| Most canvas yurts in Mongolia and the grassland regions are unlikely to be waterproofed. The high-altitude region’s climate is generally dry despite heavy temperature extremes. The wooden parts also tend to be made from lower-grade woods, and there is generally a lack of attention to detail. These yurts are certainly not suited to our much wetter European climate. We have adapted our yurts to be waterproof and insulated so they can be used in our often cold and damp UK environments. All yurts are available to buy online. |
Roof crown
The roof crown is a yurt’s centrepiece and must be beautiful and strong. Once made, we paint it with traditional Mongolian patterns before sealing it with water-resistant yurt varnish.
Timber Yurt Door
We also provide solid wooden doors. Single doors have a wooden frame and a window to allow maximum light into the yurt. The doors are painted with traditional patterns and sealed in protective, waterproof varnish. We also supply a padlock and slide bolt for security.
Khana (wooden wall trellis)
Our Khana is made from traditionally ‘steam bent’ willow wood, which is fastened together using traditional rawhide. We are one of the few yurt makers applying the steam curving method to our wall structure. It makes it much stronger than flat trellis alternatives. It also means we can make yurts up to 6.7m in diameter without central ‘dragon post’ supports, allowing far more open space within the yurt for large furniture. The Khana sections are left natural, without paint; just a layer of linseed oil is applied to protect them from moisture. Additional layers of oil can then be added over time.
Canvas
Our team in Oxford have selected a heavy-duty natural canvas to protect our yurts from the environment. The canvas has been silicone-treated to resist water yet is still breathable. Yurts’ canvas mustn’t trap dampness or moisture within the material. Manmade materials such as PVC/or Teflon are not breathable and can cause the air within the structure to become stale and uncomfortable. It also traps unpleasant odours. If well cared for, the canvas on our yurts will last many years. It can then be easily re-proofed. This canvas has been used by our customers for many years now with great feedback. The canvas comes in 2 options: white with patterns or green colour without patterns. These traditional patterns are stitched onto the canvas and are common to our local region of Inner Mongolia. They are symbolic of the universal elements.
Roof cap
All yurts come with a transparent and non-transparent roof cap. A non-transparent one is made of a three-layer fabric, including a canvas layer, sheep wool mixed insulation layer and inner lining. A transparent roof cap is made of a three-layer fabric with a transparent PVC central section to maximise light in the yurt. Each roof cap has seven down straps to hold it down, which works very well even during windy weather.
Outer straps
The yurt’s decorative outer straps are made from woven horsehair. This material has been used in Mongolia for millennia because it is weather-resistant, strong, and beautiful.
Inner straps
The inner horizontal straps bear the yurt’s weight, holding the walls in place. We prefer to use poly nylon for this important job. It is very strong and resistant to moisture, which is common in the UK climate.
Triple-layer windows for an insulated yurt
We are the only yurt makers to offer a triple-layer window design that provides insulation for colder weather regions. The first layer is a fine mosquito-resistant mesh. Then, a transparent PVC layer, which Velcro fastens, prevents draughts and moisture and can easily be removed in the warmer months. Finally, a roll-up canvas felt layer on the exterior prevents heat loss.
Groundsheet
Our groundsheet has two layers. The bottom layer is a thick, waterproof plastic layer. The top layer is made of green canvas, as it is more pleasing to the eye and comfortable to walk on. We have tailored our groundsheets to be curved up naturally on the edge for you to tack under the yurt and between the canvas and felt layer to keep water and moisture out.