Sourcing hexayurt panels

[mattcamp]

My camp this year is attempting to reduce our reliance on RVs by encouraging people to build re-usable hexayurts instead, however I have concerns over where to purchase the panels.

My entire camp (50 people) flies in from UK, Australia and New Zealand just before the burn with our main build crew arriving in Reno only 1 week before gates open... We may need to build up to 10 yurts this year, for which we would like to bulk-buy the materials to enable our campers to assemble themselves (We ain't no PnP camp!)

It seems really hard to locate the R-max panels now... Lowes doesn't seem to have them at all, and at Home Depot they can only be found by googling - HD's own search doesn't show up anything.

The few stores new Reno that do have them only have 20-30 panels in stock.... I'm going to need more like 120 of them.

I see the factory is based in Fernley, NV.... has anyone ever ordered directly from the factory? Is there a minimum panel order to do so?

Otherwise does anyone have any tips on where I might be able to find a source of panels in that week pre-burn? Unfortunately 100% of our camp is international so we don't even have an address in the USA we can have anything delivered to any earlier than 1 week before.

Cheers...

[skippy3k]

When I enter "thermax" in HD search, I get several results.

[mattcamp]

When I enter "thermax" in HD search, I get several results.

HD's search seems to change the results depending on where you are or something... I get two products only, one is a sump pump and one is a discontinued barricade wall panel, neither of which are the right thing.

I have my local store set to one in Reno, NV.

[Ed Banks]

Try searching for building supplies, you'll get a better price than from HD or lowes. You'll get an even better price if you can somehow get contractor pricing. A quick search turned up this place that may or may not have what you're looking for, give em a shout.

http://www.washoebuildingsupply.com

I'm sure, with enough notice, if you ring any supplier up for 120 panels, they'll order them and probably deliver them as well.

[Melonblue]

That actually brought up the R-Max panels.

You might also try using an incognito browsing session to make sure you are getting to the HD in the country you want. (I'm pretty sure that your computer whereabouts won't be available in an incognito session.)

Search for polyiso on the home depot site (make sure it's the American site, not Canadian or otherwise)

Polyiso is what the boards are made of.
What you're searching is a brand name.

That's like looking for Levi's when you're just looking for jeans.

[Elorrum]

There's a high probablility of uncontrollable flyaway moop if you intend to cut these on playa. You'll need to have a strategy for that , or cut and tape the edges before hand.

[mattcamp]

There's a high probablility of uncontrollable flyaway moop if you intend to cut these on playa. You'll need to have a strategy for that , or cut and tape the edges before hand.

We're doing all the cutting and taping in Reno well before we head to the playa.

[maladroit]

These things really aren't worthwhile unless you use them for multiple years. Do you plan to rent a storage facility to keep 10 hexayurts for a few years? They need maintenance (partial retaping and fixing holes) every year. Cutting the panels is also a messy enough job that you may not get away with building 10 hexayurts in a parking lot.

The self-reliance is great and the idea of a hexayurt is great (I use one myself), but there's no fucking way I'd try to coordinate the construction of one in Europe with so many unknowns factors.

If you had someone you knew in the USA with plenty of space to stage and build these, then go for it. Otherwise I'd recommend tents.

[Dr. Pyro]

I'm a little surprised that the money you'd spend on an RV you couldn't hire somebody to build them for you here in the USA. There have to be enough almost-out-of-work carpenters just in the Burning Man community itself that wouldn't jump at the chance to earn an honest living while helping out a fellow burner. But then again, my solution to most problems has always been just to throw money at it.

[trilobyte]

It would seem a lot less like a turnkey operation if each person were taking care of their own living space solution, and it wasn't one guy looking to buy and build in bulk for a large group...

In answer to your question, you might want to make plans for your core group to fly in earlier this year so they've got time to do things like visit a number of Reno area building supply joints, and sort out year-round storage options (you'll need plenty for all that gear). Most construction/contractor materials I've had occasion to source and use on a project turns out to be something sold in person at brick and mortar places and not online. The cost to change tickets and extend a hotel stay should still be a lot less money than the outlay for RV's, plus you'll get the opportunity to spend a little more time hanging around with your friends from around the world. Good luck with your project.

[theCryptofishist]

I've heard of people ordering the supplies ahead of time and then picking them up at the appropriate Reno building store when they get there. It might be a thing worth looking into.

[mudpuppy000]

Hmmm, I'm thinking if you're going to take on a big project like that, it would be more interesting/efficient to build a single large structure with multiple "apartments" in it.