The most important tools of the day.
I had to insert shims into some of the larger gaps just to get the caulk to stay. I love building with recycled material.
A bead of caulk to keep the water out of the platform.
I had to insert shims into some of the larger gaps just to get the caulk to stay. I love building with recycled material.
I used a heater for a little while to help the caulk set.
I screwed a wood skirt all around the base of the platform to keep the wind and snow out.
There is a storm coming in and it's going to snow for the next few days. This is the yurt platform all wrapped up.
Time to sit down.
So Close
Tuesday, December 2, 2008
The canvas tarps arrived yesterday. They have been the largest expense yet at $430. They weigh about 90 lbs though and they reek of industrialism which makes me feel as though I got my money's worth. The roof is waterproof fire retardant vinyl which is black on one side and tan on the other side. I hope to leave the black side up in the winter and the tan side up in the summer. The wall is made of fire retardant olive drap canvas. I was hoping that during warmer months I could remove the insulation and the walls would breath. The photos didn't really come out well when they are all wrapped up. I'll have them stretched over the lattice work and roof in no time and I'll post photos then.
Here is the box that corey put in where the PEX tubing exits it's space under the floor and will meet up with the copper tube wrapped around the chimney. This area can house any safety switches or equipment that we need to regulate the temperature.
This photo gives a good view of the space between the plywood and the 1 inch pine plank floor which I will walk around on. The PEX tubing is laid out in a spiral on top of the plywood. All around the spiral I laid down chunks of 1 inch thick boards and nailed them to the plywood. The floor planks are supported above the tubing by these 1 inch boards. To look at it without the floor boards on you'd think a spider on LSD had constructed it.
The pex tube exits the floor space here and we're not really sure what's going to happen with it at this point. I'm guessing it will run up the wall, over the roof, and down through crown and into the copper pipe around the chimney.
It looks pretty good right now. The floor makes a real unique and satisfying squeak with each step. It makes me feel like Doc Holiday walking into a saloon. I can't wait to caulk the cracks shut, rent the floor sander, and finish it with mineral oil. A list of materials which I still need are:
- 210 pop rivets
- 630 tiny washers
- 8 eight foot long 2x4s
- a three foot in diameter crown made of something strong
- enough foil bubble wrap to cover the wall and roof
I feel so close.
Back at it!
Thursday, November 6, 2008
I haven't been dedicating as much work as I would have liked. Between work, school, and life I just haven't had the time. It's getting much colder now which has lit a fire under my ass to get things sorted before the snow comes for good.
I ordered 70 pine lattice boards each 8' in length and 1-3/8" wide. Those have been sitting in the garage waiting for me to figure out the best way to fasten them together. I think I'm going with pop rivets and washers.
I kinda ran outta money so the rivets and the canvas walls have to wait for a bit. The crown or the circular center piece is going to be made out of a special hardwood if I can find it or some sort of steel or metal. The rafters will most likely be $1.99 2x4s from hoe depot.
It didn't get above freezing today. Wish me luck!
Thursday, October 16, 2008
The tubing is called "Wirsbo" and I believe it is some fancy brand name PEX tubing. Screw that. This is a yurt made from mostly recycled material. It doesn't have to be as cool as Robo-cop riding a unicorn.
Yesterday Christy helped me caulk and staple the Reflectix insulation to the bottom of the platform. She took endless amusement at my unfortunate position under the platform and giggled every time I said "ow" or grunted with discomfort.
There are many open spots where we cut away the insulation to accommodate the 4x4 supports. Today I will close them up with thermal tape and caulk and then I'll begin screwing down the first layer of floor which is 1 inch plywood that is saturated in concrete.
After that is down I will destroy a couple router bits while making the spiral shape in the plywood which will house the PEX tubing. After the PEX is in then another layer of 1" planks goes over the plywood. Overbuilt!
Hope Lumber & Supply, out in Longmont, sourced me some 560 feet of 8' x 1/4" X 1-3/8" lathe boards. It's going to be more expensive than cutting the lattice material out of 2x4s but it will be much quicker. I hope to have the platform ready by the time the lattice material arrives in a couple of days.
I have emailed one canvas tarp supply regarding one 50' x 6' fire retardant canvas tarp for the walls. I am looking at fire retardant temper tent vinyl covered tarp for the roof. It's black on one side and tan on the other side. I hope that I can flop it for the winter and summer months. The company should get back to me in a couple days.
Midnight Big Moon First Snow
Sunday, October 12, 2008
The first snow came. This is a picture I took of myself around midnight.
I got the insulation for under the platform. We decided on Reflectix foil bubble wrap which reflects radiant heat. Hopefully since it's underneath the radiant heat tubing in the floor it will work well. I still plan on blocking off the underside of the platform to prevent wind and snow from getting under there.
Tomorrow I'm going to a plumbing and heating store to get something called "Wurzba". When I was loading up the PEX tubing at home depot the wise-old looking employee told me that it was way better than PEX. Wish me luck.
Platform Skeleton
Friday, October 10, 2008
Corey took Thursday off (kinda). I woke up at 5:30am because sometimes that happens. Corey set out the pylons and asked me to help with the framing. We finished almost everything. Now I just need to insulate the bottom and put the plywood on top.
2x4 + 2x4 = 4x4
Thursday, October 2, 2008
Corey got home at dusk and finished off making the 4x4s for the frame. I still haven't actually figured out what materials that I need for the tent part of the yurt. We've been focusing on the deck with radiant heat floors. I started school today and I had hoped to be done with the yurt by now. Maybe if I stopped typing and went and did something then I'd finish it faster.
Foundation Pylons
Monday, September 29, 2008
Sunday came and went. I convinced Corey to put off finishing under the cabin by saying that I would do it during the week. He really hates being under there so it was no surprise that he said YES!
Corey made some 4x4s from the 2x4s while I mixed up some concrete for the foundation pylons that we ghetto-hacked together from cinder blocks and redwood 4x4s. I just hope the platform isn't too shaky. The pylons should be ready today but I have things to do in town today.
I do feel a sense of urgency with the leaves changing and the cold right around the corner. The weather has been fine during the days but pretty chilly after the sun goes down. Yesterday the high was 70F/21C and the low was 45F/7C. Trying to finish this project in the snow or even freezing temperatures would really suck.
Free Wood
Thursday, September 25, 2008
After Burning Man there was much confusion in my brain as to what I was going to do until xmas. Ideas included living in the national rain forest in Puerto Rico, volunteering for a foundation in Nicaragua, and even trying to live on a sail boat in Santa Cruz, California. The free lumber showed up on craigslist.org and I took it as a sign that I should build a yurt and live in the bitter cold for the winter.
Jason helped me transfer four loads of 2x4s, plywood, and 1" planks. It took us a week because we were also simultaneously trying to watch 4 seasons of lost and kill a keg of PBR.
All of the beautiful wood is stacked up outside waiting to be formed into a 16' x 16' platform with PEX tubing running through the floors to carry heated water. We've made some 4x4s out of 2x4s and, with Corey's help, I've thought a lot about the design. I imagine our first day of real construction will commence on Sunday. (Corey's day off)
The Beginning
After being over seas for almost two years I didn't have much when I returned. I didn't have a job, a car, or a place to stay. I went to the Burning Man festival and returned to Colorado with my best friend that lives 8200ft up in the Rocky Mountains on 5 acres of land. I built a Yurt on the property and tried to live in in all winter long.
This blog details the weather conditions and events of Winter 2008/2009
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