I think we have found the yurt we want

[willovic]

After about a month of research and contacting at least three companies I think we have decided to buy from

Shelter designs

.. I am not sure how to go about checking on the credibility of a company. They were so quick to respond and so willing to work with us. My husband is an amazing cabinet maker and I would like him to make my door and windows. The bigger companies did not really like this idea but shelter design had no problem with it. They will just provide us with the frames. Just wondering if anyone here has had any experience with them.

[Jafo]

I have yet to hear anything bad about them. I don't recall if anyone here has ever done business with them. I do know that they are a member here at the forum.

I wish I could be more helpful.

- Jeff

[willovic]

Not hearing anything bad is good.

[willovic]

we did it. Just ordered a 24 ft yurt from shelter design. We may make a trip from vancouver island to montana to pick it up.

[Jafo]

Oh that is AWESOME! PLEASE PLEASE take a lot of pics and post here often on how your experience goes. Any details you add will help the next person who is thinking about taking the plunge! I can't wait to see your yurt when it is up and ready to go!

Congrats!!

[Shelter Designs]

Greetings from Shelter Designs! It is always surprising to me that with our long list of satisfied customers how little feedback we get posted online about us, so allow me to introduce ourselves. We have supplied yurts all over the globe to both commercial and residential customers and generally get the same response - "we love our yurt, thank you so much!"

Again, we have supplied both commercial and residential yurts all over the world. Most of our business is regional in the Inland NW and Northern Rockies and has included multiple ski areas, glamping and rental yurts, yoga facilities, backcountry ski yurts, and residential use among others. We have also had full engineering specs done on our structures and will work closely with you to design the best yurt for your situation and budget. We are a small company not intent on being the biggest, but on handcrafting quality yurts at competitive pricing to the big companies. Our guiding mantra here is to be the kind of company that we would want to do business with. That means open, courteous and clear communication throughout the purchase, installation and life of the yurt; building high quality products using the best materials available today, and offering our yurts at affordable prices. Not to say we are not human and have never made a mistake or had a problem, because we have. I don't know of any manufacturer who hasn't. The few times there has been issue with a component we respond quickly and efficiently to remedy it.

We are always pleased to supply potential customers with contact info of former customers to get their feedback directly. We also can put you in touch with customers, if there is one near you, to set up a visit and see our yurts firsthand. We have two display models set up, one at our facility in NW Montana and one in Billings, MT (Southeast MT), and love for people to come by, meet our team and tour our facility. Just give us a call at (406)295-4661 to set up a time.


Thanks to Jafo for starting and hosting this forum, the more public yurt forums like this the better! Thanks also to willovic for or latest sale, we are glad we could do business and look forward to pictures and comments througout! Foe more info visit our website at Shelter Designs Yurts, Montana & Idaho Yurt Company (Shelter Designs Yurts, Montana & Idaho Yurt Company) our FB page at Shelter Designs - Yurts - Troy, MT - Engineering/Construction | Facebook or give us a call at 406-295-4661

Thanks!
Hays Daniel

[Dan R-M]

Originally Posted by Shelter Designs

It is always surprising to me that with our long list of satisfied customers how little feedback we get posted online about us

As a consumer I find this bothersome, too. When I'm shopping around it would be extremely helpful to have folks relating their experiences with, say, their yurt. When I search many of the yurt companies I only find info that the company itself has put online, and no accolades or bitter experiences related on blogs, forums, or whatnot.
Testimonials on officials sites are fine, but independent and personal accounts are primo.
So anything companies can do to encourage their past customers to post stuff would be great for us seekers, and for you folks who have yurts you'd do a big service by talking about them.
I'll start.

Spirit Mountain Yurts

sucks.

[Jafo]

By the way, here is an article about Shelter Yurts:

http://www.yurtforum.com/forums/yurt....html#post1262

[Clean Air Yurts]

First off I see that

Shelter Designs

is making a quality yurt product and their round rafters are a great design. I do have some issues that apply to nearly every commercial yurt designer, however.

I would like to ask Shelter Designs about the Eco-friendly aspects of their Eco-Yurt. I see that you use a zero-VOC oil finish for the wooden components. That is great. I personally use both Tried and True brand finishes as well as the new Penofin Verde non-toxic oil finishes.

However, I have been researching fabric materials for many years and have personally come the conclusion that vinyl fabrics are very harmful to both the environment and human health. Looking at their website, I see that all of the fabrics that are used by Shelter Designs and all other yurt companies (except for

Clean Air Yurts

, Laurel Nest and Yurta) are strictly vinyl coated fabrics.

I would urge all yurt enthusiasts and yurt company owners to research the effects of vinyl on human health to decide for yourself if you want to live inside a building made of this material. I do not want to be around an PVC or Vinyl and will not use it in any of my products, including clear vinyl for windows. Check out a sample of links below or doa search yourself for more information.

Toxicity of vinyl chloride and poly(vinyl chloride): a critical review.
http://www.healthychild.org/blog/com...toxic_plastic/
That 'new shower curtain smell'? It's toxic, study says - Los Angeles Times
Pro/Con: Is Vinyl Green? | GreenBuildingAdvisor.com
How to Find and Avoid Toxic Vinyl (PVC) in Your Home | Greenpeace

[Jafo]

Most of the information I have read on PVC toxicity relates to those in the industry. I don't see much credible information about its hazards in every day use. PVC is everywhere and if there was a real danger, I think you would see massive reactions. I am usually more wary of the chemicals used to bond pieces together such as in piping.

I did a little bit of research in this a while back and just about everything I found that withstood the smell test, related to mostly production of these materials. Geez, many things are dangerous during production but are virtually inert in the final product.

On a personal anecdotal level, I know more people who have gotten sick from damp mildewy materials that contained mold, than anyone getting ill from the materials themselves. That's just me though.

By the way, welcome to the forum! I used to live near New Paltz not that long ago. I lived in Gardiner and Modena.