50' yurt. Is it a good idea? What Would it Cost to DIY?

[Kintore]

I've just begun looking into building/buying a yurt and I'm convinced I need a 50'. I would love to build my own but, I'm open to manufactured and delivered cost estimates also. I'm looking for a ballpark price on the basic structure and platform that's basically fully loaded, meaning full snow and wind package, 2x6 framing, vented

dome

with screen and fan, long life fabrics, and nice doors. I would also like a reason catchment system. I'm not crazy about the traditional gutter system due to snow in the winter. Thank you for any input.

[Wintergreen282]

I've read on this forum that a ton of engineering goes into yurt designs to make them safe. Most people who build their own, build smaller ones. And I'm not sure I've ever even heard of a 50' yurt. So, not to be negative - and others with more building experience may weigh in - but I'd be shocked if anyone thought it was a good DIY project. Sorry.

Pacific Yurts

(and probably others - many who are listed on this site) has a "design your yurt" program that gives you the cost as you go through picking what you want. They usually have plans for platforms too, though those costs are influenced by where you live, your lot, how much you will hire out, etc. Good Luck!

[Jafo]

I believe

Nomad Shelter Yurts

makes a 50 footer that is snow-ready (with no supports either). As I recall it is rather expensive. Here is the price list:

http://www.nomadshelter.com/uploads/...RICESHEET2.pdf

50' Standard 3-Season $45,000
50' Standard 4-Season $49,000
50' Shipping Crate $700

[Bob Rowlands]

The crate alone cost more than the materials of my 16'er. lol

Speaking of which, the canvas cover is done. Four years continuous exposure and it is finished. My yurt is coming down. :/

[asciiaardvark]

I haven't built one anywhere near that big, but did happen to recently stumble into

this video of 40' yurts being put up

, which should give you an idea of the scale of the structure & wood you'll be dealing with.

[HawaiiYurts]

Sizes over 30' diameter start having engineering challenges. I would be concerned if no engineering is involved and even more so if there are no internal supports on those larger sizes.

[Bob Rowlands]

Yes, I'll bet they are a mother to engineer. A big mother. Spending $50K on a tent , no I'll pass, thanks.

[Pente]

Originally Posted by HawaiiYurts

Sizes over 30' diameter start having engineering challenges. I would be concerned if no engineering is involved and even more so if there are no internal supports on those larger sizes.

Dead on right.

I've been designing and building yurts since the summer of 2000.

Here's why 30' Yurts are the normal "Biggest":
It's all about the rafters.

16' long rafters, are used, usually, and that's the largest commercially available "easy" lumber. 2x6x16', or larger. Those rafters also get heavy more so the bigger you get. Also you need more rafters the larger the yurt, and the ring itself gets crowded, and the spread-out of the rafters at the Khana gets further and further away. And the rafters sag under their own weight at that point. And the added weight just puts more strain on the rest of the yurt taking the forces. Can it be done? of course. Should it? not really. A 50' yurt doesn't give you anything that several smaller yurts can, unless you need that extra space for a particular reason, and honesly, you should consider other structures if needed.

If you desire a lot of space in a yurt, honestly, get a few smaller yurts. ESPECIALLY if you've never put them up before. A 2x10x16' rafter falling on you is freaking rough.



Pente

[Bob Rowlands]

Yeah, I agree 100%. A 30' yurt is HUGE. That's normally the biggest standard size offered for a reason, and that's because yurts are tents. The heaviest built yurt walls are normally 3/4" lath, encircled by a cableat the top of the wall to withstand the roof load. Regardless of what anyone says about yurts, structurally they are far less strong then even a standard old school 2x4 framed house. Not even kinda slighty close. I oughta know, I've been building houses since 1973.

Most houses now have 2x6 extreior walls,, which are fantastically strong. The roof trusses sitting on those walls are engineered to allow a MASSIVE loading, in comparison to any yurt, which uses no truss design to support a load. It usually is 2x6s, and a 2x6 spanning 16 feet is really wimpy in comparison to any truss..

A 50' yurt may exist somewhere, but that's a really poor design, from a cost effective perspective. No trusses.

Regardless of what the yurt is covered with, it is still cloth, not painted sheet goods or stucco etc.

IMO if 30' isn't big enough, buy a second yurt. If that still isn't enough room, do what all other Americans do and buy/build a house. Some of this massive yurt stuff gets completely ridiculous. Yurts are wonderful dwellings, but give me a break.