Ten steps to building your Smiling Woods Yurt

Building a Smiling Woods Yurt can be a fun and rewarding project. Whether you're looking for a cozy cabin or a unique alternative living space, building a Smiling Woods Yurt will allow you to connect with nature while enjoying the comfort of a well-designed house. Use one of our ready-to-go designs for a variety of yurt sizes and configurations, or go full custom and work with our design team to build your dream round home. Then your plans are off to engineering, and readied for permit submittal if needed.

Smiling Woods Yurts Building Process

1
step 1

Design your Yurt

Choose from a variety of ready-to-build designs for a variety of yurt sizes, or go full custom. Our architects and designers are ready to make your dream round home a reality.

Smiling Woods Yurts Building Process

2
step 2

Build a Foundation

While we’re building the kit, your team will work on the foundation. Our yurts can be built on slab, perimeter, or piers -- your designer and engineer will work to design the best foundation for your site.

Smiling Woods Yurts Building Process

3
step 3

Kit build (in our factory)

Our skilled craftspeople will build your kit (including windows) and get it all packed and labeled for easy assembly. 

Smiling Woods Yurts Building Process

4
step 4

Delivery day!

We’ll deliver your yurt from our factory in Washington State. Your driveway will need to be ready to fit a semi trailer, and you or your contractor will need to be ready to unload with a forklift or boom truck. If you are in a unique location (island, hike-in backcountry site, outside of the continental US), our logistics team will work with you on any unique delivery considerations.

Smiling Woods Yurts Building Process

5
step 5

On-site: Assemble the Wall Panels

Raise up the walls as soon as your foundation and subfloor (if necessary) are ready. Shorter panels can be done by hand, taller panels are best assembled with a boom truck or reach forklift. 

Smiling Woods Yurts Building Process

6
step 6

Assemble the Ring and Rafters

The best part. Our rafters and ring holds the whole yurt together. 

Smiling Woods Yurts Building Process

7
step 7

Roofing

Install custom sheathing, then screw on your custom metal roofing.

Smiling Woods Yurts Building Process

8
step 8

Windows, siding, and doors

If you didn’t choose our windows and siding, install your own. If you did, caulk, install the trim, hang your doors, and you're all dried in! 

Smiling Woods Yurts Building Process

9
step 9

Interior framing

Add your loft and interior walls for kitchen, bedrooms, bathrooms, offices, and more

Smiling Woods Yurts Building Process

10
step 10

Rough trades (plumbing, electrical, HVAC, insulation)

We leave walls open so you can add the utilities you need, and insulate appropriately for your climate. Many customers choose hemp, sheep's wool, mineral wool, or other natural insulation, with spray foam for the roof.

Smiling Woods Yurts Building Process

11
step 11

Finish

Finish up the interior to your liking. Natural rock shower? Live edge bar? The interior is yours to finish in your style.