So, You Want to Live in a Yurt? (6 page)

REAL OR FAKE? WINDOWS THAT IS.

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Imagine a pizza…that’s your yurt. Now take out “pizza slices” for your bathroom, bedroom, etc. Have them meet in the center.

This was a big decision for us. If we couldn’t have gotten real windows for our yurt, I don’t think we would have considered it. The rustic yurt we stayed in as a test had the classic yurt windows. It made it seem a little cave-like in our opinion. The lattice covers the window, and you have to go outside to open or close the window. Sure, if it’s a vacation yurt or a weekend only thing, that’s not a big deal. Every day? That would get old, real fast. It would also be an issue if you didn’t have a wrap around deck.

Several of the yurt companies have methods that incorporate real windows. This seems to be a somewhat new invention, so we were slightly nervous about future problems. But so far, knock on wood, no issues. And I
LOVE
the way the real windows look.

Remember to check with your county building inspector on codes relating to windows before you buy any or finalize your window placement in the layout. One caveat - I wouldn’t necessarily go overboard on windows in a yurt (we have four windows and large french doors). It can be quite bright in here during the day; plus, you’ll reduce your insulation and structural integrity.

Here are three tips we learned regarding windows:

1.
If the window is within a certain distance of the floor, it must be tempered glass in case you accidentally kick the window.

2.
Windows look A LOT bigger in the warehouse when surrounded by other windows. Make sure you measure on a yurt to have a better idea of the size you want. We went shopping with the rough in width, but not the height. The sales guy convinced us to go smaller and I really wish we hadn’t. They are still really nice, but not the expansive open windows that I envisioned in my head. Thanks to the way Blue Ridge Yurts handles their windows, it won’t be an issue to replace them with taller windows down the road. Just wish we had them now!

3.
If you have a window in the bathroom, it must be a certain distance from the shower/bath OR be tempered glass, in case you slip and fall into the window.

A STEP BY STEP OF THE PROCESS

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Patience is a virtue, as they say.

STEP ONE: RESEARCH

Land:

If you don’t have your land yet, either leased or owned, start looking around and get that going. You won’t want to take any large steps forward until you’re almost to closing (or done with closing). If you’re leasing, draw up a land lease that makes sense to you and the land owner. Keep in mind that yurts aren’t quite as easily moved as represented. If you’re planning on putting interior walls, nice flooring, electric/plumbing, and a nice deck…you’re not going to want to move anytime soon. Also, check on the electric/water/sewage options for your land (including whether the land percs for septic, which is a test measuring the soils ability to absorb liquid). The percolation test is VERY important if you’re looking at wet or low-lying land. Just google “perc test for septic” to learn more. If you’re an internet person like we are, also check on internet availability. You might also want to check your cell reception on the land, if you aren’t currently living in the area. We had to switch from AT&T to Verizon when we moved, since we had zip, zero, NO reception anywhere around here.

Yurt companies:

I had been reading about yurt companies for several years at this point, and was very familiar with the big boys. However, we were lucky to have a quality yurt company right in our back pocket. I compared prices and options, and for us, our local shop was the best choice. There are pros and cons to all of the companies, so make sure you think it through and do your research! Once you have your pick, make sure you speak with someone at the company. If they aren’t happy to spend time answering your questions at this point, chances are their helpfulness won’t improve when your dome cracks, walls need replacing or any other yurt care issues pop up later on.

County regulations:

This could go under land, but I think it deserves its own section because it is SO important. Some counties don’t allow yurts, and others may not have any experience with them. Here is a good question for your yurt company of choice - do they have experience selling yurts in your particular county. Ours obviously did, since it is a local yurt company. Luckily, we were also the SECOND yurt in Patrick county, so we didn’t have to deal with quite as much red tape. Thank you to the First Yurt of Patrick county!

Contractors or DIY:

Originally we thought we’d DIY much of our project. But we’re web designers by trade, and short on time, so we ended up using a contractor for pretty much everything. Which means our costs are about as high as they could have been (although our contractor did his best to keep costs low, thank you Steve Wood!). We also employed an electrician/plumber. If you’re experienced with home projects, or building in general, this will cut A LOT of your costs, but will require a lot more of your time. You might also fight more red tape with the building inspector. Our contractor knew what the inspector would balk at, and kept things as smooth sailing as possible. If you’re thinking you’ll go with a contractor, start calling prospects now. We didn’t do this. The yurt company gave us a recommendation for a deck builder when we put down our deposit (which is FAR too late, be forewarned), and when he finally got back to us a few (very tense) days later, he was booked up till spring. This was in late summer, and we were hoping to be in by October. Ha. Ha. Ha. October. So funny we were! So, take it from me. Start setting up contractor and electrician/plumber connections now, if you think you’ll need them.

Insulation:

Yes, your yurt will have come with the option to insulate the walls and roof. But the floor is up to you! We didn’t really make a decision on this, and now I wish we had. We currently have no insulation on our floor, and while we keep it pretty warm in here with the wood stove, the floor gets COLD. And we’re not even close to efficient at the moment. Ask your yurt company for advice, talk to your contractor, research, etc. I wish we had used SIPs between the subfloor and main floor, but again, we didn’t make a decision. Too many unknowns hit us at this point, and we were screaming through our cash, so we decided to deal with the floor insulation next winter. Makes for some cold feet now though, and if your winters get colder than 10-20 at night, and/or if you have a wood stove that is barely big enough for the space, INSULATE YOUR FLOOR.

Heating:

Our building inspector required that we use a renewable heat source, since the VA building code doesn’t recognize reflective insulation (which is what is used in yurt walls/roofs) as insulation. Basically, they want to make sure you won’t freeze to death if the power goes out, or you run out of gas. We were already planning on a wood stove, and I think most people will, just because it fits with the natural, rustic feel of a yurt. I will say this, having a wood stove as your only source of heat is a PAIN. So you might consider a secondary heat source for when you’re sick of cutting, chopping, hauling and otherwise spending hours of your day on wood. In our bathroom we put a small ceramic heater, and my husband would probably marry it if he could. It does make getting out of the shower much more pleasant. And I like that we have it in case of any issue with the wood stove. Also, our wood stove is rated for 1,300 sq ft which is way over kill for our 700 sq ft (30 ft yurt with 7 ft walls) yurt. Or so we thought until we had it in here. It’s perfect, especially since we haven’t insulated the floors yet. Remember, the heat will rise up into the dome, so either plan for a ceiling fan or overbuy on your heating.

Cooling:

We live in a mountain climate, which is pretty pleasant year round. However, it does get into the 90’s a few weeks out of the summer, and it’s sunny A LOT. People say yurts are more difficult to cool than to heat. Talk to your yurt company, get their advice. We have real windows in our yurt, and a small window unit from our previous home, so I don’t think we’ll have too many issues. We also get wonderful breezes here, which we’ve already taken advantage of with an open dome, wide open windows and french doors and sunshine pouring in. It’s amazing. If you are planning on a yurt in a hot climate, think
shade
when you pick your build site.

Furnishings & Appliances:

Have fun with this part, I know I did. Just know that when it’s time to start making those purchases, you might not be as flush with cash as you think. We had a budget. A good budget. It didn’t stand a chance once we got going. So. Many. Unexpected. Costs. Again, be forewarned. Think about the things that are truly important to you, whether it’s really nice wood floors, high end cooking appliances, etc. Start looking at dimensions.