On May 18, 2010, at 8:28 AM, Bob Gillis wrote:
answers below
Hi Bob
I have been in touch with Eleanor about the purchase of a dome.
I teach Yoga Teacher Trainings using a camping format. I have a retreat center in Baja and when back in Canada my program is mobile. Since we do get rain and we are outdoors I am looking for something like your yurt /dome to hide in should the weather not be ideal for us.
Sounds like a good use. If you end up using one please send us a photo.
I do like to be with nature as much as possible and use grassy areas. If the weather was raining would I need to have the floor or would the water run under the sides and into the dome area?
Site selection is all important. It would depend on the lay of the land and the type of soil and how hard the rain. if the soil is porous and water soaks in you could be fine; if you are on a hill top water could flow away from your dome; in a flooding condition you need a floor. Being on a site slope with a ditch on the uphill side of the dome is often ideal. It would be prudent to bring a tarp to lay down if you found water flowing under the edge of your dome. If the ground is grassy or damp and you have a cool night you could well have condensation on the inside of the dome. Laying a tarp over the ground for the night can help with this. Having the doors open and sun will help also.
Regarding the colour. I see that you only have white. Since I am in nature and do like to blend into the environment with the products that I use – this colour is a challenge for me. Eleanor said that some people have painted the dome. If this is the case, what kind of paint can be used and how to apply it?
I believe they used spray cans of paint. Test first to make sure it works and stays to your expectations. You could also use a sunshade to help hide the white which will also keep the dome much cooler in the sun.
How long does the material usually last?
In Florida and Arizona it has lasted 3 + years. We guarantee it for 1.5 years (this is to cover very high elevations where there is considerable UV.
I saw in one of your photos that people used the dome for a party and had one side open. Is this possible or was this custom?
This is possible with all our domes. See the online manual. I does weaken the dome a bit in strong wind.
Thank you for your time and consideration
Kind regards
Valma