.

If you want to learn more about the product visit http://www.reflectech.com. They also sell a product with foil on one side and a white covering on the other.

There is an alternative to using astrofoil called The Insulator. It seems to have a higher R value and is made of recycled blue jeans. I like it since it is made of a recycled product and is eco-friendly. For information visit http://www.bondedlogic.com/insulator.htm.

Can I have a bathroom in a yurt?

You certainly can add a bathroom in a yurt. Freezing temperatures would be the major concern for water pipes (wrap the pipes well). Grey water systems can be added for shower and sink water disposal or reuse versus a septic system. Greywater can be handled through a self contained package system or a gravity fed system you construct yourself. Check local and state laws to insure that grey water systems are permitted. For more information visit Other Products

Composting toilets work great for yurt toilets. You will save a great deal of money as well as trees if you do not have to install a septic system. If you want to install a composting toilet it is very easy. All you do is connect the vent to the outside and plug it in. For more information visit Other Products.

Our yurts do not have running water but you could add a well. You could also have a water catchment system by purchasing a yurt with a perimeter gutter system with down spouts and rain barrels to collect rainwater.

Can I build multiple rooms in a yurt?

With standard two by fours and tongue and groove pine you can easily build partition walls in your yurt to make separate rooms for bathroom, bedroom, kitchen, etc. Just be careful attaching walls to your yurt. The lattice cannot support wall structures.

You could also purchase movable panels to separate living areas.

Since some yurts come in a variety of heights you can even add a sleeping loft in the yurt for more space. Sleeping loft also helps prevent heat from escaping in winter months.

A yurt structure (wall lattice, etc) does not allow for stacking of yurts to create two story dwellings. Clustering is much easier to add square footage.

Are Yurts hard to furnish or decorate?

Our yurts are furnished with queen sized bed, tables, chairs, etc. The curved walls have not presented a problem with furnishing or decorating. We used "S" hooks for hanging pictures on the lattice walls. Copper pipe with a rope through the center and tied to the lattice serve as functional drapery rods over the windows.

Is it difficult to add electricity to a yurt?

We added the wiring under the floor and ran it around the perimeter. Where we needed an outlet we penetrated the floor with the wire and installed a surface mounted outlet on the floor. The circuit was installed on a GFI circuit just in case water came in contact with the wiring and receptacles. The installation was simple.

Can I heat and cool my yurt?

We use electric baseboard heaters (Hydrosil) for our yurt's heating source for safety reasons with guests. Some heat their yurts with wood, pellet or corn stoves, propane heaters, radiant floor heating or duct central heating and air conditioning into the yurt. If you plan on using wood or stove heat be sure and order the stove pipe flashing kit with your yurt.

Ceiling fans can be installed in the yurt roof's center ring to circulate air in warmer months or assist heating in colder months (you can buy a ceiling fan mounting kit from yurt manufacturers). We use energy efficient portable air conditioners that come with the flexible exhaust hose can also be used in the summer to cool your yurt. Such units are found at Home Depot, Lowes, online, etc.

In drier climates out west some use energy efficient swamp coolers to stay cool.

Can my yurt be off the grid?

Yurts can be located in remote areas away from power sources. Some yurt dwellers use solar panels (photovoltaic), water turbines or windmills for electricity. See Other Products for an interesting system.

Other use kerosene lamps for lighting with generators. Some composting toilets require no electricity so you can have a bathroom in your yurt. With propane refrigerators you can even be off the grid and store food.

What kind of maintenance do you have with a yurt?

Our yurts are located near trees so we have tree sap and pollen during some seasons of the year. Once or twice a year we wash down the exterior roof and walls with soap and water with an RV brush (long handle brush) and rinse. This removes the sap, any mildew and dirt.

Have you had a problem with mold or mildew on the inside of the yurt?

We have not had any problems. When we have guests they are heated in the winter and cooled in the summer.

Have you had any problems with bugs or animals in the yurt?

We have not had any problems with insects except for lady bugs in warmer months. It has not been a concern since our traditional home has ladybugs. We have never had snakes, squirrels or other wild creatures inside the yurt.

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