Modern yurts - low cost temporary/permanent housing
 

I haven't seen anything here posted yet about yurts, so I thought I'd bring it up. I am considering buying a yurt to put on some land and living in it while I build my own house on the same land.

There are several companies in North America (and one in the UK) that sell modern yurts. These are round building structures that are based on traditional yurts in mongolia. They use modern materials to allow them to be very well insulated and durable.

They are easy to construct, even the largest yurts (32' or so in diameter) can be put up in a few days by a few people.

They are quite inexpensive. A large yurt can be purchased for as little as $15,000 depending on what options you choose (windows, doors, etc.) - smaller ones can be purchased for around $7,000 or so.

It would cost more though than just the basic yurt price if you want to make it nice inside, like installing plumbing or lofts etc. But still it's a lot cheaper than building or buying a house.

www.pacificyurts.com (USA)

www.yurtco.com (Canada)

www.woodlandyurts.co.uk (UK)

http://blog.oregonlive.com/oregonout...large_yurt.jpg

http://roundezvous.com/Images/Rounde...YurtInSnow.jpg

http://www.yurtski.com/yurt_night%20(2).jpg

http://www.treebonesresort.com/db4/0.../yurt13int.jpg

http://www.oasisdesign.net/images/im...rtIntW1452.jpg

Re: Modern yurts - low cost temporary/permanent housing
 

Much cheaper than a house. And a lot fewer people needed to build it, so if erected on private land less folks will know where you'll be when the time comes.

After researching this for a few months, I chose to buy a 24 footer from http://www.spiritmountainyurts.com. It'll be here in a week or two. I plan to put in a loft for sleeping or storage. So far I've been more than satisfied with the company's responsiveness.

Another couple of places in the U.S.: http://www.rainieryurts.com
and http://www.coloradoyurt.com.

Re: Modern yurts - low cost temporary/permanent housing
 

just buy an old school bus for a thousand or so.
already have lights, easy enough to MOVE, most have a really huge alternator for charging a great big battery bank. more secure than a tent, and you dont need to build a deck to set them on.
When you are done living in the bus, your brother in law can stay in it for a hundred a month, an investment that PAYS for itself.
how can ya go wrong?

Re: Modern yurts - low cost temporary/permanent housing
 

The tribesmen who invented the yurt always insisted that it should never be put in the shadow of a tree. Probably because a falling limb could collapse the roof.

Re: Modern yurts - low cost temporary/permanent housing
 

((Edited for better info, organization)).


Huh? Source please.

Maybe it was some cultural thing, because the Mongolians have a history of being nomadic herders of the plains. Maybe because they don't have a lot of trees where they live
(like these two, on the Mongolia steppe. photo from wiki)
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi...ngolia_Ger.jpg

Sure could be something to that tree talk about Mongolian yurts. Here's a photo of one. Notice the spindly little rafters.
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi...truction-2.JPG
Wiki also says that they are commonly held together by rope or ribbon.

On the other hand, here's a rafter from a modern U.S. yurt builder.
http://www.coloradoyurt.com/new2007/...tice_cable.jpg
U.S. builders commonly individually pick the structural wood pieces, some use MSR wood and the tension cable are commonly aircraft cable rated at breaking strengths of a couple tons or more.

Like any structure, yurts have benefits and limitations. Anyone who might have an interest should look into the materials and construction used by the builder.

I'm sure a large enough limb could seriously damage one (or just about any residence). In any case, I won't be putting mine under a tree for several reasons, including avoiding sap, keeping the bird droppings down and trying to minimized the risk of fire.

Re: Modern yurts - low cost temporary/permanent housing
 

I dont mean to bust your chops about it but using the search button and the word "Yurts" I found other threads on the topic.

One as recent as 08-31-2008 <!-- / status icon and date -->
http://goldismoney.info/forums/showt...ighlight=yurts
Other threads that have the same search term below.
http://goldismoney.info/forums/searc...archid=3655158

Thought you might be interested to know.

I'm wondering if these things would pass the state building code for a semi permanent dwelling ? I suspect not without certain improvements and a certificate of occupancy.

Interesting concept however.

Re: Modern yurts - low cost temporary/permanent housing
 

Thanks Strawman for the links. The search function actually has not been working for me at all for some reason.

Re: Modern yurts - low cost temporary/permanent housing
 

neighbor lives in a pretty large yurt up the road.
he left town for a bit in winter some years ago, and roof caved in, snapped a bunch of rafters. there was some snow load, but it was not a big snow year.
could have been faulty construction, or a lack of proper tension , I do not know.
It is since repaired, and he still lives in it.

Re: Modern yurts - low cost temporary/permanent housing
 

I know that some yurts have a special snow load feature which supports the roof. Did your neighbor have that?

Re: Modern yurts - low cost temporary/permanent housing
 

Thanks so much Thucydides for all the information. I checked out Spirit Mountain Yurts and I love their philosophy. They also have the most reasonable prices I've seen.

Please let me know how it goes with your yurt. It's a bit hard to find first hand accounts of what it's like setting up and living in a yurt.

All the best to you, it's nice to hear from someone else who thinks yurts are just too cool. :biggrin:

Re: Modern yurts - low cost temporary/permanent housing
 

I like the big one, kind of have to forgoe some privacy in there, where is the en-suite toilet though? :)

They are quite affordable however. I wonder how they stand up to strong sideways winds, as they are a round structure I'm guessing pretty well,
and it appears forces would be transmitted up into the roof structure also.

Re: Modern yurts - low cost temporary/permanent housing
 

Hey Shades and Fullpower --

Privacy -- A lot of people have the impression that a yurt has to be one big open room. But, one can have normal interior walls and you could put a simple ceiling over the restroom to enclose the, ah, "potentially disturbing sounds." All that costs more, of course.
(I plan on building a composting toilet as a separate outbuilding.)

Wind -- Under normal conditions, the strongest force is the gravity pulling the rafters down, which pushes out on the tension cable. Though there is some sideways force from wind, the concern is that strong wind can lift the roof taking the rafters off or possibly taking the walls up with it.
So, in areas where strong winds are possible, you get a cable from the builder that runs from the top ring to the base. It's connected up when a storm approaches or when leaving for an extended period.

Snow -- As Russkie mentioned, several of the U.S. builders offer a snow load kit. They commonly include addition hardware for connecting and supporting the rafters. I've also seen a couple of builders recommend using a couple smaller yurts instead of using a huge one (30 foot) in areas of very deep snow.

Cold -- Insulation kit and a stove. (Actually, I'll probably build a rocket stove).

Codes -- This one might be tough, depending on where you live. Seems to me that Colorado Yurts has the best handle on this. I'm probably mis-recollecting, but I think they will "assist" with getting permit (for a fee, of course).
Personally, I don't have the time to try to fight a permitting case and would not consider a yurt if that might be an issue. (Of, course, after the governments can no longer afford to pay inspectors....).

I don't think yurts are perfect for every situation. But, in my opinion, they have some advantages that make them worth considering. Just the same with Fullpower's suggestion of the old school bus. Everybody needs to consider their own circumstances.

Re: Modern yurts - low cost temporary/permanent housing
 

http://www.appropedia.org/Hexayurt_playa_checklist

This is pretty cool too!

Re: Modern yurts - low cost temporary/permanent housing
 

I don't think Thucydides posts here anymore, but if you see this Thucydides could you give us an update on how your yurt experience has gone?

I am resurrecting this thread because I recently came across some information that the yurt company Spirit Mountain Yurts (the company Thucydides bought his yurt from) should probably be avoided.

Please see this thread on the yurtinfo.org forum:

http://www.yurtinfo.org/forum/read.php?10,1751

Apparently they have a history of shipping incorrect parts or forgetting to include vital parts and then refusing to return calls afterwards. For example one person even received a wall membrane that was too small for their yurt, or sometimes they will sew the windows on upside down etc. Buyer beware. There is also a report on the on the BBB I believe.

If you are considering a yurt I suggest these companies:

Pacific Yurts - www.yurts.com

Rainier Yurts - www.rainieryurts.com

Colorado Yurt Company - www.coloradoyurt.com

Yurtco Manufacturing - www.yurtco.com

Re: Modern yurts - low cost temporary/permanent housing
 

How would that compare with buying a used Class C RV and already having a structure built for you?

Re: Modern yurts - low cost temporary/permanent housing
 

My wife and I lived in a school bus for 7 years. It's still parked out back, I use it for dry storage now.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v5...37879/bus1.jpg

Re: Modern yurts - low cost temporary/permanent housing
 

I think a school bus or an RV would be too difficult / costly to heat sufficiently in the winters here (-20 to -40 centigrade).