Dome Question

[Dave E Bouy]

Hello all. A question about domes. I kinda assumed that all yurt domes opened and was surprised when talking to a manufacturer that they didn't supply a

dome

that you could open. So what's the prevailing wisdom around here? Fixed or operable? Convince me that fixed is ok. Incidentally the yurt is to be setup on the shores of Lake Huron. Rouhly same clmate as say Detroit.

DV

[Drunken hobbit]

Fixed is okay. In winter.
But in summer you will absolutely 100% need an openable or removable

dome

. Unless you have air con cooling in the yurt.

[Bob Rowlands]

I don't have a dome on my yurt with an operable panel so no specific comment on them. I DO have an opinion on the advantage of an open ring. Based on my experience with 12', 14', and 16' open ring rustic yurts in all seasons, having a flow of air up and out the top of the yurt is an absolute must for ventilation of hot air in the summer. i roll up the wall cover and a natural breeze keeps hot air from pooling in the yurt.

I have a 'China cap' that slides up and down the wood stove pipe depending on season and weather conditions. My yurts are rustic and the look and fiddle factor of that system isn't an issue.

[Bob Rowlands]

I'm sure the pro yurt manufacturers on this site that offer an operable dome would be happy to discuss them with you. I really know nothing about them from first hand experience. Good luck.

[Jafo]

I will chip in here and say that I could not imagine my yurt without being able to vent out of the

center ring

. If it has a dome and it doesn't open? Well, I would move along then because it seems to me they haven't done their research. All structures need to vent. Even the ancient Mongolians knew this.

[Bob Rowlands]

Yup, Mongolians have this yurt stuff figured out. I have never seen a Mongolian yurt that didn't have a stove pipe poking through the ring, nor seen one of their yurts with a dome cap either. Just saying. I'm not against dome caps. I couldn't possibly be, I know nothing about them first hand. It is just an observation from having watched alot of yurt yids on YT.

I believe when the weather is cold, windy, or snowy they just pull a cloth flap over the ring. Viceversa, I have seen vid of their yurt with side wall rolled up off the ground or platform. I know from experience that is really an excellent way to cool off the yurt.