Minimal platform for a 13' homemade yurt

[thebitmaster]

I'm living in Central Texas. I built a 13' (previously 16') camping yurt I've lived in for about 6 months in 4-6 week intervals. I was designed for west-coast camping, but I'm going to try living in it full time. I'd like to build a minimal platform to get it up away from the scorpions and rattlesnakes. I'm a fairly experienced carpenter and handyman, but haven't designed any load-bearing structures. I'm intending to use some kind of termite-proof adjustable footers for the foundation, and the yurt itself will provide protection from sun and rain, so I'm thinking I could get away with untreated scrap lumber. I really like recycling and scavenging. I'd also like it to be not too hard to disassemble and move, since it's likely I'll need to do that at least once or twice a year. I like the idea of SIPS, but probably am not willing to spend the money to get them. I may go with RMAX sandwiched between OSB instead. I'm looking for simply platform plans that aren't wildly over-engineered.

[Bob Rowlands]

Cheap and moveable is pallets. Nest together, cut to yurt diameter, and cover with boards or plywood. Use 3" plated screws. Install a tarp atop the flooring to stop air infiltration and keep out bugs. Turn the tarp up on the outside of the yurt wall, under the cover. The lowest rope will snug the cover to the tarp. No drafts no snakes no bugs. Snakes are gonna be possible in the pallet floor though. I got rabbits under my yurt deck.


You can also keep out bugs snakes water by just rolling out the tarp on the ground and erecting the yurt atop it. No deck to dissasemble when you move. The seal between the cover and the tarp at the low rope is plenty tight to keep out all bugs. They'll get in at the door or smoke hole though.

[thebitmaster]

Thanks Bob!

[Jafo]

Get yourself a ferret. No mice or snakes.

[Jake]

Great minds work alike, ferrets are one of my favorite critters. In your climate you could have one 'free range' with his own house on the edge of the yurt. But, first, you have to get him/her bonded to you. After that he could live in the yurt with you. A high quality cat food for regular diet and let him roam all he wants.

[Jake]

One addenda to the ferret, get two, they are social and you will have no mice, rats or squirrels in your yurt.