Best material for shelter?

[dragonfly Jafe]

Hello,

I am trying to improve on my personal shelter - I typically use tarps over PVC bent over rebar. I want to replace the tarps with something more "burneresque". My goals are to minimize wind flap noise (while maximizing resistance to destruction by wind), cut-down on the dust while letting some air-flow through, and minimize the "see-thru-ness" especially after dark with a candle inside. I will use a water cover for when it rains (or I leave) so I don't need the material to be water proof. Oh yeah, and it should be colorful (of accept dye).

Any ideas?

regards, Jafe

[Ranger Genius]

Call the 1-800 number on the billboards in your area, and ask if they have any surplus wrap-around billboard tarps. I think they call the stuff Herculite, or something similar, but it's practically bulletproof, can hold grommets very well, almost completely opaque, waterproof, and is usually about 5 meters by 17 meters in size. You can crop out or paint over any corporate logos or phone numbers (or even spoof the ads, or just put them up with the blank side pointing out) to preserve your commerce-freedom. We love this shit, and the price is right (usually either free or under $20 for a 5X17 Meter piece!). It doesn't allow any airflow, but you can cut windows, even sew zippers into them, grommets work great, or those big rivet snaps. Good structure design can really facilitate airflow, too. Another tip: Grommets and tent stakes on these make great tent pads or shade structure floor..especially nice since you can sweep them, unlike carpet.

[robotland]

Don't forget to browse the Structures thread! Lotsa good brains working there!

[BAS]

BTW, what happened to the old forum on Structures? I was poking around Menard's today looking at stuff to use in building a yurt. They had some tarps which were for sale for US$1, with a US$1 rebate (in the form of a coupon for a future purchase, of course). I was tempted to purchase some of the tarps, but wasn't too certain if they would be sturdy enough to actually be USED for anything! The material seemed rather light weight, the picture on the package showed one being used to hold down some sort of load in a trailer, and they seemed only to have grommets on each corner.

In any event, what should I look for in a tarp? What does one need in order to stand up to the playa's winds? (I haven't checked out the local billboard folks for billboard tarps-- although I seem to recall that a local outfit has been recycling them as shower curtains....)


Thanks! I hope I was coherent enough....

[Lydia Love]

my favorite so far is burlap.

It's soundless, good shade and often available for free if you're willing to go asking coffee roasters for discarded bags. I like the fact that it's playa colored... if you need more color I suppose it could be painted.

Cons: the wind and dust come right on in and it's an unholy itchy hell to sew.

[BAS]

(Is "Down With Pants" kind of like "Up With Skirts"? )

Burlap might work for some of the other stuff we might build, but for the yurt I want to make, I was hoping to keep as much dust out as I can. (I figure stuff will probably get dusty anyway, but if I can keep the level down and keep it from getting blown around too much....)

Actually, now that I think about it, burlap might be a good material for near the bottom of the yurt, for when the lower part of the walls get rolled up to help with the air flow

Thank you!

[Bob]

BTW, what happened to the old forum on Structures?

Not sure... still trying to figure out the recent core dump myself.

In any event, what should I look for in a tarp? What does one need in order to stand up to the playa's winds? (I haven't checked out the local billboard folks for billboard tarps-- although I seem to recall that a local outfit has been recycling them as shower curtains....)

Lot of variables. Event the flimsiest stuff might hold up if it's rigged flat or on a shallow slope... downwind of a large truck, circle of vehicles, or a windbreak fence... if you add brass of plastic grommets every foot along the edge and tie off to stakes or perimeter ropes... etc.

For comparison, you could check local well-equipped hardware stores that might have canvas tarps... also rigging suppliers, surplus stores, and custom awning & tarp makers. Prices might range from a few bits to a couple bucks a square foot. Also take a look at canvas store awnings and look at how they're rigged, you might get some hints.

[Bob]

Re: burlap: might be available 10 ft wide from concrete contracting suppliers -- it's used on slabs for moisture curing.