Dome shade solution

[Crawdad]

Does anyone know of a retractable shade solution for yurt domes? We have a ceiling fan but would like to place a shade above it to block sunlight during the day in the summer.

Thanks!

Crawdad

[MT Rod]

This is one I have been thinking about for over a year and I haven't come up with the "perfect solution".
I live near a couple of umbrella manufacturers, but I haven't come up with what I consider a viable design. I have talked to the "Bumbershoot Builders" and they are willing to make a fairly small run if I (or someone else) can come up with a reasonable design.

Thoughts? I would be glad to help.

Rodyurtlocker.com
Home Page.

[Jafo]

Something on a hinge would be nice. Also, something you could take down in the winter.

[hierony]

Um, traditional-style yurts use an external urgh/tono cover. It's a square piece of cloth with four tie off points that can be used to cover the tono/dome, easily folded back to allow light when desired. Requires ropes and tie-off points (probably the platform for modern yurts) and can only be controlled from outside.

But I suspect you all were talking about something internal...

An umbrella that fit *just* inside the crown ring, held in place by four wooden 'latches' or shims or pegs might work. Unfurl umbrella, 'hook' in place for shade. Close up umbrella, 'unhook' and remove umbrella. If the umbrella handle is tall enough, you might not even need a ladder.

If you had a permanent 'umbrella' like this sitting in the middle of your crown ring/tono, you'd have a cool shade cloth and a skylight sundial :P

[Knecht]

When I was working on my roof ring, I had this idea for covering the hole...wanted it to be rather rain cover than shade, but it could serve this purpose, too.
So, imagine several half-circle shaped ribs. Hinged on two opposite spots on the rings outer edge. These ribs would carry a half-spherical fabric "tent" that would be easily erected/collapsed just by operating the ribs (could be easily done just by a cord from the inside). Similar to the roof on a baby carriage or cabriolet.
I think this would work. Would need to be quite large to work well (the ribs would need to be half the size of your roof ring).
Guess I could make this, if someone is interested.

[SeverTheTether]

We got some of that shade screen stuff that blocks 70% of sunlight and put it over our screen insert. We just leave that up all summer so I only have to get up there twice a year. Worked great last year, although you have to cut it extra big because it will shrink some in the heat.

[Crawdad]

I think I may have found something.

These guys make a flexible curtain track:
https://www.theflextrack.com/

It has rollers that can operate pointing directly out from the track, so you could mount it on the inside of a yurt

dome

compression ring. It would pull a circular curtain open, ending in a closed wedge as seen in the pic of the round window.

I guess it would be operated with a rod or you could run a cable on rollers down a rafter bean.

I would have to sew the curtain myself.

[Wintergreen282]

The thing that concerns me with all these internal

dome

sunshades is the build up of heat if the dome isn't cracked open.

Right now I'm lucky enough to have a fair amount of leafy trees filtering the sun. I would like a bug screen though. What are the pros and cons and costs of those? -- Cindy

[Jafo]

I think the shade above could go under the bug screen and it would let air through. I have the bug screen in my yurt and it works well, though with the snow and wind kit upgrade, it had to be permanent instead of removable.

[SeverTheTether]

If it is hot enough for that much heat buildup, then the dome is definitely open. It gets way too hot in here to not open the dome.