In the market for your very own yurt house? There is nothing more liberating than making and realizing long term plans, and having the vision required to get you to your goals.  At Shelter Designs, we saw the need for environmentally responsible shelters and went from there.  Many of our business days are spent crafting the wooden components for your yurts.  We craft each and every door and window frame, piece of lattice, rafters, center hubs, snow and wind kits here in the shop: focusing on quality, no factory items here!

One of the main pillars of our business has been, and will remain to be great custom service.  We also have the goal of being the best yurt manufacturer in the industry. Both of these principles require listening to our customers, adapting our yurt designs to be better, and providing whatever support our customer’s need to be successful.  I can’t tell you how many hours we spend with each customer, but it is usually a lot.

However, there are times when you come to a fork in the road.  We have found a very unusual fork facing us, one that we never imagined would be there.  We want our customers to be thrilled with the yurts we make and find ourselves writing the following post, in the hopes that it reaches you before you buy a yurt house.  We hope you find these ideas helpful.

Here Are 10 Reasons A Yurt House May Not Be Right For You!

1. You do not like polyester or vinyl.
2. You are expecting them to perform like a stick-framed house.
3. You want your home building to be easy and straightforward.
4. You value your privacy above all, and you have 5 children.
5. You have REALLY loud traffic, loud neighbors, loud fights with your spouse, or overhead jets.
6. You hate dealing with the local government.
7. You live in a very hot or cold environment.
8. You want to live off grid, but need/want to be as comfortable as when you lived in your on-grid house with running water, flush toilet, and electric heat.
9. You have no savings or assets.
10. You don’t have land.

BONUS: Maybe you’re asking yourself what is a yurt?

Or maybe we’re a perfect match! Read on to learn more about yurt life and Shelter Designs’ yurts for sale!

1. You do not like polyester or vinyl.

I know, it was a very big fad in the 70’s.  If you avoid polyester and vinyl at all costs, you will not appreciate that our fabrics use both.  From our standpoint, these materials have the longest life, and they are strong enough to hold up to the UV, weather, and mold challenges that any structure can have.  Our fabric cover manufacturer: Reliable Tent and Awning, uses cutting edge fabric welding that only works on these materials.  This makes the seams of the fabric covers much more sturdy, and less likely to fray or unravel.  While we sometimes quote for different insulation fabrics, and liners, the cold hard truth is that vinyl works best for your investment.

2. You are expecting them to perform like a stick-framed house.

Let’s face it, humans don’t like to have limits to what they can do, and where they can live.  Look at Phoenix, AZ for example!  We spend a lot of resources keeping our homes at 65-70 degrees year round.  Here in North Western Montana that usually looks like 4-6 cords of wood for the wood stove, or $500+ on propane, or $225 a month on electric heat.  These are the “prices” we pay to live in a beautiful part of the country.  In the summer, many people do not have central air conditioning and often use fans, air units, or jumping in the river to cool off.  People ask us whether they can stay warm in a yurt??  The answer is yes, of course you can.  How much energy you use is related to your yurt set up, and how much yurt insulation you have, and what your heat source is.  We developed the Arctic Insulation to increase the ability of our yurts to retain heat.

Do not buy a yurt house if you are not interested in drops in temperature when your stove goes out, the fact that you may have to stoke your stove at night, or that you may need to wear slippers in the coldest days of winter.  In Montana, these are all things that are very much a part of life, but think hard if you really want to live in an insulated “tent”. Our yurts perform very well under many different conditions, provided you remember what they are, and they are not.

3. You want your home building to be easy and straightforward.

Many folks initially think of a yurt like a tent: you can just pop one up!  However, our yurt design has been highly engineered to be safe and stable and this means you will be constructing a yurt platform.  Depending on the site, and what utilities you are bringing in you will have to organize (or hire a general contractor) for excavation, building permits, many different contractors for the different aspects of the platform build.  Then there is the yurt assembly! Next is the interior build out!  If you would prefer to have all of these things done already, a tiny home may be a better option for you.

4. You value your privacy above all, and you have 5 children.

It is very nice to make dinner while chatting with your husband in the living room.  However if you are writing your dissertation, work from home with little kids, or work the night shift and have a teenager who loves the drums you may not enjoy the sharing.  Yes of course you can frame in a bedroom, and bathroom!  Will the children having a pillow fight in the loft above your head cause problems?  Living in a tiny space requires lots of adjustments in lifestyle and thinking.  If privacy is important for you or your guests, we often suggest you attach a few yurts together.

5. You have REALLY loud traffic, loud neighbors, loud fights with your spouse, or overhead jets.

The qualities that can make a yurt attractive: the ability to hear and enjoy nature more closely can also be detriment depending on the area you are in.  We have heard of customers doing some sound insulation between their snow legs and roof poles, but then you will be missing out on the beautiful lattice inside.  If you need quiet, you should probably think hard before you buy a yurt.  That thunderstorm or birds singing in the morning can be beautifully enthralling, or an annoyance.

6. You hate dealing with the local government.

I know, you bought property in the mountains to get away from rules!  At the very least you will need to research your properties covenants and restrictions, any HOA rules, and deed restrictions.  Local building departments are charged with inspecting any building project in their area, so you are wise to contact them first to find out whether they are yurt “friendly”.  You may find that your local department has not ever permitted a yurt and you will need to submit some more information.  For the most part, after learning that our yurts are highly engineered and that you can get Stamped plans for them they are ready to hear you out.  Then you may have to explain how the typical yurt insulation works (u-value) v.s. the form of insulation they are familiar with (r-value)  Just remember, you are likely paving the way for other future yurt owners!

7. You live in a very hot or cold environment.

If the tarmac melts or the permafrost layer is 6 feet deep you may want to rethink living in a modern “tent” or yurt house.  We designed our Arctic insulation to help our yurts retain heat (as opposed to just the Radiant heat barrier in our Basic Insulation).  By many reports, this does help cut down on your energy consumption.  However a radiant heat barrier works only when your heat source is going, so think if you want to keep that stove going all winter long.  We do have very happy clients with yurts above the arctic circle, but ask yourself: What are your expectations, and who is paying for them?

Hot environments are also something to think twice about.  We are working on a few new ideas to keep our yurts cool.  But let’s be real here.  If the car is hot, local native mammals hide during the day, and the temperature in the shade is close to the temperature in the sun: your yurt will also be hot.  Putting in air conditioning is one measure that can help you stay cool, but take a lesson from nature: the earth moderates temperatures.  An earth-ship can help you beat the heat, or keep from freezing in extreme temps.

8. You want to live off grid, but need/want to be as comfortable as when you lived in your on-grid house with running water, flush toilet, and electric heat.

Bugs, Cold blowing snow, hot searing sun, wind, rain and fluctuating temperatures are all a part of the joy, and hardship of living off grid.  There are so many changes to your lifestyle when you live off-grid.  Every watt of electricity used, every drop of water becomes much more important because it does not just “show” up to your house.

Maybe you think using an out house is great or hauling water from your spring in 5 gallon jugs is invigorating but does your partner?  Will your in-laws dare to visit?  Living off-grid brings unique challenges, and unique joys.  Think hard about whether you really want to find more character by homesteading or living off grid.

9. You have no savings or assets.

While we hope to see this change in the future, many banks are unfamiliar with yurt loans.  While using a line of credit or financing the yurt similar to a car loan may be a possibility, your bank will always want collateral.   Having money in the bank, equity in your house, or other assets will be helpful if you are trying to finance your yurt home.  Our terms of 50% down upon ordering usually mean that you have saved, and have this in hand.  Start calculating your yurt cost with our yurt cost calculator.

10. You don’t have land.

Yes, of course you can probably find someone, somewhere to lease you land to put your yurt house, if you look hard enough.  Please really consider whether all the site prep, platform construction and utility work are something you want to walk away from someday.  Check out our blog regarding this yurt site selection. You will also want to research whether yurts are allowed on the land you are looking at leasing. This guide on buying or leasing land may be able to help you get started.

So there you have it: our very best wishes on your yurt dreams, with a good dose of realism thrown in.  There are challenges with every building or home project, and we truly want you to love your Shelter Designs yurt.  However, a yurt house is not the best home or structure for everyone, in every situation.  We make yurts.  We offer yurts for sale.  At the end of the day, we are very proud of being a small family business that is attempting to change the conversation about what a home/vacation home/office/yoga studio is, or could be, and also what impacts human housing has on the environment. If you’re curious about the cost of your next yurt, check our our handy dandy yurt calculator.

The last thing we want is for someone to buy our yurt house, and then realize it wasn’t the right choice of structure for them.  We would rather not make that sale, and hope that this blog reaches you while you are contemplating your choices.  Good luck!

Relevant Building & Energy Codes

We fully expect that these codes will eventually be updated to fully reflect the vast innovation that is taking place in housing today. New yurt insulation materials and new technologies will push the envelope as we enter a new era in which the carbon footprint of a home is calculated along with its efficiency. Values are changing to reflect the need for conservation of resources, and we see this very clearly with the “small home movement”. We are very proud to be a part of this change (check out our very own eco-yurt). Small homes can be efficient, safe and beautiful. Getting your local building department on board for your project can be challenging, but well worth it in the end. Keep in mind you are probably helping to pave the way for other yurt owners, and other homes that do not fit your typical American Dream home.

2015 INTERNATIONAL BUILDING CODE SECTION 104: DUTIES AND POWERS OF BUILDING OFFICIAL

104.10 Modifications. Wherever there are practical difficulties involved in carrying out the provisions of this code, the building official shall have the authority to grant modifications for individual cases, upon application of the owner or owner’s representative, provided the building official shall first find that special individual reason makes the strict letter of this code impractical and the modification is in compliance with the intent and purpose of this code and that such modification does not lessen health, accessibility, life and fire safety, or structural requirements. The details of action granting modifications shall be recorded and entered in the files of the department of building safety.

104.11 Alternative materials, design and methods of construction and equipment. The provisions of this code are not intended to prevent the installation of any material or to prohibit any design or method of construction not specifically prescribed by this code, provided that any such alternative has been approved. An alternative material, design or method of construction shall be approved where the building official finds that the proposed design is satisfactory and complies with the intent of the provisions of this code, and that the material, method or work offered is, for the purpose intended, at least the equivalent of that prescribed in this code in quality, strength, effectiveness, fire resistance, durability and safety.

SECTION 3102 MEMBRANE STRUCTURES

3102.1 General. The provisions of this section shall apply to air-supported, air-inflated, membrane-covered cable and membrane-covered frame structures, and tensile membrane structures, collectively known as membrane structures, erected for a period of 180 days or longer. Those erected for a shorter period of time shall comply with the International Fire Code.

3102.7 Engineering design.The structure shall be designed and constructed to sustain dead loads; loads due to tension or inflation; live loads including wind, snow or flood and seismic loads.

2015 INTERNATIONAL ENERGY CONSERVATION CODE

R102.1 The provisions of this code shall regulate the design of building envelopes for adequate thermal resistance and low air leakage. It is intended that these provisions provide flexibility to permit the use of innovative approaches and techniques to achieve effective utilization of energy. 103.1 General. The provisions of this code are not intended to prevent the use of any material, method of construction, design or insulating system not specifically prescribed herein, provided that such construction, design or insulating system has been approved by the code official as meeting the intent of the code. Learn more about international energy codes.

Consider checking with the county you plan to build your yurt to be up to date on county building codes and requirements. 

MAKING A SITE MAP:

Seeing is believing!  Go ahead and draw a map of your site and make a list of things that limit your project, and any assets you know of.  Think of this map as the architecture of your land.  Writing down what your plans are for your project can be super helpful.  For instance, if you are going to live off grid in your yurt, and get water from a standpipe, but plan to later build yourself a log cabin at the same site, you would be planning for a beefed up foundation, and would need to get that water line put through the concrete as it is poured.  (Even if the water line is capped off for later use.)  Other good inclusions can be to list goals, objectives, and ideals!

On a piece of graph paper (so you can draw it to scale), list or draw the following:

1. Existing roads, ditches, power lines, known easements or right aways.

(This could also include neighborhood covenants: like my shed can only be one story, etc.)

2. Natural land features

These can include trees, rivers, streams or other natural landmarks

3.  Neighbor’s homes, outbuildings, junk cars or other fixed feature

4.  Known utilities, and proposed utility routes

5.  Yurt site.

This can also include the perimeter of the construction site, excavations, areas that need graded or filled, planned out-buildings, garden site, barn or animal areas, parking areas.

6.  Sun and wind patterns.

This is more important than you think.  Some people belatedly realize they get 2 hours of sun in the winter due to the surrounding mountains, or that all those trees they cut down on the North side of the property buffered them from winter winds and storms.

7.  Views.

This could be existing or potential.  This would directly influence your landscaping plans, if you need to gain more privacy, or remove a few trees.

Of course, this is just an example, and may not reflect your yurt site at all.  These site planning tools are intended to help you design your own site, with your unique parameters.

If you’re looking for yurt kits from Shelter Designs and want to know the yurt cost right from the start, you’re in the perfect place! Learn more today.

One of the greatest things about yurts is that they can have a very small footprint, and get put onto sites that you would never consider putting a house. Some of this is due to the platform construction, which can be very simple. Yurts can also blend in well to the surroundings due to the pleasing rounded shape, and by choosing fabric colors that match the environment.

Much of your potential yurt site is determined by what kind of amenities you desire, and what limitations are in place at the site. This post will give you an idea about what to consider and look for when planning your building site and yurt set up.

Yurt Site Selection

This is a subject that will be explored in greater detail in later posts. In general, you are looking for a cleared, mostly flat spot that will allow you to:

• Bring in utilities you need
• Construct your platform and potential deck
• Has an adequate parking area (you’ll be bringing in a lot of materials)
• Conforms to limitations (is there an easement you have to avoid, or close to the standpipe for H20)

***The ideal yurt site has morning sun, and afternoon shade, to maximize natural heating/cooling.

Additional Considerations & Tips For Selecting a Yurt Site:

Utilities: If you are at a site with existing utilities, you will need to have them located first, so you can plan this part of the infrastructure. To save on these big expenses such as well/water lines, electricity drops, propane lines, etc. you will want to keep the yurt site as close to these utilities as possible. This does not apply if you are going off grid, with the exception of water. We know plenty of people who have hauled water from local streams, or a water source down the road. Yes, it can be done, but it gets old. Hauling in water is best used in occasional yurt uses such as vacation or hunting.

Other: Having privacy is always weighed with convenience. Being at the end of your road, 3/4 of a mile in can be great for the nerves, and quiet but in snow country, your private drive becomes an expensive cost with plowing, maintenance, and a possible safety hazard if you have health concerns that require easy emergency service access.

Platform &/or additional decking. Flat sites are easiest. We have seen them canted out over hillsides, and at the top of peaks. The amount of time and labor are weighed against potential views. Keep in mind if you go cutting down timber for views, or fire danger you are changing your micro-climate at your site. Trees cut wind gusts, noise, provide soil protection, privacy and help retain heat. Building your yurt on the top of the mountain gives you amazing views but leaves you exposed to the worst wind and sun.

The details of your actual platform construction will also be affected by your soil type. Rocky soils drain well, but can be very hard to dig, especially if you have boulders. Clay soils will retain moisture, and could affect a perk test. Sandy soils may drain well and dig well but are prone to shifting and can be considered unstable. Consulting a septic, soil, or building professional in your area can save you some time. If you are interested you can do a soil test yourself, to get a sense of what the soil composition is. Most Engineers plan for the worst which would be sandy/shifty soil = 1500 # per sq. foot? If you have different soil, you can get your soil analyzed by a lab.

Other: Your soil can really affect drainage. This could affect your perk test, a buried pressure tank, or whether your planned parking lot is really a swamp waiting to happen. Results from observation or testing my influence whether and how much fill or road material needs to be brought in. One reason it is great to observe the site over time is to see where the water flows. If you can’t do this, researching using the Web Soil Survey, performing a simple soil.

Your site’s frost line can also impact your foundation work. Besides having to have water utilities ran under the frost line (6 feet here in Montana), you may have to pour footer walls deeper than your frost line to avoid frost heaving of your decking.

Lastly, you may want to test your land’s soil to pick the best garden spot! Those humps of dirt covered in grass could be old tree stumps, or a treasure chest of soil from a previous garden. One other way that you can map areas of moisture or low drainage is to look at plants growing in the area. Cedars, ferns, alders, cottonwoods, and birch all thrive in high water table areas. Meanwhile Ponderosa, larch and pines like medium moisture, and junipers and knapweed can all indicate dry conditions.

For more detailed information you can learn how to use web soil survey and discover the soils best for building.