THE WORLD’S ONLY
STEEL-FRAME YURT

A yurt is a portable, round structure covered in a fabric material. Yurts trace their origin back to nomadic Mongolian tribes, who used what they called “gers” as portable homes that they could easily carry from one place to the next. While some of the Mongolian population still uses traditional gers to this day, yurts have also found numerous other applications throughout the rest of the world.

Yurts were originally used as portable housing for the nomadic tribes of Mongolia. Today, yurts are used widely for camping,  glamping, tiny homes, and many other unique applications. Versatile and durable structures with easy assembly, yurts can serve just about any purpose you can think of!

Traditional yurts are made from wooden lattice frames covered with felt for insulation and waterproof canvas. While most modern yurts continue to be made out of wood, WeatherPort^® Yurts feature frames made of high-strength steel and are covered with long-lasting tensioned fabric membranes. Check out our blog post on Wood vs. Metal Yurt Construction to learn more.

The steps to set up a yurt will depend on the type of yurt you purchase. Steel-framed yurts from WeatherPort^® are typically assembled in the following order:

1. Assemble and securely anchor the yurt’s base frame for safety.
2. Install the uprights.
3. Install curved header sections, creating a ring on top of the uprights.
4. Install lateral braces between the uprights.
5. Assemble and install the top arch sections.
6. Assemble and install the window frames.
7. Install the dome assembly at the top of the WeatherPort^® Yurt.
8. Install and tension the fabric membrane.
9. Install the windows, door frame assembly, and entry door.
10. Install the insulation and liner systems (optional).
11. Install the awning above the entry door.
12. Add the molding around the door and base frame.

Please refer to your WeatherPort^® Yurt manual for specific steps and instructions to correctly assemble your steel-framed yurt!

Most yurt companies claim that their yurt is easy to set up, but difficulty levels vary widely. Look for specific information about setup requirements to understand setup difficulty. For example, WeatherPort^® Yurts save you time because they don’t require the construction of a platform. They’re designed to work with alternative anchoring options so that you can safely anchor your yurt directly into level ground.

A yurt’s life span depends on the quality of construction and materials, the level of care and maintenance, and the location’s climate. WeatherPort^® Yurts are engineered for durability and longevity for decades of use and are virtually maintenance-free once set up.

Because of yurts’ endless customization options and the ability for relocation, yurt life is whatever you make of it. Still, many people embrace yurt living as a way to connect with nature without completely “roughing it.” Additional benefits of living in a yurt may include a more simple, less hectic lifestyle and fewer expenses. For more information, read our blogs on Yurts as Tiny Homes and Yurt and Tiny House Living Tips from Experts.

There is no “average” cost of a yurt, as yurts vary in price depending on the manufacturer you go with, the type and size of the yurt, and additions such as window, door, and insulation packages. While the overall concept may be similar, differences in quality and capabilities create a wide range of yurt pricing.

Steel-framed yurts from WeatherPort^® offer many cost-saving benefits, such as minimal foundation requirements, fewer logistical expenses for transportation, shorter construction times, and minimal tool and equipment requirements. They are also engineered to withstand the specific wind and snow loads required by local and International Building Codes for safety. Feel free to contact us for more information about designing a yurt and to get a quote for a yurt!

Most modern yurts are portable but check with the yurt manufacturer for information about shipping and setup — some yurts may technically be portable, but relocation may be costly or difficult. WeatherPort^® Yurts are lightweight and pack small for low-cube (and low-cost) shipping, and are easier to set up, disassemble, and relocate.

Heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems can be added to most yurts, including WeatherPort^® Yurts, to create a comfortable living space for year-round enjoyment. WeatherPort^® Yurts also come with venting domes that allow hot air to escape out the top and cooler air to enter through the windows and doors. Pay special attention to window and door placement when designing your yurt, as this can affect the natural cooling and heating of your yurt. For example, place windows in sunny locations to promote a warmer indoor temperature and in shady locations to promote a cooler indoor temperature and locate the door away from typical wind directions.

Yes, lighting and electricity can be installed in a yurt. While an electrician is often required to make these additions, WeatherPort^® Yurts can be ordered with optional plug-and-play lighting and electrical systems in 50 Hz and 60 Hz to enable you to install the electricity yourself and save time and money. Energy-efficient LED lighting options are also available.

Yes, it is possible to add plumbing to a yurt as long as the yurt site has access to a septic or sewer system. This would require installing pipes underneath the yurt that come up through the yurt floor on one end and connect to the septic or sewer system on the other end.

Insulating a yurt varies from one manufacturer to the next. WeatherPort^® Yurts utilize our state-of-the-art EnerLayer^® insulation and liner system to maintain a consistent temperature, minimize energy usage and reduce heating and cooling costs. The EnerLayer^® insulation system creates a radiant barrier that reflects outdoor heat rather than absorbing it and prevents indoor heat from escaping. It helps retain warm air indoors when it’s cold out and cool air indoors when it’s hot out. Read Behind the Design: Yurts & Insulation Systems for Extreme Climates for more information.

Yurts generally don’t come with bathrooms preinstalled, but bathrooms can be added to yurts as long as the yurt is set up with the appropriate plumbing infrastructure. If you’d like your yurt to have a bathroom, you can place two yurts next to each other to create separate spaces (with or without a connected corridor) or use interior walls to divide your yurt space. If you plan to install a kitchen or a self-contained kitchenette, consider placing the bathroom on the other side of the wall to share a single water source.

Yurts can be equipped with everything required to make them permanent, livable homes. For example, WeatherPort^® Yurts can be equipped with plumbing, lighting and electrical, insulation, and HVAC systems ; however, whether or not it is legally permitted to make a yurt your permanent home depends on the building codes in your area of residence. See “Do yurts have to meet building codes? Do I need a permit to build a yurt?” above for more information.

Whether or not you can legally live in a yurt depends on the building code requirements in your state or county. Many counties consider yurts temporary structures and limit how long you can legally stay in a yurt. However, this is not true across the board, and many people have found success living in a yurt, especially in remote, out-of-the-way locations.

Be sure to check with your local building or planning department.

Whether or not you will need a building permit to build a yurt depends on numerous factors, including the yurt’s size, the intended use, and the location. Because building code requirements vary by county and state, yurts are sometimes classified as temporary structures and sometimes as semi-permanent or permanent structures. Likewise, yurts may be considered recreational structures, studios, or auxiliary buildings. Depending on your location, your yurt may also have to meet specific requirements for fire safety, wind and snow loads, and specific seismic loading. WeatherPort^® Yurts are engineered to meet area-specific wind and snow loads required by local or International Building Codes (IBC) for safety.

For clarification on necessary permits, please contact your local building or planning office for information on building codes in your area.

WeatherPort^® Yurts can be assembled and used year-round. They’re engineered to meet area-specific wind and snow loads and can be equipped with insulation and HVAC systems to create a comfortable interior temperature. The tensioned fabric membranes used on WeatherPort^® steel-framed yurts are UV-stabilized for prolonged use in locations with high solar loads, engineered to provide higher abrasion resistance, chemically inert, will not rot, and are mold- and mildew-resistant. WeatherPort^® also offers tensioned fabric membranes that meet California’s Code of Regulations (CCRs) fire safety requirements for membrane structures.

Please check with your local building or planning office to see if permits are required to leave your yurt up year-round.

Once set up, a steel-framed yurt from WeatherPort^® is virtually maintenance-free. To keep your WeatherPort^® Yurt looking good, we recommend cleaning the exterior fabric with mild soap and water. A soft brush (like you would use to wash your vehicle) will gently clean dirt, leaves, and other debris off the fabric. Do not use any solvents, cleaners, degreasers, or abrasives, as they can damage the fabric.

Unlike a wood yurt, a WeatherPort^® Yurt is virtually maintenance-free, reducing the need for expensive and ongoing maintenance and upkeep.

A yurt’s ability to provide a waterproof interior and resist mold growth depends on the materials the yurt is made of. The high-strength and galvanized steel frames used for WeatherPort^® Yurts come with an optional powder coating that provides additional protection against humidity and corrosion. The tensioned fabric membranes used in WeatherPort^® Yurts are mold- and mildew-resistant and will not rot. Ground skirts around the base guide water, snow, dirt, and debris away from the yurt. Additionally, Alaska Structures^® offers vector-proof flooring systems that create a “sealed” interior environment, perfect for keeping out rodents, snakes, insects, and water intrusion.

If building your WeatherPort^® Yurt on a concrete foundation or wood platform, we recommend raising the yurt a couple of inches to help prevent water intrusion during heavy rains and storms.