DIY Square Substructures
The easiest way to construct a square substructure is to build a free-standing deck spaced 12" or 16" off-center. This will provide ample strength and rigidity for the yurt.
The spacing and size of your beams, joists, and braces will directly affect the amount of load your structure can support. It's always advised to consult a professional to ensure structural integrity, but online tools are available for reference from the link below.
2 x 6 beams are standard for decks across most of North America and are usually spaced 16” off-center.
In Ontario, if your deck is freestanding, less than 24" above grade, and less than 200 square feet, a permit is not required.
Bylaws in your specific area may or may not require a permit. It is your responsibility to check your area's specific limitations and allowances.
Please keep in mind when building that manipulating the urgh (insulated top flap) becomes increasingly harder as the distance from the ground to the top of the yurt increases. A wraparound porch is most practical when building higher off the ground. This is advantageous for increased living space, maintenance, and comfortability.
Defining Characteristics
Your substructure and platform can be one in the same or can take the shape of two separate constructs. Over the years, we have seen multiple iterations of this, but they all have three things in common:
- They are at least 10” off the ground.
- They are level.
- There is a rim board in place.
Typically, an insulated disk with the exact diameter of the yurt is placed on top of the substructure and is referred to as the platform.
The alternative to building a platform is to use your substructure as the platform. Customers have decked the top of their substructure and installed their yurt right on top to use that as their floor. Since the platform is not raised, L brackets are used as an alternative to support the rim boards.
Tip:
It is more difficult to achieve a waterproof seam with L Brackets, so be sure to caulk the inside and outside seams where the Rim meets the Platform. For this reason, building an insulated disk separate from the platform is advised.
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