The panels of the yurt platform are put together with lumber and splines. These are the 8-ft 2X6 lumber doubles (before being glued and nailed together) that are (now) holding the top layer together. The bottom layer was held with 12-ft ones. You can also see the compression strap we used to pull the panels closely together, so we could nail the outer layer of OSB (Oriented Strand Board) to the interior lumber and splines. The inside of each panel is foam with a great "R"-rating (for insulation).

The bottom layer was cut like a pizza with twelve slices. I had ordered a 10-inch thick pizza, but what arrived was only 6", so I ended up getting a second 6-inch layer to put on top of it, of plain rectangular panels. Bob's job was to make it work, otherwise I would have complained even more about not getting what I ordered. But Bob's put in well more than he should have been asked to--doing some seriously heavy lifting, even, helping me build this--and it's all working out great so far.

When the pizza was coming together, Bob finally saw why I had ordered the platform that way--the design elegance it has, especially when you consider the framework that it's laying on.

The last slice on the bottom layer.

The top floor coming together...it's rectangular pieces on top, to make up the difference between what I ordered and what I actually got delivered. I have to be really careful about moisture between the layers now.

November 18, 2002: The platform is basically done. A few more nails and screws still needed in it. November 22-24, 2002: stairs built

I also need to trim and seal up around the edges. I need to find the rubber roofing material I saw on a home-improvement show. They were putting in a round skylight. This rubber went around curves and corners, and they said it would last for thirty years. That's what I need, but they don't sell it at Home Depot in Syracuse.

Yurt-raising....?