What type of base is suitable for a yurt?

The most effective and affordable option for a base is timber. A simple timber framework, a few inches above ground level that can be supported by posts in the ground or settled on paving slabs works well. This framework should be overlaid with planks such as decking or sawn timber. Ensure that 3 mm gaps are left between the boards to allow airflow and expansion.

Your yurt base can be any shape; a simple square or octagon will do. Our customers have used many methods to build their yurt bases, from pallets with railway sleepers around the perimeter to steel frame kits that are easy to relocate. What we have learnt is that concrete bases will draw in the heat from within the yurt, so are not ideal for colder wet climates like the UK. It is also more expensive to build with concrete and could change how local planners view a ‘temporary structure’. This is generally not the case when using timber.

Also, try to avoid using plyboard to cover the base, even marine quality. The plyboard tends to warp and blister over time. It can also create dips where rainwater settles, eventually rotting the plyboard and groundsheet. Large plyboard sheets can also restrict air movement beneath the structure. It is generally not an issue if the base is circular and the same size as the yurt, as rainwater won’t run under the structure.

Our yurts come with a fitted groundsheet to protect them from ground moisture; they can be laid over any flat, well-drained surface. The most effective option is a circular base, the same diameter as the yurt, with a small upstand, approximately 75mm around the perimeter. A 3-4mm plywood board works well for this job. This upstand tucks behind the yurt’s outer canvas skirt and won’t be visible. This design prevents any water from flowing under the yurt groundsheet. For more details please refer to the Yurt Decking Base.

Recently, our yurt building team constructed this beautiful timber decking and steps for a 6m diameter yurt, which is located in beautiful Derbyshire. After the decking was constructed, the team pitched the yurt and installed the woodburning stove. The whole build took around eight days to complete, just in time for our customer’s first guests of the season.