yurt living

[YurtGirl]

quote:

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Originally posted by JWFITZ

Hi again,

I actually got my start in yurts. I lived in one for a bit of over a year in Northern Washington State and I wouldn't recommend it for Hawaii for a couple of practical reasons.

1. If you consider the cold dry area where yurts evolved, there is nothing in common whatsoever with that climate and the climate of Hawaii, unless you're planning on building way up saddle road somewhere. You must battle moisture and mold daily here, and the mold even if it doesn't get into the fabric will get into the treatment material and screw it up, making them dank and sweaty like you'd think.

2. They're far more comfortable in the cold than the heat. They get awful hot when the sun comes down. But of course, they were designed for a cold dry climate with a lot of sun.

3. The fabric on the top gets filthy, especially with a woodstove, which you will need to keep it dry inside. If you're on catchment water this surface will be of no use.

4. The roof has no overhangs, and water runs down under the footprint of the shelter. Again, a bad application of the wrong kind of structure in the wrong area.

A yurt will cost more money than a cabin will, knowledgeably built.

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Have you lived in a yurt here in Hawaii or stayed in one? I recommend calling up "Hangin' Loose" or some of the retreats here on the island that use them, you can even go stay in one to get a knowledge of what they're like in our varied climates here on the island. Insulation gives relief to rising temperatures during the day, so does a tinted dome and awnings to provide airflow. Here in Hawaii we can utilize a cistern or gutter system so that the water doesn't just come straight off the sides and you can collect the H2O. A scrub of the outside of a yurt twice a year is sufficient to keep the muck off, even here in 120" of rain a year. Pull a hose up through the middle to rinse of the soap and muck after you've scrubbed it. Moisture is not an issue as long as your dome and seams are properly sealed. Not all yurts are canvas, some are vinyl and some even use great materials that they can recycle and are even more durable than standard canvas. There are wood ones too... I must agree, those are a bit of a stretch from "yurt", but they are beautiful.