Pros & cons for high/low walls (lattice)?

[TSRalex]

Just want to read about the heights of your Yurt-walls and to collect the pros & cons for high/low walls (lattice) and ask you all to share your experiences.

For me are the pros of a high wall (e.g. 250 cm) in the possibilities to build in an bathroom and to use the ceiling as additional bed.

And the whole room has an generous effect - in Yurts with low walls I feel more constriction.

An additional point is, that I believe moisture has not so much chances in bigger volumes, or is that an false conclusion?

But an Yurt with low walls is easier to heat.

 

[Bob Rowlands]

Walls on my yurts were about 5'4". I am 5'9". I had no problem with clearance walking around inside at the wall. For windows and a door you don't need to duck to enter you'll need a taller wall. Moisture can be an issue in any yurt regardless of size.

 

[TSRalex]

Thanks for your feedback, Bob.

Walls on my yurts were about 5'4". I am 5'9". I had no problem with clearance walking around inside at the wall.

But you don´t have an loft with an high-bed, isn´t it?

How high is your bathroom?

Moisture can be an issue in any yurt regardless of size.

OK, but in my opinion it should be easier to keep an 24-ft-Yurt with an big air volume moisture free, than an Yurt in the same diameter with an significant lower cubature, or I´m wrong with?

 

[Jafo]

I feel like I have to duck into yurts with short walls. I am 6'0. To me, the taller walls just feel more natural whereas the short walled yurts feel more hobbit'ish..

 

[TSRalex]

I feel like I have to duck into yurts with short walls. I am 6'0.

I believe I´ve read, that low entrances have cultural aspects in some Asian countries, to make guests humble from begin of their visits....

To me, the taller walls just feel more natural whereas the short walled yurts feel more hobbit'ish..

For me is that similar. Although it can be very cozy in low-ceilinged Alpine huts.

A pro-аrguement for low walls could be the lower contact surface against wind impacts , what makes higher resistance on storms. But maybe I´m wrong with?

 

[Jafo]

A pro-аrguement for low walls could be the lower contact surface against wind impacts , what makes higher resistance on storms. But maybe I´m wrong with?

Maybe, but the round shape really works well in the wind.

 

[Bob Rowlands]

My yurts were a single area only, no bathroom.

As for wind, yurts are 'the' most wind resistant tents by a long margin. All the exterior surfaces are curved and backed by wall lattice and rafters. My own yurts had no wall or roof framing farther apart than 17". Now that is GREAT support for a tent.

Wall tents have supports about 4' to 5' apart. Wind pushes unsupported panels just like a sail. My (well anchored) yurt withstood winds to probably 80 mph. No wall tent can come close to surviving that kind of wind, even when staked and guyed.

 

[Bob Rowlands]

That said, my first 14' yurt was unanchored. That was a HUGE mistake. It was destroyed in a heavy blizzard. Eight full days work destroyed in an instant. So, anchor your yurt in high wind location.

 

[Yurtman]

My standard yurt is 56” which is very traditional. We do a high wall too which is 66”. But my yurts are for camping so it’s not necessary to have higher walls. The main advantage with low walls is weight and size which you need for portable yurts.

 

[TSRalex]

My standard yurt is 56” which is very traditional. We do a high wall too which is 66”. But my yurts are for camping so it’s not necessary to have higher walls. The main advantage with low walls is weight and size which you need for portable yurts.

Logical explanation about the weight advantages of an Yurt with low walls.

 

[Bob Rowlands]

I have watched several youtube videos of Mongolian families/herders erecting and dismantling their yurts.

These nomadic people move their yurts from pasture to pasture a few times every year. For a fact lower walls make erecting and dismantling yurts easier. Yurts are sized by number of khana panels joined together. Four panel, five panel, six panel etc. Short length, and short height khana tied to eachother with cordage are easy to open and close. Plus extremely solid with the laths on approximately six inch centers.

There are no bolts or other hardware holding the tent together. It is all tied together with rope and sash-in fact that works perfectly for nomadic use. The rafters are merely looped into place atop all the lath crosses. No notches, and no steel cable.

Really large yurts have supports holding up the ring.

The yurts are covered with felt. In addition Mongolia is an arid country, absolutely perfect for yurts.

Lastly, it takes less fuel to heat yurts with short walls. Really, I have said it many times, Mongolians have nomadic yurts all figured out. They should have. It is likely they have have been living in yurts for centuries.