In our 40+ years of building yurts, we have found that some of our potential customers are concerned about the idea of buying and setting up a yurt on their own, and we completely understand! But, allow us to put your mind at ease. Building a yurt is very straightforward. And, with the easy-to-use instructions that come with every Pacific Yurt kit, the steps are clearly laid out.
When planning your yurt build, we recommend considering the following:
Choosing a location
Prior to assembling a yurt you will need to build a circular platform for the yurt which is the floor structure. The platform can be placed on most any level or sloped surface on personal or commercial property; however, every state has different zoning requirements and codes that must be adhered to. In your research, you will need to gather the information for your state. You will need a clearing wide enough for your yurt floor plan and the space you desire around it. You’ll want a location that:
- Is protected from high winds, away from overhanging tree limbs that could cause damage in a storm
- Will get morning sun and afternoon shade
- Will have good road access to either have the yurt delivered on site or to have it brought in your own truck or trailer from the delivery point
You may need to make phone calls to local utility companies to ask about water, sewer, and power options as well if you will not be off-grid. You’ll also need to explore the building codes in your area, which can vary from place to place. You can find what to expect with shipping and other things you need to know on our website.
What is the purpose?
Because yurts are remarkably versatile, our customers are always surprising us with the new ways they use them. As you move through your planning stages, keep the main purpose in mind. Your yurt’s purpose provides a decision filter through the planning, purchase, and construction steps.
Many of our customers choose a yurt for their personal use. Yurts are perfect for vacations, retreats, temporary housing, and guests. They make unique work or relaxation spaces for those looking to connect more with nature. Businesses are using yurts to bring in extra revenue as rentals, retails spaces, meeting spaces, and retreat or fitness centers. Government agencies are proving yurts can be used to bring in revenue to sustain programs as places for meetings, exhibits, or rentals.
View our infographic: Planning for Your Pacific Yurt
To hire or not to hire?
The yurt platform is the one part of the yurt that you’ll need to build yourself or contract out. It’s best if the platform is in place before the yurt is delivered. We provide suggested platform plans for every size yurt.
The platform of the yurt is the least portable part of a yurt build, but this depends on the design and materials used when constructing the platform. Many people simply have the platform built on site, because they don’t intend to move their yurt once it is constructed, but it is possible to design a platform that is more modular.
Depending on the site conditions, it should only take a good carpenter and a couple helpers a day or two to build the platform. Many of our customers will use the same contractor for both the platform build and the interior yurt building projects, such as partition walls for bathrooms or kitchen areas or lofts within their yurt.
If you choose to bring in a contractor, we recommend the following:
- Be clear on what you want: Go over the platform plans and figure out what inside work you want done before talking to a contractor. The average contractor might not be familiar with building yurts, but they are welcome to call us with any specific questions.
- Get recommendations: To avoid any problems, ask your friends, family, and coworkers for recommendations of contractors they’ve worked with in the past and trust. You can also get recommendations at local building or hardware stores and search review sites for good contractors.
- Get it in writing: Hiring a contractor is a business transaction, so you’ll want to make sure there are written components to the transaction, including the bid and the contract.
Follow the manual
An important step to building a new yurt is to open the easy-to-read installation instructions. We provide manuals for every size yurt. All the needed tools, materials, and recommendations are clearly outlined for you. The Set Up Manual can be downloaded prior to purchasing your yurt so you can feel completely prepared for the yurt assembly.
While all of our standard yurt features are strong and elegant, our custom features allow a stunning array of style and customization options, including dome upgrades, door styles, weather kits, and more.
Make it a party
Once your purpose is clear and your location is decided, a size will need to be chosen. Yurts are measured by diameter. They come in a range of diameter sizes from 12’ up to 30’ with center heights ranging from 9’ to 14’2” to fit any purpose.
Assembling a yurt can be a very fun occasion. Many of our customers have made their “Yurt Set Up Day” into an enjoyable gathering. There should be a good, knowledgeable team leader or contractor in charge, who has read the manual thoroughly and can direct the rest of the crew. Depending on the size of the yurt and which features it has, a team of 3-6 people is usually plenty for the job of unloading and erecting the yurt kit.
Building a small to mid-sized yurt can be done in one day, while larger yurts usually take no more than two. Plan your ‘yurt assembly day’ in advance, and time it with the shipping and delivery of your yurt, but keep in mind that shipping delays can occur when the product is in transit.
Can we get a closer look?
In addition to the Yurt Builder 3D™ tool, you can get inspiration from the yurts featured in our virtual tours and our photo galleries. We invite you to spend a few moments enjoying these and our valuable customer stories.
