Insulation advice for Southern Ontario, Canada.

[Nicholas Russell]

Hi All,

This is my first post!

I'm about to 'pull the trigger' on a 24' yurt purchase from

Yurtz by Design

in BC, Canada. Where I live in southern Ontario, we are exposed to some fairly extreme temperatures. +30c in the summer and - 30c in the winter.

The yurt I am interested in comes with rFoil

insulation

. I am told it has an r value of about 19.6. My question is: Will this be enough or should we double up the

insulation

on the roof? We plan to have an insulated floor.

Thanks,

[hierony]

I got below -25 F/-31 C this last winter in my 20 ft/6m yurt with not much insulation (~R5 or so, maybe). I'd say it depends on your heat source & your desired interior temp--how much do you want to burn?

Also, yurts are drafty--this can account for half or more of your heat losses. Do a door blower test & figure out the air change overs per hour. ~1 ach would be excellent for a yurt; tight modern houses can be less, but some air flow is good (reduces condensation issues, helps reduce outgassing issues, etc).

I've also heard the radiant barriers can be useful but their effective R value is a little overstated.

[Bob Rowlands]

My guess is that trad yurts like hierony and I have, have way more air change due to them essentially being nomadic tents. Mine in particular does not hold the heat at all, because it is drafty build and has no felt insulation, and a door that doesn't close against a stop, no fixed roof ring, porous wall canvas made from painters tarp with loose weave, etc. Add it all up and there is no heat retention at all.

[Bob Rowlands]

I believe insulation is key to liveability in temp extremes, and my gut tells me felt would be supreme insulation because it is made from wool, a natural fiber. Felt breathes, and I believe that is another of its advantages.

[Albert Mongol Ail]

I am figuring a similar issue in Czech Republic in Europe. 1st step is to design your yurt to be reasonably air tight. 2nd step is to figure how to insulate.

I am going to see my architect friend about an insulation with a vapour barrier membrane, vapour retarding membrane or open insulation construction designs. I hope to make it to him before Christmas. I will tell you of the final design we chose.

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[Jafo]

Be careful. If it is too air tight, you will have mold. It is a common issue with over-insulating and

moisture

.

[Bob Rowlands]

There was a young man from Czech that posted here quite a bit a couple years ago. Knecht had problems with mold in his yurt last I heard and then he abruptly disappeared from this place. Too bad.