New member saying hello

[Rugercpl]

Hello yurt forum community.....just registered today and this is my first post.

Im thinking of building a yurt on some property i own near my house as a place to stay year-round if i rent my house seasonally or on weekends. I am located in upstate NY near the Catskills. A friend of mine did the same and he really likes his and its something i would do too.

I think my first question is how long can i expect the yurt shell to last and look good, even the best quality brands with upgrades, and if a replacement will be available say 15 or 20 years later as an exactmatch if i want or need a new shell? I am 44 years old and want to have whatever i choose to build to last longer than me.

Im comparing pros and cons of building a small cabin vs a yurt vs a tiny house on wheels. Obviously all different animals and range of cost. I know i would be happy in all, but the cost per sq footage of a yurt is a big bonus, and i live alone a dont have to worry or think about what others would say or think....in fact my real friends would all be quite envious of a yurt and would want one themselves

Id love to hear your thoughts and knowledge. Thank you.

[Jafo]

If you clean the roof once or twice a year, there really is no reason for it to not look good for 15-20 years. It only takes soap, water and brush on a pole (like a pool brush).

[hierony]

For the plain canvas covers, expect somewhere from 2 to 5 years. Depends on how much sun it gets, the initial quality, how well it's taken care of, if you treat it or not, etc.

I have a traditional yurt with a plain heavy-weight canvas cover. It's been up 1.25 summers & a winter. The outside looks a lot more faded than the inside. My crown ring flap broke a rope loop about two months ago, but it was a quick fix (thread can be sun sensitive). I'll be putting up some lumber wraps (used but free) as a sacrificial layer soon (will also divert some of the rain & make the snow slid off more). I'm hoping with the lumber wraps to get at least 5 years if not a few more out of my canvas before requiring replacement.

[Pacific Yurts]

We have been building yurts exclusively since 1978 and still provide replacement covers for yurts we made nearly forty years ago, which are often on their 5th or 6th owners. Our premium top cover does include a 15 year warranty, but we have been offering this fabric since 1991 (25 years) and are just starting to replace some of them. If you want durability it is definitely the best choice. Although repairs can be made to the fabric windows over time when they get old, you will get better longevity from the glass windows, along with better insulating capacity. Our vinyl side cover also provides a better life span in many conditions because of the welded seams (not sewn). I hope this helps.

[Bob Rowlands]

Thanks for that post.