Safety and Security

As mentioned previously, the yurts inherent shape were specially made for inclement weather. The round structure diverts wind around while the rafters and lattice walls evenly distribute the weight of snow down to the ground. However, the variability in a yurt’s effectiveness to combat the weather will vary drastically from kit to kit and company to company. Most American yurt companies will have their yurts tested to get strength ratings that will tell you how their yurt will perform in extreme conditions. Rainier’s 30ft base yurt has a snow load of 100 psf (pounds per square foot) while other companies will be around 15-20 psf. You can buy and build additional upgrades like vertical studs or even a metal center column that can increase the strength of a yurt drastically up to around 250 psf.

Basic thunderstorms and snowstorms should be no problem for a properly built yurt, but like all houses there are limits. Hurricanes and tornadoes will likely damage a yurt despite some anecdotal evidence saying otherwise.

The allure of yurts is that it encourages a closer relationship with the environment where it is built. This is one benefit of yurts that can actually become quite problematic. The mountains or forests surrounding a yurt can introduce the local wildlife to your humble home. While the relatively harmless rodent can be dealt with in any number of ways, there are larger and more dangerous animals to be wary of. In the American Southwest snakes are not uncommon while in other areas, bears may be a possible intruder. There are only so many things you can do to combat these potentially deadly animals from breaking into a yurt and much of it comes down to prevention.

By building a yurt on an elevated platform, you’re making it much more difficult for smaller animals to sneak, slip or slither inside. Larger animals like bears are more difficult to control. If you live in a bear-prone area, the thin vinyl on the outside of the yurt will do little to stop a hungry bear. The lattice may keep all but the most tenacious of the Ursidae family outside. You’re best bet is to not incentivize the bear from coming in by removing the tempting smells of food. Keep your food in a bear-proof container separate from the yurt. Additionally, consider installing an electric fence, motion-sensing lights and/or various noisemakers. Whatever you do, regular maintenance and proper construction will help prevent and catch problems with wildlife intruders.

There’s another type of intruder that comes in the form of a human. The reality is that if a potential criminal wants to come inside your home, they will find a way regardless of what type of structure you’re dealing with—yurt, cabin, treehouse, etc. All you can do is make a little harder for them to do. Many ways to do that is similar to what you would do for animals or a normal house in the city. Most yurt companies will offer doors that lock. If you’re able to use electricity you could install an alarm system or motion-activated lights.

These are all solutions to potential problems, but the best way to prevent having to deal with a problem like this is to carefully consider where you are building your yurt. Is the area known to have a low crime rate? Does your property have a gate that would make it more difficult for unwanted vehicles to come in and out? These are all things that should be thought about thoroughly.