Ideas for covering a yurt dome

Mar 16, 2025 07:14:49

We have a wooden yurt from a kit and are looking for ideas for ways to cover the dome from the inside. This would be to shade the sun in summer and insulate in the winter. Ideally it would be easily opened and closed without the use of a ladder. It may require one for each season. Wondering what other have done to create coverings?

Mar 16, 2025 10:37:00

T Melloh wrote: It may require one for each season. Wondering what other have done to create coverings?

Excellent question T and although I haven't had to do this for a yurt, it is definitely applicable to many house window situations, and greenhouses.

First off, my engineering son will tell you that, yes, one for each season is better. He will say that it's the heat that does the moving, so it's the heat you need to stop.

So keeping heat "in" in the winter, requires some sort of layer on the inside that will slow or stop the heat from getting to the dome window. However, the heat will contain humidity, and as it cools, it will condense, so one needs to keep an eye on the situation if using natural materials. If you can get up close, people often use a layer or two or three of plastic - unmoving air between layers is surprisingly good insulation, but the trick is to keep it from moving!

Keeping the heat "out" in summer, requires something on the outside that will give shade. I recently suggested to a friend who was trying to keep their greenhouse roof cool, that some sort of bamboo frame would be light to move around, and could be designed with layers to create shade while still allowing cool breezes. Something that keeps out the harsh sun, will still allowing light in, would seem to me to be ideal. Some sort of shade tent idea, that blocks the sun from directly hitting it, but bounces some useful light in, might also work. My mother had a roll up shade that used a rope to change the angle and the amount of coverage that worked wonderfully on a regular vertical house window that faced south. Finding a way to do something that has the same effect on top of a roof may take some work and creativity, but hopefully you will find a way and post your results here.

Mar 16, 2025 11:20:24

Thanks Jay. That helps focus my thinking some.
Toxtli

Mar 17, 2025 06:24:56

My vision is something flowing like long glass curtains or colorful silk or satin.

I found something like my vision with these:

https://www.amazon.com/Ceiling-Drapes-Hanging-Kit-Drapery/dp/B0D44YWTBK

https://www.walmart.com/ip/AK-TRADING-CO-120-Wide-10Ft-Wide-Voile-Ceiling-Drapes-Sheer-Curtain-Panels-4-Pocket-Wedding-Venues-Banquet-Halls-Corporate-Events-Photobooth-White-10/884628417

I can't beleive you just said that. Now I need to calm down with this tiny ad:

Perennial Vegetables: How to Use Them to Save Time and Energy

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