Galaxy Hut Tarp Size

[pakalla]

I am currently building my first galaxy hut. We finished all the PVC building and I am looking around for tarps. But I don't understand where the 16x24 size tarp comes in, if the hut is 16x14 - can anyone shed some light? My team and I would be grateful.

Thanks!

[some seeing eye]

The tarp should be a little less wide than your arching poles are long. How much less is determined by how you anchor the side edges of the tarp to terra firma. Actual tarp dimensions are often about 4 inches shorter than increments of 5 feet.

[Fan C]

16x14 are flat dimensions. The tarp is in an arc not flat. Thus the 16x24 order to reach the ground on both sides. We've used a 30x14 galaxy hut the past few years, it's tarp is gigantic.

[krly]

Length of hut = 16"
Length of pipes that make up arches=24"
I found this really handy for determining how long the arches should be to achieve a certain height (remember that the arch is 1/2 the circumference and the radius(stand-up height) is 1/2 the diameter) :
http://math.about.com/library/blcirclecalculator.htm

If you want a hut thats 7 feet tall, put 14 in the diameter window and the arches should be 1/2 the circ. (21.5' +/-of pipe=arch, will give you a hut 14' wide and 7' tall....the length is determined by how many arches you use. The tarp would be 22 X length you decide.
krly