Newbie Yurt-choosing questions, any advice appreciated! :)

[Amber]

Hi there!

So we are new to Yurts but after much thinking and research we are hooked on the idea and have decided to visit one for the weekend with the aim of buying our own one to use as our primary residence. If everything goes to plan, were thinking of going with the 9m Yurt, but I definitely have some questions and minor concerns!.

We are based in rural South Auckland, New Zealand and overall I suppose we do get quite a lot of rainfall year round with the exception of summer, so I am a little be concerned about the waterproof-ness and making sure we don't end up with mould and mildew? We plan to install a double sided fireplace in the centre of the Yurt with one side of the fireplace being in the lounge and the other side being in the bedroom and use it probably 24/7 over the coldest months and I wonder if that on its on will be enough to keep the Yurt dry and warm enough to combat any

moisture

issues?

We also plan to 'attach' a door or small hallway from the Yurt to a customised shipping container which will house the bathroom and laundry, so that the actual Yurt itself will just consist of a kitchen/lounge and 2 partitioned bedrooms.

I've researched local manufacturers as of course that would be easiest for shipping etc and they look great but from what I can see, most of them don't seem to do a 'proper' window, which is a deal breaker for me. I've looked up Pacific and Colorado and both look amazing and I'm really liking the curved window that Pacific do, the exchange rate for us is not too shabby so we need to do the exercise on how much shipping and import duty would be but otherwise it's definitely an option to purchase one from overseas but of course there is now a lot more manufacturers to consider and it makes the decision even harder!

Are there any tips or advice on how to choose the best Yurt for your intended purpose? Or any brands in particular I should be looking at? Obviously, I just want to make sure we select the best Yurt to withstand our climate but there seems to be quite the selection so any advice would be great!

Thanks so much!, Amber

[Jafo]

You should not have any issues with waterproofing. I never get any water in my Pacific Yurt unless I leave a window open.

What is the climate like in your area? That might determine what kind of

insulation

(if any) you need.

A fireplace that size will take up a lot of space, but otherwise I see not problem with it.

[Amber]

Hi Jafo thanks for your reply

Cool, thats good to hear about your Pacific Yurt. I am about to email them and some others now about a quote.

In our winter months the cold nights and morning are generally anywhere from 0-10 degrees celsius and frosty with maybe a few of the coldest days around -1 to -3 at worst, so we'll definitely be going for

insulation

. I'd like to go as hardcore and I can with the insulation as I really feel the cold and want to be as comfortable as possible, but I did read a thread about making sure it is allowed to breath so to prevent mould and mildew? Have you had much experience with the different types of insulation and if so, what do you consider the most effective?

Our summers are usually up around the high 20's and occasionally the low 30's at the hottest but the UV rays are extremely harsh here and I read on one of the local Yurt makers websites something to the effect that they didn't advise a skylight

dome

to allow sun through for that reason, so I thought in that case it might be good to utilise that area for the fireplace.

[Jafo]

I would get the foil insulation package that they provide and make sure your platform is well insulated. If you can afford radiant floor

heating

, that would be the best providing you can power/pay for it. This will save you space so you won't have to have a big heat source in the yurt, like a wood stove. They take up a lot of room, especially if you plan on having multiple rooms inside.

If you over insulate, you WILL have

moisture

issues so it has always been my opinion that you put in a more than adequate heat source. For me, the most I would ever insulate beyond what I have now is maybe some insulation along the walls, but we get temperatures here as low as -35 celsius.

I would also suggest at least one glass window so you could at least use a window air conditioner if the heat is too much in the summer months.

Many of the manufacturers offer tinted domes and they also usually have a

dome

shade you can purchase too.

[Stea]

Take a look at

Shelter Designs

in Montana. Just completed my 20' yurt and it is top notch.

I didnt go with curved glass windows because its a camp not a residence but they offer them.

They also offer multiple door options and an option to connect 2 yurts but im sure it could be configured to hook to a container.

[MicheleLovesHawaii]

Originally Posted by Jafo

I would get the foil insulation package that they provide and make sure your platform is well insulated. If you can afford radiant floor

heating

, that would be the best providing you can power/pay for it. This will save you space so you won't have to have a big heat source in the yurt, like a wood stove. They take up a lot of room, especially if you plan on having multiple rooms inside.

If you over insulate, you WILL have moisture issues so it has always been my opinion that you put in a more than adequate heat source. For me, the most I would ever insulate beyond what I have now is maybe some insulation along the walls, but we get temperatures here as low as -35 celsius.

I would also suggest at least one glass window so you could at least use a window air conditioner if the heat is too much in the summer months.

Many of the manufacturers offer tinted domes and they also usually have a dome shade you can purchase too.

Do you suggest dehumidifiers? Mine will be put up in Hawaii where it rains a ton. Also, how hard is it to put a real window in later on down the road if you originally just get the roll up windows?

[Jafo]

It generally isn't hard to retrofit windows. There are a couple of videos on youtube showing people doing it. A dehumidifier certainly wouldn't hurt, but if you are going to go that route, you are probably better off killing two birds with one stone: Get an air conditioner.

[HawaiiYurts]

I haven't yet seen a curved glass window in a yurt. It sounds cool, but what are referred to as curved operable windows are just sill plates that bring the top and bottom sills out so that the round lines can carry on. Otherwise it would be a design issue; the lattice and exterior walls would 'suck in' because of the straight lines, and that would let in water. The glass is never curved, unless I've missed something new on the market?

Amber, if at all possible, consider not attaching anything to the side of the yurt, instead let there be a bit of a space between your addition and the yurt, and let a roof pass over and beyond the doorway to mitigate any rain entry. In this way you will have plenty of room to swap out your exteriors when the time comes and you don't create any potentially problematic joins.

Michele, I don't find a dehumidifier necessary. Our office yurt is in Volcano, Hawaii, where we get 12' or more of rain a year. Yes, 12 FEET. Our yurt has been up for nearly 6 years and we have never, ever had a mold problem. Just get the right upgrades and you will be fine. Our house, on the other hand, right up the road has a major mold issue and we have to run the dehumidifier several times a week. Yurts rule, as long as they're well made.

[Jensenferals]

How did you get on Amber?
We're in the Coromandel and seriously considering importing a pacific yurt too.