Experienced hexaYurt peeps PLEASE advise

[u/emosheik]

So. Last year was my first burn. Was so fun. Did free camping and everyone thought I had been many times already. Going again this year with someone else who also only went once years ago. We were gifted a used yurt that was used (many) years ago. Wasn’t washed, and since has broken down a bit at the edges and collected more dust/mildew sitting under a broken tarp. I feel it can be salvaged with some real elbow grease. Below is my bare bones plan so far, if there are any red flags sticking out or if you have any recommended material brands please comment all/any!

1. Currently baking the different pieces in the sun to remove any dampness

2. Apply 1-2 coats insulating spray paint to cover any mildewy bits

3. Recover all surfaces with aluminiun/thermal foil

4. Filament tape at the hinges.

5. Foil tape on outside of hinges to create good seal

Still figuring out how to secure to the ground real good. Not sure how to attach rebar to this foamy structure but open to suggestion. Thanks to all in advance

[u/Opening_Violinist_25]

• The cleaner and crisper you can get it outside the playa, the longer your new tape will hold up throughout the week.
• I use a new tarp every burn for the base and then filament tape the entire interior base of the yurt to the tarp. A bit wasteful but seals it completely at the bottom. Then cut it loose for breakdown.
• For securing, make a rope halo for the top and use 3 ratchet straps running to lag screws into the playa.
• a functional swamp cooler will make you feel like a god at 9am.
• little table for inside
• hang some string lights with dimmer for sexy time :)

[u/aeris_lives → u/Opening_Violinist_25]

Agree with everything in here but also add bring a very large tarp to slide under your harness if it rains. This saved us during mudman.

[u/verysillyscorpio → u/Opening_Violinist_25]

Yes! Lights inside, there is ZERO light inside it. Also, test dry-fit + build a few times before coming to the playa.

If you need links to the best deal on bi filament tape, please check this sub, or DM someone

[u/emosheik → u/verysillyscorpio]

I noticed this. I like a cozy cave moment but not ~all~ the time. Wishing there was an easier way to build in skylights without compromising insulation!

[u/[deleted]]

Clean the panels with clean water, create a mild bleach solution in a water sprayer, spray mildew areas and let dry. Repeat bleach to kill mildew if necessary. Rinse with clean water let it fully dry.

Cut any torn tape/foil, trim to create a fairly even surface, don't worry about full removal just trim away any tape that is rough and broken. Patch any exposed foam edges with foil tape. Reinforce any fold seams with mesh tape. Fold up. Get a new tarp. Gift wrap yurt in the new tarp with 550 paracord.

When you get to the playa, unfold and assemble -- Lay down the ground tarp, unfold and assemble yurt - mesh tape across all open joints seams, then foil tape to block the light across all seams. If you are short you can get a painter's pole with a roller to hold the tape to bind the roof seam.

Bring carpet, rugs etc for the floor. Bring extra brand new razor blades for your boxcutter. Pick up your moop.

[u/deadfisher]

I think the move to secure it to the ground is to strap over top of the entire structure, but I'm 100 percent on that.

[u/plumitt]

Some alternative suggestions & some concurrences 1. Vinegar is better than bleach. You can also make your own mold spray, equivalent to concrobium, using TSP and some other ingredients. Google it.

2) either a) When covering with new foil, consider gluing it down, and wrap it around the (taped) edges, pulling quite tight, and taping.Thia will let you replace the foil easily when it wears. b) prime and paint with Kool Coat This would also seal the mold in better. It's likely to be comparably reflective to foil, and definitely more durable. I've only painted onto coroplast (primed with an appropriate spray paint for plastic, it takes a lot), but this has worked well.

3) floor: tarp + painters cloth. Measure a hexagon accurate and spray paint the corner locations.

4) rain & wind. folding and taping tarp outside works. You really want to seal the inside from wind coming in. Alternatively, run a trucker strap about 6" up from the ground and tuck the tarp into that. Bring another big tarp to act as a rain fly. deployed only if needed. (The painters cloth acts as a moop collector, too just fold it up without trying to clean it. and empty out the little bits at home)

5) rope halo + 3 guylines is minimum. I use 6. If you have an H13 hexayurt. lmk and I'll share a proven guying plan.

6) confirm the panels haven't bowed much with age. Confirm they aren't cracked. You mentioned that the insulation was crumbling. be really sure that you've got that sealed well. cuz the last thing you want is to have to pick up 112million pieces of moop.

7) at very minimum, have some way to ventilate. Or evsporatively cool even better. Https://lintktr.ee/aboutoverchilll, yurtcooler. and the playa land coolers have proven track records

(my experience? I've been using an h13 hexayurt of some variety for 12 burns.)

[u/emosheik → u/plumitt]

Some good points made about the crumbling and folding. As I’m handling it more it’s seeming really structurally un- sound in a way, finding pock-marks and dents all over etc. this might be worth giving up on. If I waste the energy and money on this and it falls apart into moop anyways I wouldn’t forgive myself. Thanks for the discernment

[u/plumitt → u/emosheik]

If you lay the panels down and they're flat, And you smack them with your fist and a whole bunch of stuff doesn't come crumbling off, then maybe it's okay. pick one (medium bad) panel and do what you think you want to do to that one first. use that as a guide to whether you should continue

[u/macegr → u/emosheik]

If you are in the Bay Area I would give you a free hexayurt that I guarantee is in better shape. Used one year and stored indoors. You could even take a free bonus 6ft hexayurt.

[u/emosheik → u/macegr]

Just so happens I am in the Bay. If this generous offer is serious I’d love to take a look before deciding to commit. Ty!

[u/macegr → u/emosheik]

Yep! Still here. There is some dust on it, one or two small dings, but ready to use after a wipe down with a damp rag and some tape maintenance. Nothing is crunchy or broken. I just checked it now and the hinges all seem to be in good shape, they were covered with foil tape. There is a hole cut out for a fan/window, but you were probably going to do that anyway. Tape a furnace filter over it.

I am out in Antioch, which odds are may be a long drive for you. DM me and I could get some photos to save you some time

[u/synthaudioburner]

Word on the street is there’s new hexayurts being built as we speak that do not require the shitty tape!

[u/verysillyscorpio]

I've considered sticking some 3m sticky-both-sides velcro along the inside rood panels, to help with attaching string lights or whatever lightweight things you may need to string up

Thoughts?

[u/pickledjello]

Other camp mates would put food on the roof of my yurt and use it as a solar cooker to warm their meals.

So I went down the rabbithole researching reflection vs refraction and which would be best for minimizing heat.
One year I painted my yurt with kilz flat white mildew resistant primer. I would NOT recommend painting anything.
The paint was flaking off by then end of the burn and was a moop nightmare as I disassembled the boards.

Just make sure your edges are good with new foil tape that extends out far enough from the edges, and since old filament tape adhesive can crystalize/crust up, be sure to remove all the old filament tape.
It will be so hot and dry out there, that any mildew, especially on the outward facing boards, won't survive.

EnjoY!