Yurt cost calculator

[Jafo]

Originally Posted by Rob

Yeah, a tire as the

center ring

.

The

center ring

takes all the weight of the rafters compressing on it. It must be strong. In fact,

Colorado Yurts

offers a composite ring in their snow package. I don't see how it would be possible to use anything flexible there.

[Rob]

If a tire can take two tons of car sitting on it... I dunno, that seems pretty solid to me.

[Jafo]

Originally Posted by Rob

If a tire can take two tons of car sitting on it... I dunno, that seems pretty solid to me.

It can't take it when you drill a bunch of holes in it though.

[Marshall Eppley]

But it's on RIM AND FULL OF AIR. THEY DON'T DO TO WELL FLAT.

[Jafo]

IMO, the center ring and the cable are the two things you really want to be sure of. I am down with you finding a cheap method of fabricating them, but I just don't see how you could possibly do it with a tire.

A large tire rim like off of a tractor? Well, maybe you might be on to something there.

[Marshall Eppley]

Hey rob do a search online construction of a yurt. by Monica cello sca. Check that out maybe you can get a few ideas from that. if you use that plan let me know ill tell you how to make it stronger.

[Jafo]

Here is another good resource:

Yurt Plans | Yurts

[Dan R-M]

I'm digging this whole discussion. The idea of doing it cheap really resonates with me, Rob, but I also have the strong feeling that yurts are already sooo cheap. There are ways of re-purposing used materials, like what

Light Feet Yurts

does, but I'm thinking that, in terms of structure, we can't really beat what the Mongolians came up with in the first place. I mean, we can add stuff like zigzag roof cables to make it stronger yet, but I don't think we can improve on the basic ideas of 1) absolutely rigid center ring and 2) somewhat flexible lattice. I think we mess with that at our own peril.
That said, I totally agree with DJSPN's comment :

Seems that whatever you decide to try it will be quite a learning experience.......I'd get started on one as a prototype ASAP, expecting to learn a lot about the practicality of your ideas and about mods for better future builds.

We're in the same situation, in some ways, of wanting a simple and quick housing option while we work on a long-term and complicated one.

[Rob]

The tractor rim idea is a pretty genius one, I really like that. Whenever I get out of an apartment and into someplace I can experiment I will probably test some various ideas, but after discussion with the wife we are leaning toward just going the military surplus command tent route. If nothing else, the canvas from that can be repurposed into a yurt cover down the road.

Thank you all so much for helping me math this thing out. Yurt living really appeals to me, but when you live in an apartment and have a minimal budget, I guess it might be a bit more extravagant.

[Woodyrock]

Rob:
You are in hardwood country, so find a sawmill, and buy, or obtain free rippings of Oak for your wall lattice. A table saw, and labour will soon have all the lattice you need for much less than the junk stuff from the big box store, and it will be much stronger. My 4.5 meter ger (yurt) came in well under $1000.00, and it is built traditionally with felt

insulation

under the canvas.
Here it is in the truck packed to go camping, with twelve boxes of firewood under.

Set up camping.

Woody