Help! I need all YURT advice!

[IslandAimz]

(bet you've never come across such a clever subject line huh?)

I'm extremely new to the YURT world but very interested in it being something for me. I'd love any advice anyone can give me.

I'm a new homeowner in Oahu and have a few questions:

1. Can I put a yurt in my backyard as a separate dwelling for a family to live in?
a) If so, how do I go about a permit? Or can it be permitted?

2. It looks like I can save a lot of money buying a used one here on the island, but in the long run to avoid any replacement of parts, would you suggest buying a brand new one?
a) If I buy a used one, where can I buy replacement parts such as the exterior cloth?

3. How do you find the noise level living in a yurt? Can you hear people easily outside, company inside in other rooms, cars outside...etc?

I think that's all for now. Mahalo in advance!

Amy

[Jafo]

Melissa at

Yurts of Hawaii

will be a good guide for you on the permitting process and other questions:

Yurts of Hawaii

As for #4. The fabric covering your yurt is not a very good sound barrier. Think tent.

[Bob Rowlands]

Regarding covers, if you buy a used yurt that was made by a major manufacturer, you'll likely be able to get a high grade 15 year replacement cover for a reasonable cost.

If you find a used yurt that isn't from a major yurt supplier, and can't get hold of the original maker for whatever reason, possibly one of the big dogs in the business could make you a new cover. I'm absolutely certain they'll ask you for details about the yurt wall height and roof geometry, specifically the roof pitch.

Yurt covers are definitely not 'one size fits all' relative to diameter. Wall height, roof pitch and roof ring diameter, rafter length, plus any attachment grommets or loops or whatever, need to be carefully measured and noted in a legible fashion.

FWIW, I made my own cover from a square canvas tarp. While it is a very good cover, it wasn't easy to make, nor is it even slightly close to a professional grade 15 year cover.

Good luck.

[IslandAimz]

Thx for the feedback Jafo & Bob! With not much time to make anything, I think buying a new yurt might be worthwhile or new components.

[Jafo]

Don't forget to check out our classifieds.

Yurt Classifieds – Used Yurts For Sale